Plasicover strength

[Greyduster]

I've just bought a plasticover 2 1/2 and a 3. I normally play Rico Royal 2 1/2.

My experience is that the plasticover 2 seems about equivalent to my 2 1/2 ( I have to admit to not having tried that many of them)
Someone else in a thread here said that they had had the same experience of plasticovers being about 1/2 to 1 grade harder than a natural equivalent.

I just wondered what other people's thoughts were on this issue who have more experience than me.

The Plasticover 3 seems very stuffy.
Are Plasticovers as inconsistent as natural reeds?

[SoulMate]

Are Plasticovers as inconsistent as natural reeds?


Yes, they are. They are natural reeds with a thin plastic layer on top, so there's bound to be a slight difference in reed strength even within the same box.

Drilling a plasticover frees up the reed tremendously. I use 3's al the time and I find them to be really bright and buzzy, which is what I like in a reed.

[Deva]

Drilling a plasticover frees up the reed tremendously.

Drilling? Do you mean playing with it a lot or actually piercing it in some way?

Just bought my first plasticover out of curiosity, just a random single, but I like the big bright sound too. I got a Plasticover 3 and it seems slightly soft compared to my usual Vandoren Java 3, but I think that Vandoren are generally stronger reeds than Rico.

[Bill Mecca]

Drilling? Do you mean playing with it a lot or actually piercing it in some way?


Deva, this will answer your question

http://www.geocities.com/reed_drilling/

I was playing fibracell #3 n tenor and have recently been using plasitcover 2.5's feel about the same, the 3's are a bit stiffer than the fibracell.

[Super 20 Player]

Deva, this will answer your question

http://www.geocities.com/reed_drilling/Wow, great little site. Very informative! Thanks.

:wink:

[Bill Mecca]

hey super20player, good to "see" you around... now get back to work!