[Inspiration]

Just wondering if anyone's tried both 2s and 2.5s for Vandoren
Traditionals (blue box). If so, is there much of a big difference?
I took a look at a comparison chart, and it looks like there's
a large jump in thickness or whatever you call it.

Thanks, SotW
Inspiration

P.S: These are designed to give a dark sound, right? :S

 

[CraigAB]

Just wondering if anyone's tried both 2s and 2.5s for Vandoren
Traditionals (blue box). If so, is there much of a big difference?
I took a look at a comparison chart, and it looks like there's
a large jump in thickness or whatever you call it.

I am just an amateur, but from what I understand the only difference is that the area known as the Heart is firmer.

P.S: These are designed to give a dark sound, right? :S

There are a lot of factors that influence "dark sound", like mouthpiece, neck, saxophone not to mention the player, its just not one thing.

I have personally found that soft reeds make the lower register easy to reach, but the upper register is awful.

Generally, but not always, certain reeds suite certain mouthpieces. So you might want to try some other brands. Don't be hooked up on reed strength, it is more along the lines of how does the lower, middle and high registers sound with a particular reed and the control of that register with that reed/mouthpiece combination.

You might want to consider the ATG System for adjusting reeds. It has saved my chops heaps, not to mention time which is better spent on practise. I am yet to find a reed that is balanced on both sides.

Hope this helps.

 

[skeller047]

CraigAB's response is right on the money. Inspiration, the only way to really understand how reeds work is to try them. You cannot go by comparison charts or reviews - what is bright for one person is dark for another.

The point Craig made about adjusting reeds is important; reeds are not precision items, and must be adjusted to suit the individual player's needs. There is no difference in the manufacturing process for reeds of different strength; once the reeds are made, they are graded for strength and then marked.

Also, reeds are made of cane, which is an organic material, and has wide variations in density and flexibility. Which is why Craig said he has never found a balanced reed. (Neither have I...)

You just have to accept the fact that you must buy many reeds. If you learn to adjust them you can get most of them to play well (the ATG system is very good for this, as Craig mentioned - but it is expensive). You should always have about 4 reeds that play well, and rotate among them day by day. That is, play one reed one day, one the next, and so on. As your reeds begin to wear out, add new ones to the rotation.

It's good to experiment with different kinds of reeds, but you should try several of each kind before making a judgement.

Good luck - reeds can be the bane of a woodwind player's life, but with a little thought and practice, you can minimize frustration.

 

[Toot Sweet!]

If I'm not wrong, all the reeds of a particular brand and type - e. g. Vandoren Blue Box - are cut to the same dimensions in very precise computer governed machines. The difference in the strength of the reeds comes from the natural differences in wood and not from more or less wood in the heart or at the tip etc.