Rico Jazz Select reeds

[Wailin']

What has been your experience with Rico jazz select reeds? What is the difference between the filed and unfiled in terms of tone, response, durability and longevity?

[saxdude48]

Here's what I have found:
Filed are easier low response, slighly weaker upper register, brighter, a bit more free blowing (I like them better).
Unfilled are darker, more mellow, basically just a slightly thicker sound.
I think normally people like using filed reeds with more open chambered mouthpieces and unfilled with more small chambered mouthpieces.
-Benji

[dstack79]

Many ppl here like the RSJ reeds. If there's any difference between the filed and unfiled reeds, it's subtle at best. Across a sample set of dozens of boxes in each style, I've found them to be pretty much identical on average.

Search for a thread using keywords"Filed" and "Unfiled" in this reed forum, and you'll see a lot of other opinions on this matter.

[dstack79]

Here's some threads, Wailin':

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=36231&highlight=filed+unfiled

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=46578&highlight=filed+unfiled

[Wailin']

I've never tried the Alexanders superials, DC's or classiques. Thing is local stores don't sell them.

If Rico selects are doin' it for me should which size is comparable to the Rico select 3 filed soft? Some reed charts on the net do lie!! One webpage claimed that Alexander ran close behind Select. What are your thoughts? I'm always experimenting for the "ideal setup".

My mouthpiece is Guardala MB, very open so the soft reed tends to fit it.

[jazzsax07]

I am on my 1st reed of my first box. Using 2 med. filed on soprano with various mpcs. a s80c, yamaha 6c and metal selmer jazz C. I really like the reed so far. I am into about the third week of playing about 4 hrs. per week and just noticing it is getting a little less responsive. The reed played right out of the box, I can only hope the remainder of the box is as good.

[dstack79]

I've never tried the Alexanders superials, DC's or classiques. Thing is local stores don't sell them.

If Rico selects are doin' it for me should which size is comparable to the Rico select 3 filed soft? Some reed charts on the net do lie!! One webpage claimed that Alexander ran close behind Select. What are your thoughts? I'm always experimenting for the "ideal setup".

My mouthpiece is Guardala MB, very open so the soft reed tends to fit it.

A DC or Superial #3 is about equivalent to RSJ 3s or 3m...maybe right between the 2.

[GAS_Wyo]

[QUOTE=Wailin']I've never tried the Alexanders superials, DC's or classiques. Thing is local stores don't sell them. [QUOTE]
Ive tried the Alexanders in both types, and 2 strengths. I bought 4 tins and have come to the conclusion that I wasted about $90. The profile of these reeds takes some REAL time. I played 3 of them for about 4 weeks and never really got the embouchure used to them.

I am TOTALLY impressed with the RJS 2S reeds. I'm playing those on an RPC 105...best sound I have ever made on a sax.

[Dog Pants]

Wailin,

Just picked up a box of the RJS 3M unfiled. I just got home and opened them up. Looks wise, I'm sceptical. 7/10 have dark "pith?" running the length of the reed. I'm prepping the other three as I write, so I'll give them a go and post my findings.
FWIW, I went with the 3M (down from the Rico 4's I was using) just to give myself an easier time this week. I have a few full days of "Band Camp" to teach and to top it off, my Buescher gave up the ghost on Friday. I'll use my Conn "Chu" Alto, (time for pinky surgery again :( ) :( and I'm hoping the softer reeds will not only give me an easier time of it, but also help tame the volume because I'll be playing alongside young kids on 4C mpc's with 1.5 reeds.
The RJS seem, on looks alone, to have a decent amount of heart to them, but I'll post more when I've played them a little.

[sinkdraiN]

I was using javas on my link and came across a box of RJS 3S. Surprisingly, these reeds are more responsive on my mouthpiece. I was actually rather bummed about it as I like and am comfortable with vandoren. When I saw the price of RJS, I was delighted.

