Alexander types/strengths

[singlereed]

On the basis of good reviews here, I have just got some alto Superial DCs 2.5 and so far I am very pleased with them. My faves till now have largely been Grand Concert Select 2.5 or Rico Jazz Select filed 3S or 2H on alto and tenor, RJS 2H on bari and 3S on sop, though for sop I have been using V16 2.5 for a while as the upper register seems more secure with the stiffer heart.

2 Questions: - has anyone compared the merits of the Superials/DC/Classique - can you enlighten me?

Are the strengths of the three lines more or less the same, and is my perception correct that they are a shade softer than the equivalent Vandoren Traditonnel numbers?

I play mainly classical, but also get to let rip in concert band stuff, and mostly use either Vandoren V5 or Selmer metal classic mouthpieces.

[Roger Aldridge]

Hi Singlereed!

I've spent time playing on all 3 kinds of Alexander reeds. They definitely have different tonal qualities. If you haven't already done so, check out the www.superial.com website. Descriptions are given of the playing characteristics of each reed. This might be helpful to you.

My personal favorite for the quality of sound that I like is Classique. It's strength is pretty close to Vandoren Traditional. It's a bit stiffer than DC or Superial.

All 3 kinds of Alexanders are superb reeds. The best way, of course, to learn about them is to get a couple of boxes of each kind, prepare them and break them in as Tom recommends, and then wail away on them. It probably won't take long to see which kind you like the best. It may even turn out that you like more than one. Some players like Classique for classical or concert settings and DC or Superial for jazz. I remember one guy on the old forum who said that he loves Superial for R&B. I use Classique for everything. Thus, it's just a matter of finding what you like.

[singlereed]

Having lived with the Alexander Superial DCs for a few more days, I have to say I have lost patience with them. The website is very helpful giving a soaking and induction programme for reeds, but frankly I can't be bothered. The two Alexanders I have been using on 2 different mouthpieces played pretty well from the start and then after a few minutes use both of them started howling, as if they had suddenly lost their resistance. I am preparing for a diploma exam in a few days and can't be doing with that kind of stuff. I am pleased to say, a Rico Grand Concert Select has restored normal service with no fuss whatsoever.

[max]

I don't follow the given instructions that carefully. As long as I soak them for a few minutes, I'm good to go. For me, they're the best reeds I've ever played.

Some people just seem to have bad luck with them, though. There was a lot of discussion on the old board about it, but no real answers for why. (there was also a lot of counterproductive name-calling - let's not do that again, please!)

As for which flavor I like (for anyone who might still be curious about the original topic), I've also played all three.
On tenor, I like Superial. For about a month I switched to Classique, but I ended up going back to Superials.
On soprano, I like DCs. Classiques are a very close second. I may still change my mind about that...

[MacSax]

After reading all the good (and bad) things that were mentioned about Alexander reeds on the old board, I gave them a try. I started with the DC 3's and found them to be almost too responsive. The sound was very bright with little resistance...howling is a pretty good way to descibe it. I moved up a half strength to 3.5 and that helped a bit, but the sound still had too much emphasis on the upper overtones. I made the switch to Classique 3 and haven't looked back. There is just the right amount of resistance, the sound is more pure, more of a singing quality.

[singlereed]

I have just had a very helpful note from Tom Alexander who had been looking at the board. So, I'll see what advice he gives on types, strengths and handling the reeds.

[yaucante]

I'm joining the train late but I've checked out the Alexander superial (3) recently and I have mixed feelings. I've played each one several times and it's a neverending break-in and soaking process that really annoys me. If you don't soak, there's no sound, if you don't treat'em nice and sweet for 10 minutes, they squeak like a young virgin caught up naked
in the bathroom. Granted, some play real good after a while, but it really takes patience and other just keep squeaking. Haven't tried the DCs though. I play a berg 105/2 SMS on alto and I've used this set-up for years with vandoren java (3) that seem to play fine out of the box. Now, I've swiched to Lavoz medium and get good results too with the Francois Louis ligs.

Y.

[Reedsource]

Dear Yaucante....Please drop us a line. Our reeds do not require a "neverending" break in and soaking process and I'll bet we can locate the source of the problem you seem to be experiencing...

Sincerely,

Tom Alexander
Alexander Superial

[yaucante]

Sure,

Whom should I write to? So far I have only tried a box of 5 Superial and my comments are strictly comparative: on the same set-up, the LaVoz Medium and Java 3 don't require a lot of preparation, although their quality seem to vary much more than the superial. On the other hand, let's say after 10 times, I still have to go through the same process of soaking the superial several minutes, then drying it a bit, then playing gently for some time otherwise it squeaks and I have not yet heard them at the full potential that they seem to have. So, any advice welcome because the price of these reeds makes test-playing prohibitive in the end! I appreciate your feedback.

Y.

[Mike Ruhl]

go to www.superial.com and scroll a bit to the email link.

[Reedsource]

Dear Yaucante...Sorry, here's the e-mail address:
superial@gol.com

Look forward to hearing from you...

Tom Alexander

[Tears June]

I would like to know

Java 2.5 is equal to which strength of Superial ? still 2.5 or just 2 because Java is more soft.


:cry:

[Razzy]

Weird... I got some classique 3's, and do the same thing I always do with my ricos and vandorens: wet the reed in my mouth for a few seconds, stretch it out a bit to get the cane nice and even, and put it on the mouthpiece and play right from the start. If the reed's a little dead, I immdediately take a reedknife and sandpaper to the heart, and 90% of the time that does the trick: reed plays like new for a month or two, then I chuck it when it starts to "die" or gets moldy. Sometimes reeds last more than that. I've had a certain rico jazz select 3soft for 5 months now, but the Vandorens never seemed to last for me. Been 3 weeks and thus far, all these classiques are still playing great.

