[Pleiadian_Prince]

Hey guys, as noted in my MP Identification thread, I've recently switched from tenor to Soprano.
Reed options are far and few between here in Calgary, so whatever reed I choose I need to order ahead of time. My mp is a 0.057 opening, and I've been playing Java Greens 3.5 (Only firm reed the music store had available)
It feels a smidge on the soft side, so I'd like to go slightly firmer.

My reed of choice is Rigotti Gold, they were brilliant on the Tenor! I preferred them to RJS. I'd like to order a box for the Soprano but I have no Idea what strength to get...
What strength Rigotti Gold will = a 3.5 Java green? And then I'd go one or two steps stronger. would a 3.5 Strong be what I'm looking for? Or would a 4 Light be suffice (I'd probably like a Java Green in between a 3.5 and a 4. a 4 maybe a little firm) so I'm not sure if a 4 light Rigotti Gold would be to firm. I have no Idea what strength to order, I appreciate your help!

Thank you guys.

 

[Grumps]

I know this may seem coming from left field, but have you ever tried a Java Green with a 3 hardness?

 

[Pleiadian_Prince]

I haven't.
Yesterday I jammed with a buddy of mine for a few hours (Very respected musician) He conquered my reeds were a tad soft. After 15-20 mins they close up and feel kind of like there water logged. High notes are difficult! I recognize most of that is in my throat manipulation, but there still on the soft side. It also may have to do with the facing / chamber of the MP I'm using.

For Tenor, I wad a 6* vintage STM I played RJS 4S on - 4M
When I switched to Matt Marantz Double Ring Legacy size 8, I used 3M Rigotti's.

When I have money to buy a bunch of reeds I'll try various strengths. For now I want to try a box of Rigotti's slightly firmer than 3.5 Java Greens.

 

[skeller047]

I'd go with Rigotti 3.5 Strong - to me, the "Light" strengths are all a little, well, light... I've noticed that the "Light" reeds tend to be a little thinner stocks (this on tenor reeds - 3.5 Light vs 3 Strong).

I will add (knowing that you will probably stick to the Rigotti due to budget at this time) - on soprano I prefer D'Addario Select Jazz to Rigotti. Something about the slightly thicker Rigotti reeds makes them duller and less responsive. Depending on the mouthpiece, I would also add Vandoren Blue Box to the mix. If your mouthpiece is a Selmer, those facings tend to be short. So the "classical" reeds might work better. D'Addario Reserve, Vandoren Blue Box, etc.

 

[Grumps]

For Tenor, I wad a 6* vintage STM I played RJS 4S on - 4M
When I switched to Matt Marantz Double Ring Legacy size 8, I used 3M Rigotti's.

Yeah, with a more open tip, you might want softer reeds. When I first played soprano, it was on a close tipped vintage mouthpiece and I was using #4's. Now I like to use # 3 reeds on every horn/mouthpiece. I just have a feeling that being in the middle of the road in strength, should it go more one way than the other, it's still at a happy medium. I also seem to find the best made reeds within that strength.

On soprano I use a Selmer Super Session J and Java Green #3 reeds. I made a trade and picked up some Java Green #3 1/2 reeds and just have not found the same love in them. Like they weren't even Javas.

 

[Pleiadian_Prince]

Thanks Skeller,
** And thank you to everyone who has commented **

Skeller, Interesting you prefer RJS. When funds allow I may order a box to try - 4s? When you said the light is well light. Are you saying that a 3.5 Strong maybe slightly firmer than a 4 light?

Check out my other thread. My mouthpiece is a "one of a kind?' Vintage Babbit Meyer. The facing is longer than any other Meyer (Entire mp is several mm's longer) and it has a horse shoe chamber. It's slightly punchy but warm and fat. My sax tech said it sounded better than his vintage slant (Took him years to find) It's just as warm and full but with slightly more edge - Does not sound nasaly or oboe like at all.

I've been playing on some ( Werser ) Chinese brand, very very cheap horn... Thanks to my Sax tech whom rented it to me while I wait for my Mark Vi Soprano! I traded my Mark VII tenor + Legacy mp and KB sax neck for a 1976 Mark vi Soprano Wonderful deal.