The response of RJS on my link is faster and less resistant. The sound is livlier, and more focused than javas. On tape, the difference is obvious with the rjs being brighter and buzzier. It's nice on my link.

[joelsp]

I guess it's just me, but I have yet to play one of these I liked, on tenor or alto. I have tried 3s, 3m, and 3h, and they all sound really dull and unresponsive to me. Almost too soft. I was going to try and bump up to a 3 1/2 but I just don't have the patience.

[Dog Pants]

Ok, end of the week and my first impressions of the RJS. As I said above, I went for the 3M unfiled. In retrospect, I should have gone for the 3H or even the 4S.
I found the RJS to play on the soft side of what they are listed as. As I said in my earlier post, I was actually looking for something a bit softer, but these are too soft by far.
Sound: Sound was fine at normal volumes. When I wanted to push the volume, I got not much at all. The Buescher was in the shop for a re-pad
so I was using the Conn "Chu" with a Selmer Scroll shank. Usually I play 4's on this mpc so the 3M was just too soft. Tone was pretty flexible, but that should be a given on a softish reed. The Concert Band blend was easy to achieve, but the Eddie Vinson preaching sound just wasn't there with these.
Response: This was a good test. The kids are doing a lot of Old Time Rock and Roll tunes. Simple lines, with a lot of fast staccato hits, a la "Rock around the clock" etc. The RJS responded well enough to keep up with school band tempos but anyone playing uptempo funk might want to consider something else. I often play on Plasticovers and the difference in response between the two is phenomenal. I'm going to be generous and put it down to the reeds being too soft. Even so, after a week, the reeds are noticeably less responsive.
Quality and Consistency: I got a box of 10. In that box, 7 out of the 10 reeds have a dark "skid mark" of fibre running the length of the reed. It's good to know Rico are still using the same Quality Assurance test. ;)

Overall, I was disappointed with the RJS 3M but I'm willing to reserve judgement until I've tried some 3H reeds. I had one experienced player tell me that they're a so-so, not great reed and to only ever get the H strength. I'll try the RJS 3H, but really, I 'm starting to think that reed maker ought to just make a good basic reed in consistent strengths and leave all the fine tuning to the player. I've never had so many dud reeds as lately with all the "gimmicky" "ribbed for her pleasure" stuff the reed makers seem to be coming out with. Just give me a decent bloody reed from a good piece of cane and let me do the adjusting.

[Wailin']

Dogpants, At the end of the day it's about finding the shoe that fits each player's individual "feet".

I take it you play on a closed mpc?

[saxophoniste]

I use 3S unfiled RJS's on my Barone tenor piece--he said those were what to use, so I didn't argue and they have worked for me.
On alto, I was a devoted Vandoren Java player, then discovered the Alexander's. After getting a Lamberson HR piece for my alto, the above no longer worked. Fred suggested using the Vandoren V16s. I tried those and they just felt awful. The reed that has worked the best for me on alto now has been the RJS's 3S filed! I do miss the Vandorens and the Alexanders--maybe it's the packaging!--but they just seemed to be a higher quality product and yet I've been very pleased with RJS's on both horns. This stuff will drive you crazy....

[Dog Pants]

Dogpants, At the end of the day it's about finding the shoe that fits each player's individual "feet".

I take it you play on a closed mpc?

Wailin', The answer is "yes and no." This was an Alto job. I usually play a JJ "Classic" (the blue ones) that's been refaced and opened up to about a 7. I play 3's or 3.5's on this setup. For teaching schoolkids, it's a little too much. So I was playing on the Scroll Shank which I usually play 4's on. The RJS 3M was an easy blow and given that I coaught the "FLU" from one of the kids, as expected, I was grateful for that. I hope I was clear in stating that I'm not dissing the RJS as such. I'll try the 3H and see hoe they are.The 3M was just too soft. The reason I decided to give the RJS a try was that so many blokes seem to love them. The right strength reed might be a good match for the Selmer. Based on this experience, I'd suggest erring on the side of buying a harder reed strength than you think you might need.

