Phat Reeds (The Brand Name "Phat")

[Stacey]

I bought a box of #2.5 Phat tenor reeds on eBay a while back, because I'd never tried them, and because the price was right. Well, I tried one shortly after getting it, concluded "ooh, that is AWFUL - nearly unplayable", and set all five reeds to the side and forgot about them.

Last night, I got out the exact same reed, tried it on the same mouthpiece and horn, and concluded "ooh, this really has a nice sound".

This has me thinking something wasn't quite set right the last time, and maybe the reeds aren't so bad - not the one I tried, anyway.

Does anyone have any experience with these reeds? What are your impressions on quality and consistency? I really don't know much about them, other than seeing that they are imported by Unison, and sold through some of the usual Unison dealers. I don't even know what they sell for commercially, only that I got a smokin' deal on a box of five on eBay.

Thanks for any comments,

Stacey

[saxyclarinet]

I've never dealt with those reeds, but the same reed can play to two different extremes just because of the time of day. I had a reed that refused to play all last month, so I set it aside. I tried it again this afternoon and it played like a dream. Last month was pretty dry in my neck of the woods, and today, it's raining.

I'm sorry I don't have anything on those reeds, but this is really how it is for reeds in general.

[TJS]

I tried a 2.5 for tenor and it was way too hard. I hope to try a 2 one of these days. I usually play around a Rico 2 1/2. I am using a Lamberson SB8 (.120).