Quality decline

[sax_appeal]

Is it just me or has the quality of reeds significantly declined in the last six months?

Though this could be just my view as I am Australian who gets the worst reeds from foreign makers imported into the country and the best Australian reeds are exported to the countries that send us their s*** reeds. Geex it annoys me...

[Hurling Frootmig]

I haven't noticed that and I've been purchasing a lot of cane reeds recently. I mostly buy Hemke's, Alexander's, and Vandoren ZZ's. What are you buying?

[Subtone Sam]

I have noticed the same thing.I've used LaVozes for years but the last 5-7 boxes or so have been total crap,only one or none playable reeds in the box and the few good ones die very quickly.So I tried other reeds,Marcas,Alexanders,Zondas and Plasticovers.Plasticovers were the only ones that worked,other brands had one or none good reeds on them.No other option but to use Plasticovers or go synthetic.

[sax_appeal]

I've been buying almost everything. I've noticed it the most in any rico reed though, they all seem quite a lot softer than they used to be

[Adam]

There is no question that since Rico changed their packaging again (to the individual reed holders) that something very bad has happened to their entire lineup. I have been using Rico and LaVoz since the mid 80's, and have never noticed such a dramatic change. I feel like I'm using another brand of reeds (using that term very loosely)... So far I have gone through two of these newer boxes, and have found one usable reed between the two. I've got three more boxes of this garbage, maybe I'll find something useful in there...