[CountSpatula]

2M UF seem to work fine for me :) They're darker than the Superials I was using and a little more resistant...which I like. :)

[Martinman]

DogPants, I think your problem (at least one of them) was that you used the unfiled reeds. In my opinion the filed ones are the ones to use. I just like the sound better, and I think they are less stuffy.

[GAS_Wyo]

In light of Martinman's comment, I will qualify my statement above...the reed is a filed 2M, not a 2S. Again, trying to control a soft reed and doing anything I want on a .105 is the kind of control I like!~

[Wailin']

DogPants, I think your problem (at least one of them) was that you used the unfiled reeds. In my opinion the filed ones are the ones to use. I just like the sound better, and I think they are less stuffy.


Martin, I wholeheartedly agree!

[Rick Adams]

There was a thread a monthish ago about the difference between filed and unfiled - might be worth a search to find it if you're interested.

[Wailin']

There was a thread a monthish ago about the difference between filed and unfiled - might be worth a search to find it if you're interested.


Check these out. It becomes a very subjective issue. Gray area topic.


http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin...=filed+unfiled

http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin...=filed+unfiled

http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin...=filed+unfiled

[jdocsax54]

I heard a rumor floating around that these reeds are being discontinued. Anyone know if this is true?

[Martinman]

I heard a rumor floating around that these reeds are being discontinued. Anyone know if this is true?


If they are it would be one of the stupidist things Rico could do.

[Wailin']

Has anyone gone through the hassle of ordering reeds online?

Do they come intact without cracked tips etc? If so, which site offers best prices?


By the the rumor may pertain to the fact that Rico's putting out something new. The new box reads that Rico Jazz Select has a new reed holder. I'm not sure if the reed is new but the former black writing on the reed's is now a brown color.

[littlemanbighorn]

Those kinds of changes are pretty common. They change those things every few years.

[Rick Adams]

Has anyone gone through the hassle of ordering reeds online?

Do they come intact without cracked tips etc? If so, which site offers best prices?


By the the rumor may pertain to the fact that Rico's putting out something new. The new box reads that Rico Jazz Select has a new reed holder. I'm not sure if the reed is new but the former black writing on the reed's is now a brown color.Yes but I'm not sure it's going to be any use to you as I'm in the UK.

I've ordered from www.reedsdirect.co.uk and also from good old www.sax.co.uk and I've always had everything arrive very quickly and with no damage whatsoever from both shops.

Incidentally I discussed the difference between the RJS filed and unfiled with the sax.co.uk guys and they said they'd asked themselves the same question so they'd done a lot of empirical testing to see if they could tell any difference and the only thing they noticed was that the filed reeds were slightly easier to subtone with.

[Wailin']

Yea Rick. It's like sanding a reed's vamp to one's suit one's personal feel!

My next question is this before I go out and spend money for the next RJS strength higher.

Is the 3M filed harder to play than the 3S filed. Currently, I'm ok with 3S but sometimes they tend to feel and little soft.

[docformat]

It's been years since I last played RJS but I remeber thinking they were pretty good.

How do they compare to LaVoz - edgier and brighter, or darker and more lush?

[Wailin']

It's been years since I last played RJS but I remeber thinking they were pretty good.

How do they compare to LaVoz - edgier and brighter, or darker and more lush?


They're more manageable, maintaining a big sound, brighter, more edge. They come filed and unfiled.

[Rick Adams]

Yea Rick. It's like sanding a reed's vamp to one's suit one's personal feel!

My next question is this before I go out and spend money for the next RJS strength higher.

Is the 3M filed harder to play than the 3S filed. Currently, I'm ok with 3S but sometimes they tend to feel and little soft.Funny, I've just gone in the other direction from 3S to 2H because my new mouthpiece had a chamber the size of a football stadium and hence takes a lot more chops than my previous piece. I'm hoping to get back up to the 3S soon though, because I can feel the thinner reed bowing inwards as I blow and it doesn't feel right at all like that, plus I'm pretty sure the tone will be more what I'm after.

