Vandoren: Bright to Dark on Trad.,V16,ZZ,JAVA

[BobD]

Are softer reeds considered to be generally brighter than harder reeds? I played a box of 21/2 Vandoren ZZ reeds and they along with V16 reeds seem a bit bright. I was wondering if going harder would darken things a bit. Also, what order would you put Vandoren reeds if going from brightest to darkest? Thanks.

[Tears June]

BobD

All Vandoren reed I've tried before is considering bright reed ((Java, V-16, Traditional & ZZ)

Java has most brightness sound but also most free blowing
All others is almost same but ZZ is more dark compare with others.

You may consider Blue Box Traditional. I like the sound, not too sharp but very brilliance. However, I realize their 2.5 strength is almost equal to 3 Java. If you can handle 2.5 V-16 & ZZ very easy, not a problem to try 2.5 Traditional. Otherwise, try 2 Traditional first.

:cry:

[BobD]

Well I answered my own question. I bought another box of ZZ reeds but in a 3 strength instead of 21/2. It darkened things up a bit and gave an improvement in tone. I think these reeds run a bit soft because I feel like I could move up to a 31/2 on them as opposed to the V16's which I play in a 21/2.

[Andrew]

Vandoren ZZ? What's that? I've heard of the others, but not ZZ...I probably know what you're talking about, but I'm just not recognizing ZZ.

[sinkdraiN]

I am VERY impressed wwith the box of tenor ZZ #3 I bought a week ago. I used to use V16s but the ZZs helps me achieve a much better tone. Even more astonishing was the fact that every single reed in the box played equally well. I was lucky to get two good V16s in a box. I did not have as much success with the ZZs on alto. They were good, but I still prefer the Javas on my alto Morgan mouthpiece. On tenor, the ZZs are here to stay.

...now if i could only find a reed that improves my sightreading :D

[TenorTrane]

BobD

All Vandoren reed I've tried before is considering bright reed ((Java, V-16, Traditional & ZZ)

Java has most brightness sound but also most free blowing
All others is almost same but ZZ is more dark compare with others.

You may consider Blue Box Traditional. I like the sound, not too sharp but very brilliance. However, I realize their 2.5 strength is almost equal to 3 Java. If you can handle 2.5 V-16 & ZZ very easy, not a problem to try 2.5 Traditional. Otherwise, try 2 Traditional first.

:cry:

I disagree.. I find that the V-16's along with my Vandoren T-35 offer the darkest sound out of all the Vandoren makes I've played on.. I absolutely hate the Traditionals.

And, I love the consistency of the ZZ's.. but I really dislike the sound I get out of them.. they really just have a very clean sound, thats about it.. they are very responsive and free though.

Best Vandoren reeds I have played on.. have to be 10 yr old Blue Box traditionals. Perfect sound for what I'm trying to achieve.

Oh, I'd also like to say I play on 3 1/2 V-16's and 3's on the ZZ's..

[Vortex]

Hand selects are pretty stiff too. I use Vandoren Hand Select 2's on my Meyer 5, they're much stiffer than regular trads.

[saxy]

Hi, I find the Vandoren Java and the ZZ to be darker than the Traditional and the V16. Also the Java to be more free blowing that the ZZ. I was using #2 on the Traditionals for a little ove a year. Just started to try a switch to Java 2.5 or 3.

[silverghost]

I find my JAVA 3's to be very nicely bright, in fact much brighter than the ZZ 3's that i recently tried. And also, maybe im just not picky, but JAVA's have been amazingly consistent for me--as in 8 good ones in a box. All it takes is a day or two to break it in with some hard playing...

SilverGhost

[SaxGirlU2]

I have been using the ZZ's #3 on my bari and it has a dark rich tone. And are more consistent than anything else I have used before. They are my personal favorite