Soaking's simply never worked for me, and I've never needed it. Soaking in my saliva is all that was ever necessary and to this day still works, even with the so-called "break in period" that the Alexander reeds are claimed to need. Yea I break 'em in alright, with a good 3 hours of practice that is! :wink:

[Roger Aldridge]

Once in awhile I'll get a box of Classiques that aren't quite as good as what I've come to expect. I understand that this is one of the realities of using a reed made from naturally growing cane. However, the latest box that I broke in was back on the mark. EVERY reed played like a heavy weight champ without anything needing to be done to it. This is the sound that I really love! Thank you Tom!!!!

[Hurling Frootmig]

I picked up my first box of them today. WOW!!!!!

These are the best reeds I have seen in a long time . . . right out of the box. I always soak my reeds for ten to fifteen minutes before the first play through test (about five minutes). No duds in the box. It looks like they will require minimum work in terms of finishing. Thanks Tom!

[pbsax]

Im playing on a Vandoren Classic 3 with a beechler 8. What would be a good switch for type and strength to an Alexander reed. The Vandorens give me too much resistance in the low register, so I'm looking for a more free blowing, easier reed. Thanks

[singlereed]

Well despite not getting on with the DC (think the 2.5 was too soft for my favoured mouthpieces), I got some Classique 2.5 and am enjoying them very much. I have used Rico Grand Concert Select for a long time and find the Classique has an even more responsive tip and a bit more presence to the sound - the GCS seem a bit more resistant on my mouthpieces. So, to the last poster, I would suggest Rico GCS 3 or Classique 3 as an alternative to the Vandoren, neither is exactly the same but I find both of these are a bit more free blowing and with more control - at least that is my perspective comparing all those in 2.5 strength.

[Tears June]

Does Superia 2.5 & DC Superia 2.5 has same hardness with ZZ 2.5 ?

:cry:

[Sigmund451]

Sorry about the double post but I didnt notice the reed catagory...my bad.

I have a sealed box and one just opened box of Alexander Classiques 3

My eyes were bigger than my chops.

27 bucks for 9 reeds total, 27 bucks and 2 for shipping.

will consider trade...for what I cant really say but Im open to suggestions.

[Mike Cesati]

I'll trade you 2 1/2 Superial's in the yellow box. They are unplayed and they are too soft for me. I'll use the 3 classiques.( these are tenor reeds I'm talking about here BTW)

[Sigmund451]

Just to throw in the mix I will mention that I have recently now tried the DCs. I ve been playing the Superials which were working nicely. Im finding that the DC on my The Martin Tenor offeres a more focused core sound whereas the Superaials generated a sold core along with a spread sound that encompased a broad amout of auditory space. They are stiffer than the superials and Im not sure which I like better yet, but the differences are very distinct. The DCs are a very clean precise sound as well and dont tend to tollerate as much slop. They seem to demand very consistent diaphramatic breathing (which is a good thing for a slopy player) to work well. Part of that could be the increased stiffness too.

[GottaSax]

Well, I got a box of 3.5 classiques...and only one was playable :( . Although, that one reed was the best reed I have ever played...I thought that A.S's were famous for all (or mostly) playable straight out of the box (tin). I will not give up however! I am going to be ordering another tin, but I really hope that I jsut recieved the unlucky tin that is always out there.

Brian MacMillin
West Point, NY

[Saxophoon]

Hello all, I need some help. My current setup is a Selmer Ref 54 tenor, Doc Tenney Slant mold Link 7, experimenting with stock and other necks, and ZZ reeds #3. Im finally begining to be a little happy with my sound but as always I feel there is quite a bit if room for improvement. I've been playing on ZZ's for about since they came out and I dig them. Knowing the great quality of Alexander reeds I feel they might be able to do better. I tried DC's a few yrs back and liked them at first but then strayed from them(something just wasnt there). When I got my mouthpiece Doc urged me to try the Superials(yellow box) so I got a couple boxes of 3 1/2's but they were too hard or soft(cant remember cause I was playin diff stregnth reeds at the time). The ones I could play were amazing!!!!!!! I dont think I did the break in process but I think they were still great. I need to know what stregnth I should try and is the whole break-in thing really a necessity? I should be shedding and not fooling around with reeds. Thanks for the help!

[retread]

I'm using Superials on a Tenney HR Link, and also tried them based on Doc's suggestion. To me they seem like different reeds before and after the break-in procedure. Out of the box they are a little stuffy and blow hard. After break-in they really open up and blow more freely. A week of gentle break-in makes a big difference.

[JimD]

I think that the strength grading is very unreliable in Alexanders. I only use DCs but I've had similar issues with Superials. My lastest box has had, so far, 3 very hard; one of which is unplayable and the other two eventually could be worked on to play; when they played they were excellent, and 4 that have played easily but have ranged from bright to very bright. What that means to me is that they are too soft. The latest one for the break in procedure is hard but will eventually play well I'm sure. All in all, across a box of 3s I reckon I've had one 4, two 3.5s maybe a 3 and two or three 2.5s. The trouble is I don't know which is the true 3. I'm not just basing this on one box. A year or so ago I found similar problems and before I bought this latest box I bought 2 singles. Guess what, one was hard and one was soft.

I had a long email exchange with Tom about this and he told me they had a state of the art grading machine and insisted that there was no problem. I'm afraid that's not my experience. Of course other brands show the same differences but not so extreme. I think this is a shame as they are without doubt the best sounding and feeling reeds around and I don't intend to give up so quickly. Maybe I'll try the Classiques.