Actually let me just check... yes I have a couple of unused 3M filed reeds still in the box from a while back when I used piece with a smaller tip opening. I'd like to keep one just in case, but I'll happily post you the other one if you want it, then you can try for yourself without spending anything.

[sinkdraiN]

I have always played vandoren javas for just about all my years of playing. I just recently switched to RJS. It wasn't an easy switch for me because I am very familar and comfortable with javas. However, the quicker response of the Rico Jazz was too significant to pass up. That and the fact that they are cheaper and contain more reeds that work well on my mouthpieces.

They work especially well with my STM and just recently I've switched to RJS on my alto morgan, as well (RJS 3S on my tenor STM8 & RJS 3S on my alto 7e).

The RJS seems brighter than my Javas but I believe that it's really due to the lightening fast response of the RJS.

I like the design too. It has a really long vamp to make it bright and responsive but also has a significantly thick heart to add depth.

[Wailin']

Funny, I've just gone in the other direction from 3S to 2H because my new mouthpiece had a chamber the size of a football stadium and hence takes a lot more chops than my previous piece. I'm hoping to get back up to the 3S soon though, because I can feel the thinner reed bowing inwards as I blow and it doesn't feel right at all like that, plus I'm pretty sure the tone will be more what I'm after.

Actually let me just check... yes I have a couple of unused 3M filed reeds still in the box from a while back when I used piece with a smaller tip opening. I'd like to keep one just in case, but I'll happily post you the other one if you want it, then you can try for yourself without spending anything.

Rick, I sent you an email about the reeds. Sometimes my RJS 3S tends to close meaning that that size may be a wee bit too soft. If the 3M is too hard then I'll have to lessen my emboucher bite.

[Wailin']

Due to the inconsistency of the reeds in both the filed and unfiled boxes there is no discernible differences between them. That is the conclusion after trying RJS 3S filed and RJS 3S unfiled. One reed played straight from the box while the others needed work.

[Rick Adams]

Wailin, your email address is bouncing back as "unkown address", so just to let you know they're packaged up and I'll post them next time I go to the post office.

[docformat]

They're more manageable, maintaining a big sound, brighter, more edge. They come filed and unfiled.

Thanks wailin'

I notice they're also nearly twice the price - La Voz for me!

[Frank D]

wailin', I've purchased reeds over the internet from Discount Reeds, and they arrive in good shape. They come in the manufacturer's box with their packaging, so there's no problem with breakage.

sinkdraiN, I'm in the same spot. I've played Javas for years, now they are way too soft. What do you find as far as matching up the strength between the two? I played 2.5 on the Javas, do I want a 2H or 3S on the RSJs?

[MM]

I don't know what's with the Javas. They are stuffier now but if anything maybe tehy are harder. Lately I'm finding what seems at first to be a good Java will blow well for about 5 minutes, then get increasingly stuffy and unresponsive. It's very frustrating on a gig. I end up having to blow my brains out until I get a chance to change it.

[CountSpatula]

Am I the only one that likes Unfiled? :( Every 2M UF I pulled out so far have worked perfectly...no work needed...

[dirty]

Am I the only one that likes Unfiled? :( Every 2M UF I pulled out so far have worked perfectly...no work needed...
Unfiled for me, always. Unless the store is out of unfiled. Then I get filed. They play pretty much exactly the same. Almost all RJS in a given strength play pretty much the same for me. I used to be able to use all 5 in a box. I recently switched to LaVoz Mediums from RJS 2H. The LaVoz have a thicker sound, a little less focused, with a tendency towards "woofiness" that, when I can get it under control, makes for an amazing low end.

LaVoz is a lot like RJS, but a little thicker sounding. They're both great reeds, and at least one million times better than Java, which, IMO, are overpriced and inconsistent.