I've been able to play everyday again, and I have not had any back or neck issues! I absolutely love how greasy the soprano can be on blues and funk, it's wicked!!

 

[mmichel]

I'd go with Rigotti 3.5 Strong - to me, the "Light" strengths are all a little, well, light... I've noticed that the "Light" reeds tend to be a little thinner stocks (this on tenor reeds - 3.5 Light vs 3 Strong).

This isn't really plausible given how the reeds are cut (all strengths are cut to the same template), nor does it agree with my experience. It may just be that you had "Light" reeds from a different run in which all reed strengths had thinner blanks.

I will add (knowing that you will probably stick to the Rigotti due to budget at this time) - on soprano I prefer D'Addario Select Jazz to Rigotti. Something about the slightly thicker Rigotti reeds makes them duller and less responsive.

I agree that the Rigotti's play a quite bit darker than the Select Jazz on soprano. This is in stark contrast to the case for Tenor, where I find that the Rigottis play brighter than either Jazz Select or Java Greens.
Personally, I like the sound of Rigottis on soprano. I find them very responsive (dark but not dull).

Regarding the OP's original question: I find that Rigotti 3.5 mediums are roughly equal to Green box Java 3.5s on soprano.

 

[skeller047]

I agree that the Rigotti's play a quite bit darker than the Select Jazz on soprano. This is in stark contrast to the case for Tenor, where I find that the Rigottis play brighter than either Jazz Select or Java Greens.
Personally, I like the sound of Rigottis on soprano. I find them very responsive (dark but not dull).

Regarding the OP's original question: I find that Rigotti 3.5 mediums are roughly equal to Green box Java 3.5s on soprano.

I agree with this characterization, perhaps "duller" was a bad word choice . I recommended 3.5 Strong because the OP wanted something a bit stronger than his current reed.

Regarding the 3.5 Light vs 3 Strong, I noticed this in two boxes. I'm not saying that 4 Light would be less hard than a 3.5 strong, only that the 3.5 Light reeds I bought (in separate transactions) were, in fact, noticeably thinner than the 3 Strongs I had. It made me wonder at the time whether they use some other measure for the Light-Medium-Strong classification, other than the standard hardness test (which is done with some kind of mechanical meter).

Since then, Jay Metcalf published a nice video on his visit to the Rigotti factory, and it was clear from that they they don't, so mmichel you are probably right, and I just got a couple of boxes from a thinner blank batch.

(As an aside, I still avoid buying the "Light" strengths from Rigotti, probably because of ARF - Age Related Feeble-mindedness. It's just a superstition LOL.)

 

[hfrank]

Wow that's actually very interesting to know that rigottis on soprano are on the darker side. I love them on tenor but since they are brighter I though they would be too much for soprano. I need to give them a try.

 

[Pleiadian_Prince]

I like that to!
On tenor I liked being brighter. Laser focused and bright - But colourful and complex like Trade

On Soprano I can't imagine bright being a good thing - Nasaly, Shrill, Harsh are not things I wasn't associated with my sound. Dark, Warm, Colourful absolutely! - I'd like my Soprano sound to be more like an Alto saxophone than that of an Oboe.
I'll let you guys know what I think once I get them.

 

[Grumps]

I traded my Mark VII tenor + Legacy mp and KB sax neck for a 1976 Mark vi Soprano Wonderful deal.

Having owned both a VII tenor and a VI soprano, I agree.

 

[hfrank]

A bit out of topic. Since you are trying different reeds. Have you tried gonzales soprano. They are good...

 

[Pleiadian_Prince]

Gonzales, that's a good Idea as well! I have not.
Over time I'd like to try Marca's, I can give Gonzales a try to.

For RJS reeds, if I like a Rigotti Gold 4light, would I want a 4s RJS?

And what strength for Marca & Gonzoles? Soprano reeds are cheaper, (Thank god) but I don't want to be stuck with hundreds of dollars of reeds I can't use (Been there with my tenor lol..)

 

[Pleiadian_Prince]

Having owned both a VII tenor and a VI soprano, I agree.

