According to my experience:

The Rico Reserve will be at least half a strength harder than the Rigotti Gold

The Alexander NY will also be about half a strength harder.
The François Louis are slightly softer, for the same strength number
Hemkes are about at least half a strength softer

 

Imo the strenth of the rigotti is about the same as the FL reeds. They do seem to last a bit longer though.

 

Rigotti 2.5 strong = FL 3.

 

Yes.

 

Thanks all for the answers. Very helpful.

 

http://www.rigotti-reeds.com/

I will order direct from the factory. You can order by boxes of L,M ,H. The price include shipping I think.

 

I got my last bunch of Rigotti Golds directly from ets-Rigotti, and they are marked just like the ones sold in the US (wwbw, etc.). The reed itself says the number strength in .5 increments, and the boxes are marked soft, medium or hard.

For comparison: Of your list I've only played FL reeds (the excellence (jazz) model, not the classique). I play 3 medium on tenor (Rigotti), so I ordered the 3. I've only played 3 out of the box, and they seem to be pretty similar in strength. They do vibrate differently though. To me it feels like the Rigotti reeds take a little less air to start vibrating, so they are maybe a little more responsive. The Rigottis seem to last a long time. I've only had the FLs out for about two weeks though, so I don't know how long they will last. One of the reasons I like the Rigotti reeds is that I might get one out of every two to three boxes that isn't playable. So far the FLs are 3 for 3. They are made by the same company, so they must use good cane and have reasonable quality control.

 

The FL last very long (for me). I really like them but they are crazy expensive, that's why I want to give Rigotti a try.

 

I'm using Rigotti 3L or M on tenor pieces in the 100-110 tip range and alto in the 80-85 range and I love 'em. Great reeds.

 

So if I am getting this right, it seems they run slightly softer. if I typically use a 3.5 reed then a gold 3 Strong would be the one?

 

Softer than what? It probably depends on the brand you are comparing them to. And most brands don't break it down to #3 soft, med, hard, etc. I'd say if you typically use a 3.5, then you should try the 3.5 Rigotti. Maybe start with the medium and go from there. If the Rigottis 'run softer' then you sure don't want to use a Rigotti 3 when you generally like 3.5. That's a contradiction. If the Rigottis run harder than brand 'x', in that case you might want to use the Rigotti 3 if you're used to a 3.5 in brand 'x'. If you follow what I'm saying. But I don't necessarily think they run harder or softer in a general sense.

 

FYI - I usually use a 2 1/2 reed. When I started using Rigottis I started with a 3 med but found I need to go to a 3 strong. They are great reeds. So are Rico Jazz Selects. I use 3 Soft with the Ricos.

 

So, I have to place an order of Rigotti Gold (Unfilled).
I'm interested how they compare in strength to:
Mj
Rico Reserve for Alto

Alexander NY for Tenor
François Louis for Tenor
Hemke for Tenor

I use Rico Reserve and Jazz Select. There is no comparison. Rigotti Gold 3-1/2 strong are the hardest they make and are softer than Reserve 3 or RJS 3M. I thought at first that I received a mismarked box but when I reordered same thing. I bought a box of very expensive Japonese reeds, made by Rigotti, Ishimoro, I think and they
were too soft also.

 

On their web site, 5 H is the strongest available.

 

They certainly make reeds up to 5, I play 4Ms and they are not particularly hard but they are the only reeds I've played for the past 5 years so I can't compare them to other brands strength-wise I'm afraid.

 

4M would probably work for me but I didn't see them listed. I could only find 3 1/2 Strong. Now that I know they are available I'll look for them again and give them another try.
Thanks,
Martinm

 

I got a box Rigotti Gold 3 alto as well as the soprano without marked L,M or S...I got it from one of the retailer in UK 2months ago.
I used to play RJS 3 and Vandoren Jazz 3 and to me the Rigotti 3 has the same strength with the other two but more consistent in a box.

Cheers,

 

I just bought two packs of Rigotti Gold to try on Tenor. I bought a pack of strength 3 light and a pack of strength 3 medium.

I have found them fairly consistent from one to the next within the same pack, BUT the 3 light are consistently harder than the 3 medium. Hmmm......

