I like Rigotti on Tenor.
They seem to be a brighter reed and perhaps a little softer for their size than others.
I don’t feel they last any longer than other cane reeds and and they are no more or less consistent than others also.
I wouldn’t waste my money on them for Baritone again though.

 

For a comparison to blue box Vandoren 2.5 I’d look at a 3.5 in strength.

 

Rigotti Reeds are very well established under the membership here.

I use Rigotti Gold Jazz or Queen if I want to save 30% of the price.

There are many previous threads already discussing this precise topic.

This is nearly identical to your questions

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?149078-Rigotti-Gold-Tenor

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?234-Rigotti-Gold-Reeds

these are of interrest

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?303833-Cut-of-Rigotti-Gold-tenor-reeds

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?342720-Rigotti-Gold-JAZZ

there are many more related threads. Please don't take this as a rebuff, but using the search function helps keeping the enormous archives usable and useful.

There is no shame in continuing another pre-existing thread, it will be published under new active threads anyway and all the people participating will get an alert, which will insure you to have more responses AND that the archives are not diluted in hundreds of the same title and content threads.

 

Thanks guys .
I will follow the related thread ,as suggested.

 

Milandro, you are a great investigator, in the suggested threads there are all the information you need for me, even too much to avoid some confusion in a beginner like me.
Thanks

 

B flat, I think I take the maximum 3, because I'm afraid I still have no a good lip to risk on 3, 5 and the box is with 10 reeds....
Thank You

 

Rubberface, thanks, but I don't feel that I deserve the title of " Great investigator" I have merely typed Rigotti Gold here https://www.saxontheweb.net in the middle of the page where it says " Google Custom Search".

Too much information? Yes, probably, because there are so many ( and even a lot more ) threads already. In most cases the answers to most questions are already there.

Reed strength choice is not a race to the top. It took me years to shake off this misconception.

Life and things in life like playing a saxophone are a journey. Like for every Journey we use reference books (the archives) , the people who are on the same path and our own findings.

Good Luck with your journey

 

sure Milandro, my journey has a recent beginning and I clashed with the first difficulties, even in the trivial searches (I had put in search 'rigotti vs vandoren blu' ... better to work with simpler searches) but it seems that they can solve well with the experience and help of fans of the topic like you. The forums, for better or for worse, are a huge container of information, all useful, even sometimes the wrong ones. I'm happy to meet people available like you.
Good continuation of the trip .... which I believe does not have a fixed station of arrival.

 

it VERY much depend where you search.

if you do this on this page (please follow the link) https://www.saxontheweb.net

don't search on each page on the top right side that search box is not good.

Search where I told you:bluewink:

Then you fill Rigotti Vs. Vandoren in the search not at the top of the page , in the top middle of the page...

I find 617 hits ( cannot sed you the link anymore because search link expire after they have been generated)

One of the 617 hits is a thread called almost precisely like this and was started in 2012

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?175267-Alexander-vs-Vandoren-Reeds

Could anyone enlighten me about how Alexander reeds compare to Vandoren reeds? Not the strength - I know that Alexanders run about half a strength softer, if my memory serves me right - but in the quality (sound, response). I have played Vandoren Traditionals, V16's, ZZ's, and Java Reds, so please compare the Alexander to those. Thanks.

 

I've tried a lot of different brand tenor reeds over the years. For a long time I used, and liked, V16 (2.5) reeds. But I prefer Rigotti Gold to all the reeds I've tried. I think they play better and are more consistent (more good ones in a box) than the others I've tried. So, imo, they are great reeds and well worth a try.

 

ya, that is the right serch field.
I read and am reading on the matter.
THX

 

thanks JL for your opinion.
Today I take a decision to order a box of Rigotti Gold 2,5 Strong (also the seller confirm me that this grade is near to the V blu currently in use by me).
In a couple of days the reed will be to my home and I will test as need in the next period.
I will update this thread with my personal opinion about.

 

Today I take a decision to order a box of Rigotti Gold 2,5 Strong

I think that's a wise choice in size for trying them out (not too hard or too soft). I'm not familiar with the blue box reeds, but a Rigotti 2.5 strong is a good medium strength that will give you a good idea of how the brand plays. If you like them but decide they are a bit soft, you can always move to the 3 Light. I like both those sizes. I find the 3 Light to be pretty close to Vandoren V16 2.5 (which is a bit on the hard side compared to most 2.5 reeds).

 

Hmm, blue box 2.5 is pretty hard. also the Rigotti Gold is a quite a different cut, more like the "jazz" reeds. I would suggest a 3 medium or 3 hard at least. You may want to try the Rigotti Classic model too, maybe 2.5 medium or 2.5 hard.

 

In my experience, a Rigotti Gold 3 soft is every bit as hard as a blue box 2.5.

The Rigotti Classics are very close (for me) to the strength of the blue box. Maybe slightly harder. The Classics are available only in numbered increments. No soft, medium or hard.

 

Funny that we don’t seem to have these soft, medium, hard for either Rigotti or Alexander in the NL. Only whole and half sizes.

Also the only Gold we have are called Jazz.

I’ve bought some Alexander Classique which were the most similar reeds to the Gold Jazz that I always buy, no other Alexander comes even close to that!

Go figure, what’s in a name? Jazz, Classique....

