[dealaddict]

Hi,

I use a Rigotti classic gold 2 (S) on a Otto Link 7*. What Rigotti should I use on a Link Four Star 3? Would it be a 3? There is also 3 Light, Medium and Strong. 3 Medium is about middle of 3.5 and 4 for Vandoren Java according to the chart. Also, any comment between the L, M and S? Should I stick M?


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[1saxman]

How did anyone ever manage to actually play sax before SOTW?

Why would you change from a 7* to a 3? That's a drastic change.

 

[Dr G]

Hi,

I use a Rigotti classic gold 2 (S) on a Otto Link 7*. What Rigotti should I use on a Link Four Star 3? Would it be a 3? There is also 3 Light, Medium and Strong. 3 Medium is about middle of 3.5 and 4 for Vandoren Java according to the chart. Also, any comment between the L, M and S? Should I stick M?

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What is the actual tip opening?

That seems a light setup on the 7*. There may be something else going on that needs to be sorted out.

What is your sound like on the 7*/2(S)?

For that Four Star, I would start with something like a 4 or greater. FWIW, I use a Rigotti 3M on my Morgan 6C (.090").

As 1saxman says, it really comes down to going through a few reeds to sort it out. There is no lookup table for this stuff, and if there was, it would either be wrong, or give a very wide range of recommendations at each combination of tip opening, facing schedule, baffle, and chamber.

G'luck!

 

[dealaddict]

Well, I know ultimately I need to try it out myself, but just want to get some idea before buying all the reeds, just to save some money. I am planning to start trying a 3M. I hope from others experience, maybe we can draw a correlation between tip opening and reed strength. For example, if tip opening increase by 1, the reed strength decrease by 0.5 ... something like that.

Also want to get some feedback among the L,M, S. Is that really just a change in strength, or the reeds feel totally different.

As to why I buy a 3 tip opening ... that’s just pure experimenting a smaller tip size. And I hear a good mellow sound from a Link four star model.


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[Dr G]

Well, I know ultimately I need to try it out myself, but just want to get some idea before buying all the reeds, just to save some money. I am planning to start trying a 3M. I hope from others experience, maybe we can draw a correlation between tip opening and reed strength. For example, if tip opening increase by 1, the reed strength decrease by 0.5 ... something like that.

Sure, that could work if everything else was the same (baffle, chamber, etc.), but you are not making a subtle change from an STM 7* to an STM 6*.

 

[turf3]

I'd start by buying a reed clipper and a small penknife.

Then get some reeds.

If the reed's too soft, clip it. If too hard, scrape it.

This way as you get accustomed to the new mouthpiece, you can end up saying "well, it seems like I'm the most comfortable with my scraped down 3.5 and my clipped 2.5 - so voila! I should buy a box of #3s!"

 

[JL]

For example, if tip opening increase by 1, the reed strength decrease by 0.5 ... something like that.

I've never found it to work like that. As Dr G pointed out, there are other factors in the mpc design to consider. It's true that if you make a significant change downward in tip size (as you seem to be doing) you might want to go to a harder reed, but only by testing them out will know how much of a change. FWIW, I use the same size reed (Rigotti 3L) on a 7* tip as on a 9* (and the sizes in between). But others might prefer a different size or a range in sizes, not to mention different brand reeds, etc. You have to find out for yourself.

p.s. Good advice by turf above as a way to 'ballpark' it.

 

[Reet McVouty]

Hi,

I use a Rigotti classic gold 2 (S) on a Otto Link 7*. What Rigotti should I use on a Link Four Star 3? Would it be a 3? There is also 3 Light, Medium and Strong. 3 Medium is about middle of 3.5 and 4 for Vandoren Java according to the chart. Also, any comment between the L, M and S? Should I stick M?

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Truth be told there aren't any Rigotti's that will work on any Link under a 5*. Anything under 5* you will need a vintage Rico for it.

 

[dealaddict]

I still haven’t bought the Rigotti 3M yet, but I tried all the reeds I have yesterday, and have some interesting observations and questions.

The reeds strength varies from Vandoren Java 2 to V16 3.5. First of all, it seems I need to put the mouthpiece further into my mouth in order to produce a sound. My lip is about the top of the bite plate. For big opening opening, my lip is towards the tip of the bite plate. And this is consistent for all the reeds. Is this the right way to play a small tip opening mouthpiece? Or is it because the reeds a too soft to produce a sound with my lip closer to the tip?

Secondly, among all the reeds I tried, it seems the 3 is too hard for me to play softly on low Bb. The best tone I have is on a Rigotti classic 2, same reed I like on big opening mouthpiece.

However, for the low C and below, the sound is not stable, like a flapping sound. What is the cause of it? I tried everything I can, position of my lip, position of the ligature, relax and round my throat, relax lip, maintain good air support ... any other thing I missed?




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[B Flat]

I use a Masterlink four stars model in Baritone.
However mine has been opened up to a .110 tip.
I use Fibracell 3.5 or Rico Royal 3.5 with it.
I had on for tenor for a short while but at a 5 tip opening it was too closed for my liking regardless of reeds I tried.
As you mentioned it did have a lovely warm tone but it was a lot of work to play it in tune or with any real volume.

 

[DarrellMass]

I use a Fibracell 3.0 on a 5* NV Tone Edge. (Since Bb was nice enough to open the door on synths!)