Soft reeds
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It’s common among High School and Middle School teachers to push harder reeds. I have my kids on #3 reeds but nearly all are playing Yamaha 4c or Selmer C* Mouthpieces (rather closed pieces). If a 2 works then it works.
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I like the Blue Box Vandoren #2s on my #7 STM NY. They mate up very nicely and sound pretty sweet. Now, if they would just last a bit longer than 45 minutes each time I practice on them. For some reason, they just seem to die around the 45-60 minute mark. They seem to absorb moisture and then don't seal. Let them dry out a bit and they rebound...
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I use 1.5 reeds on my 8* NY chamber link tonemaster. I do find I have to clip them sometimes, but most in a box are fine.
The general rule is the larger the tip opening, the softer the reed.
I like the tonal flexibility of a softer reed. I think they have more colors than a harder reed with a smaller tip opening, but that might be just me and my anatomy and technique.
I also find that when playing with softer reeds, the ones with the darker colored cane work better YMMV.
Insights and incites by Notes
The general rule is the larger the tip opening, the softer the reed.
I like the tonal flexibility of a softer reed. I think they have more colors than a harder reed with a smaller tip opening, but that might be just me and my anatomy and technique.
I also find that when playing with softer reeds, the ones with the darker colored cane work better YMMV.
Insights and incites by Notes
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I wrote in a book what I call "The magic of the neck strap". For softer reeds I shorten the length of the neck strap which slightly raises the angle of the mouthpiece entering the embouchure. For harder reeds I do the opposite, and that works for me. That slight adjustment can affect where and how much attack the tongue is giving the reed. It also affects how much mouthpiece I am taking in. It alters the suspension of the mouthpiece and reed combination helping to avoid dampening the reed allowing for better brightness when needed. I find that sweet spot depending on the reed strength and tip opening. Charlie Parker had his neck strap marked for his sweet spot.
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+1 to Notes_Norton on 1.5 reeds - I use 1.5s on a 130 M vintage steel Berg for my rock-band 10m, gives me the flexibility I want for softer ballads and sailcloth-shredding funk...
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Use whatever reed gets you where you need to go. If you sound like *%& you just won’t get very far playing with or for others.
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Fibracell 2.0 to 2.5 on a Berg SS 120 2 M (tenor). On bari, even softer, with a Fibracell 1.5 on a Drake .120 CC II. And dang, Rich, that Viking bari sings with that piece.
I've always played vandoren 2.0, but just got a legere 2.0 signature series that works well. This on 7* JJ DV NY. I just find it easier to get better tone on a softer reed. My teacher uses 2.0 as well. No shame.....
A 7 doesn't seem like it would kill a reed that quick. A 10* probably would
I'd switch to a different brand. Rigotti and Link work good together. A Vandoren blue box 2 is probably a 2H or a 3S in a Rigotti. I like the idea of more increments in strengths. I'll practice on a 3H and play 3M on a gig because they play well right out of the box.
I play a 6 Link and reeds last a long time for me. I use a few in rotations which may help.
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Here:
View attachment 1209231517_Bb.tenor.sax_.mp3
Just a a few minutes of a warm September afternoon outside in 2012 with the recorder on. Including some breathy low volume stuff you can do on an open mouthpiece with a softer reed. As mentioned above, that's a Berg Larson SS 120 2 M with a Fibracell 2.0 or possibly 2.5, on a Yanagisawa T-901.
Edit: Listening back to that, that reed's gotta be a LaVoz Medium Soft, not a Fibracell. Not enough buzz in it for a Fibracell.... But the point holds: soft reed, open piece, breathiness possible.
View attachment 1209231517_Bb.tenor.sax_.mp3
Just a a few minutes of a warm September afternoon outside in 2012 with the recorder on. Including some breathy low volume stuff you can do on an open mouthpiece with a softer reed. As mentioned above, that's a Berg Larson SS 120 2 M with a Fibracell 2.0 or possibly 2.5, on a Yanagisawa T-901.
Edit: Listening back to that, that reed's gotta be a LaVoz Medium Soft, not a Fibracell. Not enough buzz in it for a Fibracell.... But the point holds: soft reed, open piece, breathiness possible.
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7,331 Posts
I guess it depends on 1 the type of mouthpiece you are playing and it's distinguishing features (baffle, chamber, facing curve, tip opening) and 2 what you're personally comfortable with.
So many factors. I know that there are certain mouthpieces that are smaller than what I normally play with even less baffle that for me respond better with a softer reed. And there are also more open mouthpieces with a more pronounced baffle that worked better with a harder reed.
The set up I've been on for the last year for me has been the best in my 18 years of playing. It's a Warburton .110 with a Red Java 3.5 on my tenor. And that personally feels great. Doesn't close up on me. Produces a nice huge thick tone. When I've tried a 3 on it when the store has been out the reed will last maybe 1 week total, close up on me after a few days and result in loads of frustration.
So many factors. I know that there are certain mouthpieces that are smaller than what I normally play with even less baffle that for me respond better with a softer reed. And there are also more open mouthpieces with a more pronounced baffle that worked better with a harder reed.
The set up I've been on for the last year for me has been the best in my 18 years of playing. It's a Warburton .110 with a Red Java 3.5 on my tenor. And that personally feels great. Doesn't close up on me. Produces a nice huge thick tone. When I've tried a 3 on it when the store has been out the reed will last maybe 1 week total, close up on me after a few days and result in loads of frustration.
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Love your sound of the concert you had posted on YouTube. However, looks the vid has since been removed
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I currently play Rico Royal 2 reeds on my Florida no USA 10* for a few years. Used La Voz medium before, but lost my practice room some years ago and discovered that the RR 2 reeds performed easier with less practice and also made my sound darker (also used Rico Plasticovers 2 for a while).
The softer reed makes (for me) the sound more flexible, but intonation more tricky (especially in the higher register and altissimo). In time you will learn to control that better. I play a single reed between 4 and 8 months.
I've a ton of soundclips on my SoundClick page. Here is my latest recording on an 8 month old Rico Royal 2 and the Florida 10*:
https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13699330
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