 

the reeds arrived...the box is marked Rigotti Gold Jazz 2,5 strong. The appearance is visually good, the texture of the fibers and the color of the reed is nice. I find the tip lighter than the V blu 2.5 I use. I mounted one reed on the vadoren V16 T6, the sound is very nice, in my set up it may not be as hot as the blue V, but very full and constant in all the registers. If you push it runs very well, from my point of view perfect for jazz, especially the modern, but very usable for everything.
JL says right, my cut should be 3 light, a little bit hard, even closer to the blue V 2.5. At the moment I am happy to can use this size.
The next box for me will be 3 light probably.

 

I was always playing vandoren v16 reeds. Then i bought the rigotti reeds- 2,5 medium and strong. After 1 month i ordered the rigotti 3 soft and medium and the medium in my opinion were similar the vanoren v16 2,5.
The reeds are so good, after many years I have what I was looking for

 

A good way to test is to try smaller Rigotti Gold pack (3-reeds in pack).
I can confirm - the Rigotti Gold are fine, a little brighter then older unfiled Rico Jazz Select - D'addario, Vandoren Blue box, and other Rico I tried before.
The numbering is (in my opinion) usually a quarter or half softer than Vandoren (depends on Vandoren type)
They are ready to start in first minutes of playing, it's very comfortable. Consistent, hmm, enough, only some (2 in 10-pack) I feel like more mate, but ... more consistent in hardness and sound "colour" than other brands I played for years.
After playing first half of hour they become softer. I started with Rigotti Gold tenor 2,5 medium, next time I've bought 2,5 strong, using the same 0.110 Slant type mouthpiece. As I was curious, I tried 3 (soft and med.), but I came back to 2,5 strong.
Last 4 years I was playing Rigotti Gold 2,5 strong with comfort and pleasure.

 

In these last weeks I used the Rigotti reeds 2,5 s on Vandoren V16 T6 and confirm the good impression , yes , they are ready to start but really unfortunately the tip of the reed loosens becomes soft after 20-30 minutes of use, for this is certain passages it glues to the MP and suffocates the sound...maybe it doesn't occur with a more open MP. I'll try to search a smaller pack of Rigotti 3 to test.

 

yes , they are ready to start but really unfortunately the tip of the reed loosens becomes soft after 20-30 minutes of use, for this is certain passages it glues to the MP and suffocates the sound.

Yes, that's a common problem. The reeds become too soft and then they close up against the tip of the piece. Going up to 3's should solve the issue.

 

My reed of choice. Though there are some people who say the consistency has been questionable (product control). I've been using them for a couple of years now and think they are about as consistent as any other reeds. I like them because they are bright, responsive, and alive.

Roberto's reeds are also my favorite and are very similar but too inconvenient for me to use on a regular basis.

RG remind me a bit of vandoren java red a bit.

 

Thanks MrBlueNote, I think to 3 strong instead the actual 2,5 strong , the 3 medium could be an alternative or they are too near the current 2,5 strong?

 

Though I've experienced this problem with other reeds, I've never tried Rigottis, so I can't say for sure. However, if you get the 3 strong and find the reeds are too hard, you can always remove some material with a reed knife. Probably the only way to really know what works best for you is to try both. Good luck!

 

I play 3 medium on tenor too. I have some 3 lights and 2.5 strong, they are similar in strength. 3 medium is a significant step up in strength. I just clip the tip of the the 3 lights and 2.5 strongs

Regarding the softening up, do you adjust your reeds? If I balance them side to side when I first take them out of the box, I find they remain much more stable. There is always some very small change in the first hour or so of playing, but after that they remain very consistent until they die, at least for me.

 

I play 3 medium on tenor too. I have some 3 lights and 2.5 strong, they are similar in strength. 3 medium is a significant step up in strength. I just clip the tip of the the 3 lights and 2.5 strongs

Regarding the softening up, do you adjust your reeds? If I balance them side to side when I first take them out of the box, I find they remain much more stable. There is always some very small change in the first hour or so of playing, but after that they remain very consistent until they die, at least for me.

Hi Steve, I use the reed as is from the box...I never worked on the balancing of the reed manually , but I could buy the 3 medium or the 3 strong and if too much hard I can try to work on the reed to loose it as suggest by MrBlueNote on the discussion ...

 

Thanks JL, I'll probably order a box. The 2.5Ms are great for me right out of the box, but I suspect that a slightly stronger reed that takes a bit more breaking in might last a bit longer.

 

Forum member Honkbopsax got me hip to these about 10 years ago. Actually, he turned a bunch of people onto them in Pittsburgh, so much so that the local shop has a hard time keeping them in supply. In that decade, I've probably come across 5 bad ones, and they were all manageable. I've yet to find another cane reed that I can just pull out of a box mid-gig and start playing. The sub-sizes make a big difference in matching your reed to your mouthpiece. If they start fading on you, soak them in hydrogen peroxide for a few minutes, and enjoy them for another 2 hours or so of hard playing.

 

I've been using Rigotti 3 strong on tenor, in my opinion they are excellent but have a short duration

 

What do you call a 'short duration'? Are you saying short duration in comparison to other cane reeds? I guess everyone has a different experience when it comes to reeds, but in my experience the Rigottis last just as long as (or longer than) any other cane reed I've used.

 

Well, I just grabbed my V16 T6 and tried a 2.5 Vandoren Blue Box vs. a Rigotti 3 Light and a Rigotti 3 Medium. (Yes, I have too many mouthpieces and reeds.) I thought that the 3 Medium was closest to the 2.5 Vandoren. Obviously subjective, but that's what we're doing here. For what it's worth, I've alternated between Rigotti 3 Lights and Vandoren Red Box for several years.