Rico Jazz Select strengths

[TJS]

I was wondering if anyone can tell me how the Jazz Select's compare in strength to plain Rico's. I have found conflicting information on different comparison charts.

Thanks.

[vick]

Consistency in strength changes from box to box in many reeds and almost always within the box itself. I'd say buy a box of the same strength you normally play on then go from there. If the reeds are too hard, shave them. If they're too soft, clip them. Note how they stand to your normal strength comfort and buy the next box accordingly. This has always worked for me.

[Anonymous]

I am also wondering how the numbering system for Jazz Select works. I've seen charts that show a 3 being harder than a 4 soft. I would have thought that a "3 soft" was softer than a 3 and "3 hard" was harder than a 3 and so on.

Anyway ... I've always played on plain Rico #4 reeds and usually have to soften up some of those reeds just a bit so I figured 4 soft would be about right in Jazz Select -- but I accidentally bought "4 hard" and they are softer than the orange box Rico 4. Actually they are perfect - I got lucky- but I still have no idea if a plain #4 would be harder or softer than my "4 hard".

[retread]

Go to the source: www.ricoreeds.com, click on downloads. That will take you to the official Rico strength comparisons.

[Mike Cesati]

I use Orange 3 1/2 tenor and would use 3M in a unfiled. Pretty close match.