Which Reed for Berg Larsen 75/2/SMS Metall?

[Majestic]

Hi Guys,

I just want to know if someone in this forum here plays a Berg Larsen 75/2/SMS Metall Mouthpiece or one with a comparable tip opening and if you play one, which reeds do you use?

I simply ask because i actually play Hemke 2.5 reeds, my problem simply is that i just can use 1 out of 10 reeds. I really like the "good" ones, but it really sucks to throw 90 % or even more away...

I've testet Alexander Superial and DC, La Voz, Vandoren (ZZ, Classic, V16), Francois Louis, Plasticover und a Fiberreed.
Sax is a Selmer SA II, Ligature Rovner Dark.

Thanks for your posts.

Majestic

[gary]

I just want to know if someone...here plays a Berg Larsen 75/2/SMS Metall Mouthpiece or one with a comparable tip opening and...which reeds do you use? I simply ask because i actually play Hemke 2.5 reeds, my problem simply is that i just can use 1 out of 10 reeds. I've testet Alexander Superial and DC, La Voz, Vandoren (ZZ, Classic, V16), Francois Louis, Plasticover und a Fiberreed.Alto I assume?

Well just a couple of observations. FWIW I would use a #3, not a #2.5 for that opening. Also, you give a long list of reeds but you don't say what the results were. Does this mean that out of all of these brands you only get one out of ten workable reeds? If that's the case the problem is likely not with the reed strength-to-mouthpiece ratio.

[Mike Ruhl]

I was out on the Berg Larsen website the other day, and noticed that they're selling their own line of reeds now. Might be worth a try. Pretty expensive, though. http://www.berglarsen.com/Reeds.html

[Majestic]

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, it is a Alto.

Well, the reeds i've tested from other brands simply don't fit to my imagination of my sax sound (and of course a good Hemke does).

So what can i do?

[Dave dix]

Get a wider tip opening mpc or heavier reeds but it sounds like your restricting the airflow too much and only the slightly courser reed in the box vibrates correctly so if you used , say a 95/2 (around 6* ) instead of around a 4* this should open you up a bit and you can use the rest of the 200 boxs of reeds you have lying around
Dave

[Majestic]

Not 200, but around 10 ;-)

Yeah, i will propably test perhaps a wider opening next week. I will inform you about my results. But tip opening 75 is already 6.

[Michael Ward]

I used to play a Berg stainless 80/2/SMS years ago on alto and I used Rico Royal 2 1/2.It was a decent piece that I picked out at the old factory at Potters Bar. With the amount of reeds you've tried and are going through I'd have your Berg checked out by an expert, then your horn. Bergs are notorious for not being what the numbers say, often badly faced with warped tables. Really it doesn't sound like the reeds.