Showdown! Is there really no jazz without "zz"?

[Tokanite]

I've been playing jazz for a short while now, and I'm looking into settling into my own sound. As I'm searching around for new reeds, mouthpieces, ligarures, ext. I've discovered that the reed world is the most confusing. (well second to the whole facing thing in mouthpieces, but thats not what we're here for) What I'm trying to get at is:

What exactly is the difference between ZZ's and Java's? I've owned both, and can only sense a slight difference. Are they cut differently? USe a different material? What? Are they supposed to sound alot different?!?!? GAHH :?

How confusing... help please?! :? :? :? :? :? :? :?

[Jbroad572]

I've been playing jazz for a short while now, and I'm looking into settling into my own sound. As I'm searching around for new reeds, mouthpieces, ligarures, ext. I've discovered that the reed world is the most confusing. (well second to the whole facing thing in mouthpieces, but thats not what we're here for) What I'm trying to get at is:

What exactly is the difference between ZZ's and Java's? I've owned both, and can only sense a slight difference. Are they cut differently? USe a different material? What? Are they supposed to sound alot different?!?!? GAHH :?

How confusing... help please?! :? :? :? :? :? :? :?
Which one sounds better to you?

[Razzy]

I have used Java for about 4 years and somewhere in there I tried out the ZZ's for both alto and tenor for a month or two. They sound great but I found them too free-blowing and very short-lived. I would recommend getting a lot harder strength than you would with the Javas, a half to a full strength harder, if you want any kind of longevity out of them.

[illezt]

Javas have a thinner tip, but there's more wood in the "heart" of the reed. From my experience, the Javas will give you a brighter, more cutting sound that's really modern. The ZZs tend to give me a bit of a smokier vintage kind of sound. Kinda like the old NYC jazz guys. That's just what I experienced though.

[BlueNote]

You are going to be doing a lot of trial-and-error playing tests with several different reeds before finding one that you are most comfortable with. I've tried them all (Rico, Rico Royal, Vandoren, Alexander, etc), and have naturally enjoyed using Rico Royals over any other reed brand. I don't care much for having an artificial edge to my tone by a reed. That's for the mouthpiece hunt. :D

And once your sound/tone is well developed, you will find that no matter what brand of reed you play on, you will always sound like you.

[Sigmund451]

Ive found the thinness of the tip on a Javva makes it easier to play more expressively than a ZZ. In terms of buzz they both have it. ZZs tend to have a tighter buzz. To me they sounded a little stuffy or perhaps just constricted. Try both see what you think.

[dirty]

When I play on Java 3's and ZZ 3's they don't feel like the same strength. ZZ's feel stiffer, with more resistance and i can get a nice, fat sound that I can push to be bright, or lay back a little and blow dark. I just switched from V16's, which were good for a thick, bright sound, really funky, but just couldn't do the lush, dark thing. Javas just don't work for me. 3's give me a similar amount of edginess to the ZZ's, but without the thicker core, so it just sounds thin and too soft. I kind of want to try Java 3.5's, but then, I've found something that works great (ZZ #3) and should probably buy 20 boxes and practice until they're all used up.

[Razzy]

Also keep in mind that reed quality changes seasonally. Sometimes a given company simply experiences a bad crop, and there's nothing we can really hope to do about that. I switched to Ricos for a year after a bad Vandoren year, then switched back in autumn to find that the Vandorens were playing much better for me than before, and much better than the Ricos.

[ThomasK]

x

[Tokanite]

From switching back from Java's to ZZ's, I've come across, like many of you have, that the Javas are thinner than the ZZ's. Perhaps if I get a stronger Java, this difference will be taken care of...

[sopsax]

Oh, pleazz. Alexander DC can do what Vandoren ZZ duz, only mo' bettah.

[Ol' Mpc Doc]

For nice graphic explanation of the different cuts on Vandoren reeds, simply go to vandoren.com. There are significant differences in vamp development as well as tip profile that affect performance response and individual preferences. For myself, I'm staying with the Alexander Superials or Rico Jazz Select unfiled.....

[Tokanite]

Thanks Ol' Mpc Doc. :D That site pretty much cleared all this up.