I agree and a disagree! My vii was a hell of a hon, and with the KB neck it played like a really good SBA. I loved it, more than the dozen or so Vi's I've now played.

Never the less, it was a Mark VII & I removed the high F# key, and a KB neck is not something you can easily sell second hand (Niche market) so I got extremely lucky

It's a 1976 Selmer Mark vi soprano ( Attached neck) and it doesn't have the high F# key (THANK GOD!)

Here are some photo's of her

The fellow I traded with let his musician friend Al Beaty try out the Soprano - He felt the pads needed a little work (It was rebuilt from some music store) He's paying Al to do the pad work and he'll ship it to me Monday. I should have it by Next Friday!
My Rigotti Gold 4s reeds should be in by that time as well

Ligature I'm using is a BG Traditional Gold lig - Seems to fit similar to an Ishimori but half the price! First time I've used a generic lig (Usually have Ishimori's or Echo master Brillhart etc) but as long as a lig holds the reed it plays... I'm no longer on the train of thought that ligatures make a big difference in the sound. BG Traditional will probably play the same as an Ishimori, so why spend the extra coin.

 

[hfrank]

Gonzales, that's a good Idea as well! I have not.
Over time I'd like to try Marca's, I can give Gonzales a try to.

For RJS reeds, if I like a Rigotti Gold 4light, would I want a 4s RJS?

And what strength for Marca & Gonzoles? Soprano reeds are cheaper, (Thank god) but I don't want to be stuck with hundreds of dollars of reeds I can't use (Been there with my tenor lol..)

Well Gonzales are a PITA to pick up the right strength. On tenor the strength doesn't match the soprano's IMO. I am using soprano RC 3 1/2 which on my Maestra 0.65 feels too hard, but they feel great on my espresso 0.60. Certain resistance but not dull. They are on the darker side and they really last. I had here Dsj 3m and 4 for strength comparison purposes and the Rc are more responsive than the 4 on the espresso but more to push against than the 3m. Next time I might buy 3, to experiment with those on my main piece " the Maestra".

 

[Enthusiast65]

Gonzales, that's a good Idea as well! I have not.
Over time I'd like to try Marca's, I can give Gonzales a try to.

For RJS reeds, if I like a Rigotti Gold 4light, would I want a 4s RJS?

And what strength for Marca & Gonzoles? Soprano reeds are cheaper, (Thank god) but I don't want to be stuck with hundreds of dollars of reeds I can't use (Been there with my tenor lol..)

Love Marca Supérieure for soprano. Great middle of the road cut, consistent and very long lasting. I like softer reeds on soprano so I use 2,5 on tip openings around .070 eg Vandoren s35. You'd want stronger, I guess more like 3,5.

 

[Pleiadian_Prince]

Update for you guys.
I've been playing on Rigotti Gold 4L - They have bene great! Smooth thick tone, surprisingly bright tbh (Contradictory to what I've read in this thread) Smidge on the softer side as I like brand new reeds to be a smidge hard requiring a short break in period, so I ordered some 4M's which should be perfect

Few days ago I picked up a box of RJS 4S - Only had a brief moment to play them, but I find (And my good friend whom I sent clips to found as well) that the RJS are not as bright as the Rigotti Golds! Again smidge soft, so if I decide I prefer them over Rigotti's I'll order 4M's. I'd like to narrow it down before my new Rigotti's come in so I can exchange them for RJS and save some money.

One thing I noticed is that the RJS are wider and longer. They fit the facing of my MP better (Width of the table vs the Rigotti's leave some of the table seen to the naked eye off to the side) I maybe prefer the tone of the Rigotti's, but the RJS feel more responsive. They tongue much quicker! I'll need more time on both before I decide what my go to reed it.

Anyone else wanna chime in with there experience on either RJS or Rigotti Gold soprano reeds? Does the size of the reed matter depending on the mouthpiece? My Meyer is longer than any other Meyer as noted I my other thread, It's a very unique soprano piece and the RJS may play better due to the fact it covers the entire facing? Not sure if that makes any bit of difference.

Thanks guys.