reed strength issues

[pat_27]

I currently use an Otto Link rg5 w/ .128 opening and Rico #2 reeds. I am considering LaVoz and Vandoren reeds, are their #2's the same strength at my Rico's or are they typically harder or softer?

[Gregg W. Jackson]

A Rico 2 is closer to a Vandoren 1 1/2 or a La Voz Soft. (La Voz uses a Soft, Medium Soft, Medium, etc. grading system).

There's a chart at the Rico web site (http://www.ricoreeds.com/) that shows comparative reed strengths of Ricos and other reeds. Go to the Download page and download the Strength Comparison poster. It will open the file in Adobe Acrobat in your browser.

[pat_27]

I bought a box of LaVoz MediumSoft reeds. They don't seem to be any harder except much harder to produce sounds. The reeds I used before, Rico #2, were nearly perfect and I could play the whole range of notes without a problem and was easy-blowing, but chirped a lot. What gives?

Is it the lesser Rico quality that makes the chirps? If I would try La Voz Soft reeds, would they chirp too?

BTW..... Otto Link RG5 with .128 opening is my MP.

[Sigmund451]

Chirps can be caused by the mouthpiece itself as well as your use of it. Rico...even the cheap ones dont inherently chirp. I would suggest with any reed that you polish the bottom with sandpaper. I use 1500 but it loads up pretty fast. Use it on a flat glass, a few strokes is enough. As for Lavoz, Ive had some mouthpices where its just an uphill battle to get a note out, others worked well. Ive had good luck with Rico Jazz Selects, Alexaders, and Vandorens. Try a couple of other reeds and see if the chirping stopps.