[Rick Adams]

I recently switched to LaVoz Mediums from RJS 2H. The LaVoz have a thicker sound, a little less focused, with a tendency towards "woofiness" that, when I can get it under control, makes for an amazing low end.Sounds interesting, which would you say is less buzzy?

[Mike F]

Does anybody have any experience and opinion on RJS verses V16's?
How would you say they compare, in general terms?

[CountSpatula]

I always found RJS darker but more powerful than LaVoz. I could never get LaVoz to work for me :( More resistant too which is something I liked

[dirty]

Sounds interesting, which would you say is less buzzy?
I think the LaVoz, for me, are darker, but buzzier, but neither is excessively bright/buzzy. Some reeds, like ZZs, just seem buzzy when I play them, with no core. It's not a reed strength issue, since I've tried them at the right strength, too hard, too soft, and all over the place. LaVoz and RJS seem a little deader, mushier or less clear at first, but once I got used to the way they feel, I started getting a bigger, fuller sound than I'd ever gotten before. I'm pretty happy with my tenor setup right now (Link 8, LaVoz Medium, Selmer 404 lig, Yamaha 62 tenor).

[Rick Adams]

Thanks Dirty

[Martinman]

I think the LaVoz, for me, are darker, but buzzier, but neither is excessively bright/buzzy. Some reeds, like ZZs, just seem buzzy when I play them, with no core. It's not a reed strength issue, since I've tried them at the right strength, too hard, too soft, and all over the place. LaVoz and RJS seem a little deader, mushier or less clear at first, but once I got used to the way they feel, I started getting a bigger, fuller sound than I'd ever gotten before. I'm pretty happy with my tenor setup right now (Link 8, LaVoz Medium, Selmer 404 lig, Yamaha 62 tenor).


Now that you have gotten comfortable with that setup it is time to try a new horn!:twisted:


I have the same opinions of LaVoz, they are darker than the RJS and ZZs, but buzzier than the RJS.

[Rick Adams]

Rick, I sent you an email about the reeds. Sometimes my RJS 3S tends to close meaning that that size may be a wee bit too soft. If the 3M is too hard then I'll have to lessen my emboucher bite.Did you get the reeds I sent you? Were they any good to you?

[RegSopAlto]

I love them on tenor.
Tone Great
Longevity fair.
But for me they are worth it.

[Wailin']

Did you get the reeds I sent you? Were they any good to you?

Yes Rick. Thanks a million. I'll stick to the softs. The 3M sound like La Voz which require waaay too much work for me.

[Benon]

I've compared RJS Filed to Unfiled, and the Unfiled just doesn't work on BOTH of my mouthpieces - I'm playing Lebayle 8 LR and Dave Guardala MB II on my T991; Unfiled reeds of every kind including LaVoz, Rico orange box, Vandorens Java/V16/ZZ sound awful - thin & bright upper register, and stuffy, dark & what's really bad almost unplayable low register. I've been trying various brands and numbers since I can't buy Alexanders D.C. What's strange, I hadn't troubles on my previous mouthpiece (vintage Ponzol 105). Does anybody here had problems like that?

[Wailin']

I've compared RJS Filed to Unfiled, and the Unfiled just doesn't work on BOTH of my mouthpieces - I'm playing Lebayle 8 LR and Dave Guardala MB II on my T991; Unfiled reeds of every kind including LaVoz, Rico orange box, Vandorens Java/V16/ZZ sound awful - thin & bright upper register, and stuffy, dark & what's really bad almost unplayable low register. I've been trying various brands and numbers since I can't buy Alexanders D.C. What's strange, I hadn't troubles on my previous mouthpiece (vintage Ponzol 105). Does anybody here had problems like that?


Benon, only thing is that RJS die quickly. La Voz last longer and will play well if they're filed. Hopefully they'll make filed La Voz reeds soon.

[Hotspur]

They really didnt work for me but I think there isnt a huge difference in filed and unfiled but that is an opinion.