Alexander Classique reeds

[Datsaxman04]

What do you guys think of Alexander Classique's for saxophone?? I play on vandoren 3's but I notice that I can't get the full projection I want when I really push for more.. Any suggestions???


Datsaxman

[Sigmund451]

Dude..pick one area and post your question, dont post in multiple areas.

[Mike Cesati]

My favorite reed. Very consistent, long lasting. Great for jazz on my mpc. Everyone is different. You'll really have to try for yourself.

Alexanders have been discussed here quite a bit. try searching for threads on them.

[JJ]

I really like them too, on my tenor Jody Jazz HR*. Very free blowing with a big focused sound.

They are offen compared with Vandoren Classic. But they sound and feel very different imho.

[chknbon]

try brancher opera reeds. i have a setup that's really big sounding with the operas. for me, the classiuqes only work on clarinet.

[JJ]

I really like the sound from Alexanders. I have one problem though. The seal. After a while they tend (some of them) to loose the seal. It starts with moist comming out where the reed meets the rail. Then it becomes worse and moist comes out even at the end of the reed. This happens after 15-30 minutes and makes the reed unplayable. When removing the reed the table on the mouthpiece is all wet.

First I thought it was the table not being flat (and maybe it is). But I have had this problem on my old setup. (Two different HR Links, an old Guardala Crescent and a HR Lebayle using Superial DC) So I stopped using DC's. But lately the same thing happened with my Jody Jazz HR* and Superial Classique. I never experienced this when using Vandoren or Rico reeds. The mouthpiece table is always dry after playing with these brands.

Yesterday it happened again. I tried to wipe the reed and table off, but after that the reed was unplayable. I took my old Guardala mouthpiece out of the drawer and put on the reed. Same thing. Unplayable.

I haven't read about others having this problem with Superials, so it must be my mouthpieces. Or maybe my ligatures? Or could it be the reeds warping so much?

/Jan

[Roger Aldridge]

JJ,

It seems to me that your ligature is most likely at fault rather than the reed. What kind of ligature are you using? Another thing to check is whether your ligature may be placed too far back on the reed & mouthpiece. If that's the case, it could explain why you're not getting a proper seal with your reed. I've experimented quite a bit with the placement of the ligature and found that Ralph Morgan's recommendation about where to place the ligture gives me the best results. See where the window opening ends on your mouthpiece. I place the front edge of my ligature just behind that spot. If memory serves, I believe that Ralph suggests around 1/8" behind the edge of the window. Typically, it's also just behind the U-shaped cut of the reed. In placing my ligature like this it appears to be more forward than where a lot of players put their lig. However, I've found that if I place my ligature further back I notice a decline in tonal quality.

Please let us know if this helps or not.

Roger