Ciao Fabrizio. The difference is smaller than what I expected. Your playing, your embouchure very likely supersede and compensate a lot of difference. You sound like yourself. Great playing, really. I like the fact that there is a nice part of buzz and grain in your tone.

 

I believe this is the first time I've ever seen a reed comparison on baritone sax. I didn't notice any difference that couldn't have just been the product of how you were expressing yourself at that moment. The sound was excellent, but more or less the same, throughout.

 

The reeds plays the same because your 1945 Conn baritone

 

Reed comparisons are nice (and even done sincerely) but a saxophonist always plays to their own sound, and that includes compensating for a particular reed.

 

Thank you for your replies.
I have been using the same set up ( mouthpiece, reed and saxophone) for many years, so I decided to buy a box of different reeds.

@LostConn You are right. I hear some difference, but very subtle. Maybe two reeds of the same brand in the same box could be more different.
The strange thing is that I heard many differences while playing those two reeds.
But this is the proof that all differences were about the response and not sound.
I find the Hemke spreads the sound a little more, while the Vandoren is more "compact".
The articolation is a bit easier on the Hemke, but the subtone is better with the Vandoren.
But, overall, I agree that I sound like myself.
I am sure the difference between blue Vandorens and green ones would be greater.

@dexdex Thanks. You wrote "a nice part of buzz and grain in your tone". I don't know, I am not the most unbiased person to define my sound, but I think that I am more on the "dark woody side" rather than on the "buzzy" one, but maybe I misunderstood that word.

@KennyZ Yes, all reeds are Connected...

 

Well, 12M players often sound on the dark or even dead side. You achieve a nice full rich tone, with some sparkle on top.

 

I consider the discernable difference in reeds is more how they play for you rather than how they sound.

 

Exactly what I was going to say. My own anecdotal observation is I sound pretty much the same out front with any decent playing reed but they can have a vastly different feel, resistance, and response making the amount of effort necessary and playing experience quite different.

 

@Hassles good point!

 

there are a few interesting points here (see below) plus an introduction to new Martini Reeds - for that Cool sound ;-)

 

I have never liked anything about Fred Hemke reeds my entire life especially their clarinet reeds. Their sax reeds always just seemed thin sounding without much guts, short lasting and well below average. Their clarinet reeds are just as sub-par, like a plain box Ricos made for beginners. I have an old back stock of Van Doren V-16s but my go-to reeds of choice for well over 30 years have always been LaVoz (Hard) that I can work with a little if I need to.

 

I’m certain I’d sound equally as bad on either reed.
This is perhaps why I change horns more regularly than I change reeds.
In all seriousness though I have always preferred Rico reeds on Baritone above all others.
Specifically now La Voz and for quite a while before it was Hemke (on a different mouthpiece).
Love Vandoren on tenor though.

 

Yeah sounds almost identical. I'll guess number one was vandoren. Maybe sounded slightly darker or restrained while reed 2 seemed a bit more free blowing. Maybe...
You sound great on both though so I'd say go for whatever is cheaper and more consistent out of the box.

 

Thanks @John_Dikeman The Vandoren is number 2. Despite the sound is identical the response is quite different. I'm used to play and like some resistance, therefore I find myself more at home with the Vandoren. The strange thing is that I remember that the reeds sounded different to me while recording. Maybe the different response affects our tone perception too.

 

Yeah to be honest I was trying to hear a difference. I'm not sure if reed 2 really sounded more open or not... In general how did you perceive the differences while playing?

 

@John_Dikeman articulation is slightly easier on Hemke, but subtone is better on Vandoren. The Vandoren has a more "hollow" sound, the Hemke has a bit more buzz in the register, but it retains a dark tone. The Vandoren is slightly more resistant. All these differences disappear when you are the listener and not the player, though.

 

Hemke reeds are my favorite. Maybe it's just my equipment but they respond better than anything I have played.

 

what a wonderful control and tone . You sound great K

 

Thanks Keith, do you have a preference for reed 1 or 2?

 

also in my reed case there are med lavozz hemke 2.5 3s and plain vandoren 2.5. its al about the weather? K