 

That IS strange.

 

Yes, I wondered if they had just labelled one pack incorrectly. But that doesn't help me because if they have, which pack?

One of the reasons I decided to try them is because they seem to get good write-ups here for consistency.

 

I wonder if the light, medium and strong tags refer to the type of cut and response rather than the strength in a similar way that Alexander have NY, DC etc at the same strength?

 

I am working on alto with them now for more than a year and have tried from 3 light to 4 strong every strength (several boxes of each strength). Cut, response and sound always are the same (with slight changes that you have with every reed brand and model), it really only is the strength that is changing.

 

Hey guys, I am thinking of switching to Rigotti gold on tenor and have been playing on Alexender DC 3.5. Any recommendations to what strength I should get? I was thinking 3.5 light..

 

I'll use at least 4 S but more likely 4 M. I find a big difference between Rigotti and Alexander DC.

 

funny thing is that Rigotti in the Netherlands don’t have any other designation like light or whatever and have only, half sizes but not third. Also buying at Rigotti is a lot more expensive than buying drom the Dutch importer.

 

funny thing is that Rigotti in the Netherlands don't have any other designation like light or whatever and have only, half sizes but not third. Also buying at Rigotti is a lot more expensive than buying drom the Dutch importer.

Same thing in Germany. Also, there are different cuts available, Rigotti Gold and Rigotti Gold jazz cut. I prefer the latter one. Are there different cuts in the US or is it just Rigotti Gold?

 

I don't know about the comparison,but sure i can assure you, that we are talkin' bout fine-cut cane reeds for sure,and quite cheap!

 

so the Alexander tenor NY arrived ( I play light reeds 2) and they are approximately the same size as Rigotti Gold 2 or Queen 2, a little less edge though

 

the Rigotti Gold that I buy have the stamp “ Jazz” on the table but not on the box

 

looks like the local importers have personalized boxes, so American Rigotti have 1/3 sizes and German Rigotti have Gold an Jazz Gold.

 

My head hurts after reading through this thread. I tried 3 1/2 H but I think I'll try 3 1/2 soft next time. I'm use to 31/2 Ricos.
The box of Rigottis I bought from WWBW staring growing mold the second day after I opened the box. Green much? I've never had that happen with any other brand.

 

I've never had that issue with them, and I've been using them exclusively for about 3 years now. Sounds like your particular box was contaminated with mold spores. I'd push for a refund, if possible. No sense playing on them since they are contaminated and can potentially make you sick.

FWIW, I've found 2.5 Medium to be the best number for size 7 mouthpiece tip opening (Otto Link scale) for tenor and a size 7 (Meyer Scale) on alto. I've used the 2.5 mediums on a multitude of alto and tenor pieces from Otto Link, Meyer, Yamaha, Phil Barone, and Phil-tone, and the reeds play extremely well consistently.

 

Ah that explains it. I keep my reeds in a wooden and glass reed case. The reeds usually die out long before they grow mold in this case. I can understand how the plastic Rigotti sleeves would be a problem in keeping moisture in the reed.

 

+1. Once I pull a reed out of the plastic sleeve and play it, the plastic sleeve goes in the trash and the reed goes in a reed holder/case. I've never had any mold problems with them whatsoever. Never thought about it really, but now I'm glad I got rid of the cheap holders they come in.

 

I soaked them in hydrogen peroxide. That usually kills anything but this stuff is persistent. I've taken them out of the sleeves and see if it goes away. Since the 3 1/2 H are on the hard side I'll start scraping on them to see if that'll do it.
If all else fails I try them on the gig while I'm drinking bourbon. If that doesn't work at least you don't really give a **** anyway.

 

LOL. Well it only happened to one out of the box but it was the only one I really liked. As I said I wish I had bought 2 1/2 light instead of mediums.

The others haven't developed mold but they're difficult to play. I tried rubbing alcohol and that didn't work, this mold is persistent. I won't be playing that reed. I just look at it every day and shake my head, a dumb idea to have plastic all around. Great if you want to grow mold specimens.

Hey, are there any jazz clubs on Bardstown Road or is Main street or downtown in general where the scene is?