[lucidreamer]

Hi,

After playing alto for more than 2 years, I recently bought myself a Keilwerth New King (1958) tenor to practice on along with my alto. On alto - I usually prefer RJS 2H reeds with N.Y. Cafe 7 mouthpiece. The strength for each reed in the box of RJS may vary quite a bit, and I like the harder ones. I tried the RJS 3S, but they seem to be too hard and duller sounding than 2H.

What RJS strength should I buy for me to feel comfortable with? The mouthpiece for tenor is Mouthpiece Cafe Bergonzi Slant Supreme which is .105'.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Buck Laughlin]

It's impossible to know what you will feel comfortable with, but if I were you, I would buy a box of 2Ms, a box of 2Hs, and a box of 3Ss, and then try them all. Or, you could just buy a box of 2Hs and go from there. My guess is that you'll like the 2Hs.

 

[lucidreamer]

Thanks Buck, I will pick up a box of 2Hs for tenor then and go from there...

I would probably refrain from getting different ones and that was the whole point of asking for advice in this post. Already got about a dozen of different alto reed boxes laying around and only using 2 or 3 brands: RJS 2H (my favorite), ZZ 2.5 or Rico Reserve 3 (wet sanded, these ones last forever because the cane is dense).

 

[jlima]

I too think that the 2Hs are the best to start with. The Mouthpiece Cafe Bergonzi has got a little resistance, so the 2M may feel easier in the beginning, but they will die out quickly and your sound will be kind of hollow, so to speak.

 

[buddy lee]

2H for sure. Also, curious, is that the New King that was on Tampa Bay Craigslist?

 

[lucidreamer]

2H for sure. Also, curious, is that the New King that was on Tampa Bay Craigslist?

Yes, that's the one. It is currently in the shop for adjustments and tweaks, cannot wait to pick it up some time soon. Why, do you know something about this horn by chance?

 

[buddy lee]

Yes, that's the one. It is currently in the shop for adjustments and tweaks, cannot wait to pick it up some time soon. Why, do you know something about this horn by chance?

I did swing by and try it out, was all kinds of resistant down low and I guessed it to be leaking like a sieve. That's all I know about it. Looked to be in great shape, physically though, but I just didn't want to buy a horn that didn't play from the get-go (just in case there was something wrong with it that was worse than leaks, like tone hole issues).

Anyway, I'm pretty sure you got a smoking deal because I know what he was down to price-wise, so let me know how the horn turns out! I really wanted it to work for me, but it didn't

 

[lucidreamer]

Yes, I tried it too and could not play the bottom end at all, plus the funky keywork that will take time to get used to. The B and Bb pads were leaking badly, they kind of pressed on one side of the tone hole only. Hopefully it is not the tone hole issue which Keilwerth is notorious for.
But this issue seems to be plaguing the modern Keilwerth rolled toneholes which are not soldered, not rolled from the metal as far as I know, but I can be wrong here.
Also I am not sure whether the horn was bumped or something, but it does look great and undamaged at first sight, almost like a closet horn, which is rare for 53 years of age. I am picking it up today from the shop and will update on how the adjustments went and everything.

 

[buddy lee]

Yes, I tried it too and could not play the bottom end at all, plus the funky keywork that will take time to get used to. The B and Bb pads were leaking badly, they kind of pressed on one side of the tone hole only. Hopefully it is not the tone hole issue which Keilwerth is notorious for.
But this issue seems to be plaguing the modern Keilwerth rolled toneholes which are not soldered, not rolled from the metal as far as I know, but I can be wrong here.
Also I am not sure whether the horn was bumped or something, but it does look great and undamaged at first sight, almost like a closet horn, which is rare for 53 years of age. I am picking it up today from the shop and will update on how the adjustments went and everything.

Ok, well at least I'm glad it wasn't just me! Yeah it's definitely a great looking horn. I really hope it comes out of the shop in great shape for you, let us know how it goes! And get some RJS 2H while you're there.

 

[BariSkaJazz]

I play RJS 3S on a .105 Link STM

 

[lucidreamer]

Picked up the horn today from Steve at Wesley Chapel. He did a pretty good job on it overall and it is a day and night difference before and after. The low notes are very playable now and the pads are sealing well overall. It sounds pretty dark, lush and full, the low notes are incredibly deep and I can really feel the floor vibrating a bit, can it be used for a massage chair maybe? I last played on my teachers tenor P. Mauriat 66R and it felt great but this is a totally different one in terms of the sound, not worse or better, but different.
The ergonomics is a little different on this horn. I have smaller hands and the thumbhook placement is fixed, hence it makes D# and C a bit stretchy for my thumb.
I still need a better mouthpiece for my tenor too, waiting for Bergonzi Slant Supreme to arrive some time this month from Europe.

 

[buddy lee]

That's awesome, glad it's gonna work out!

 

[avan]

With my silver tenor new King 1958, I play a TM custom EB Link 7 or a new vintage Link 7 also. Both are real .100", but the TM feel more like a .105". The Tm are less free blowing than the vintage one so I use a 2H or a 3s worked down. the 3s fit perfectly with the vintage. and the 2h fit with the TM. You can also try the 2.5 Java Vandoren. It's always depend on the mix of the horn and the piece and the facing on that one. A lay just a little short or a little long can make a big difference in the feel and wich reed fit the best. On alto (also an old keilwerth) I also play a meyer 7 with 2 hard reed. So I try to stay in my comfort zone: strenght of reed vs moutpiece opening.
Update: I was out of reed this morning, so I try a vandoren (blue box) 2.5 that I have on my shelf, and it fit perfectly for an usky jazzy sound, full, not airy for an stronger reed that i'M use to, and it have a nice edge. Go figure! it's a rjs 3M equivalent. This is a good example that nothing is set in the concrete.

 

[lucidreamer]

Thanks Avan. I am currently using Vandoren Java 2.5 with Mouthpiececafe Bergonzi Slant and it gives me the sound I am pretty happy with. RJS with this mouthpiece sound a bit duller and without the response that Java offers.

 

[JL]

I tried the RJS 3S, but they seem to be too hard and duller sounding than 2H.

I think you've answered your own question here. It reflects my experience also, fwiw.

 

[Borganiboy]

For me the RJS 2H and RJS 3S are the best reeds i ever played.