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What do YOU Think? I need a new reed...

1202 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  sycc, 
B
Hello.

I'm almost finished with my Rico Royal 2.5's and I'm headed over to Rayburn here in Boston at the end of the week.

I think I'm ready to move up to a #3, but I'd like to try something other than Rico. I'm ashamed to admit, I've never tried a reed that WASN'T a Rico.

I don't have a ton of money, so I want to make sure I don't waste 20.00 on a box of something I either can't play or won't like.

What do you guys recommend?

I use a Brilhart 5* (steel)(tenor). I need something, honestly, that will allow me to lay out a super-crisp upper register tone and still hit my low c#, b, and Bb...

Thank you in advance for any direction....

ps: if it's a decent brand, it doesn't HAVE to be a 3#....it could be a good 2.5...


Brian
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D
Brian: Have you considered Fibracells? They are really strong but when matched to the right mouthpiece, they can really play well, too. They last a long time and are fairly consistent among similar strengths.

I usually match them to closer-tipped mouthpieces using the Fibracell strengths of SOFT or 1 1/2 or 2 in place of Vandoren Java 2 or 2 1/2.

Reeds are nototriously inconsistent, though. Most players reacty differently to brands, cuts, and strengths (just like mouthpieces). DAVE
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Pumseig: That has not happened to me although I'm only using one of the newer Fibracells (a 1 1/2 on an alto mouthpiece). The one I'm using on clarinet is really old (SOFT, not the newer numerical reeds) but it is still vibrant as all heck.

Others have posted that they felt a difference between the older Fibracells and the newer ones with numerical ratings, but I didn't experience that, either.

Maybe you should report your experiences to the Fibracell company and let us know how they reacted to your report. DAVE
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