[TSax80]

I am playtesting a Tribute Ltd. in 7*. I have restarted playing in 2016, and have played a Drake Christlieb 110 for two almost years. The Drake is great, powerful and free-blowing, but in the last months my taste somehow shifted towards a less bright but fuller sound. I found myseld trying to tame the Christlieb most of the time, probably also because my embochure got better in terms of producing volume. Playing a Berg like piece and almost always holding back somehow made no sense anymore. The Ltd. now is a great piece, it´s almost exactly what I wanted. The tone is darkish but with some nice sparkle, and I can play more naturally, no need to hold back anymore.
What I noticed is that although the Drake is more open, softer reeds play better on the Ltd. I switched from Jazz Select 3medium on the Drake to 2hard on the Ltd., and now to Rigotti 2,5hard, since I still have some of these. Maximum volume is less on the Ltd., and in the high register I have to adapt from being not too loud to opening my throat, keeping embochure rather loose and blow harder. But, I dig the sound on the Ltd. And I like its small profile, I never felt comfortable with the huge HR pieces.
What are your experiences with the Ltd., and which reeds do you use?

 

[Sigmund451]

Java Green 3

 

[JL]

Same reeds I use on any mpc:

Rigotti Gold 3 light (2.5 strong is fine too).

p.s. Just realized the "Ltd" is a bit different from the original Tribute, which is what I have, but still I'm sure I wouldn't change reeds for the Ltd., since I like those same reeds on a variety of mpcs.

 

[skeller047]

I too have the original Tribute (7*) and use Rigotti 3 Medium or 2.5 Strong - I have tried the 3 Light, but somehow they don't work for me. I have also tried the Boston Sax Shop reeds, but the Rigottis are "just right" for me. Not saying the BSS are bad, just a little different, and the Rigottis fit.

As a side note, I recently got a new mouthpiece for my alto, and tried some old Rico Brown Box V-3 1/2 reeds I have on it. In the 1980's I played Rico V-3 1/2 on soprano, alto and tenor, and loved the way they played. The Rigotti Gold tenor reeds are closest in feeling to those old Ricos of any reed I've tried, so I'll keep using them (I've got a couple boxes of Rico alto reeds left, I guess I'll use those for a while!)

Having said all that, I have also tried other brands on the Tribute (Java, D'Addario Jazz Select, Rico Orange Box) and while the Rigottis are best for me, the Tribute is one of the most reed-friendly mouthpieces I have ever played. In a pinch, i would be happy playing just about anything on that piece.

 

[raghav]

I was a long-time Tribute player and subsequently got a Tribute Ltd. I was playing Rigotti Golds on the Tribute, but found Java Greens and D'Addario Jazz Selects more to my liking on the Ltd. I think it is because the Rigotti's already tend to be bright-sounding reeds, so going with the Javas or Jazz Selects backs off just a little bit on the brightness and at least for me, gave me more control on the sound. Since you have already tried the Jazz Selects and the Rigotti's try the Java Green reeds out.

 

[TSax80]

I just put fresh Rigotti Golds 3 soft on the Ltd, I still had two of them in the corner. Wow, that´s a sound. The 2,5 strongs were used to some degree and probably run softer now. I´ll try the Java Greens, but so far, the Rigotti Gold 3 soft could do it for me. Not too bright for me - but I come from higher baffle land. Thanks a lot for your input.