Jazz Reeds

[Yodaplaystenor]

I currently am in a debate between V16 and Vandoren ZZs as to which I like more for Jazz. I play some funk, and am big into ska, but jazz is my main genre. I was wondering if anyone else had good experiences with either of these, or would recommend another type of reed. Thanks guys! you are always a help!

[SearjeantSax]

not one of your choices, but have you tried rico jazz select, i love em, i think they're great for jazz.

[kevvieg]

I know not everyone agrees but I have had the best luck with La Voz or Rico Jazz Select on all of my saxes for over 20 years.

[jmm1713]

Go with the V16's -- thats what I use on tenor there great reeds ! the rico jazz select are good too .

[CountSpatula]

Rico Jazz Selects are working for me. Decent price and very consistent.

[danarsenault]

The reed doesn't know what kind of music you are playing.

[jacobeid]

I know not everyone agrees but I have had the best luck with La Voz or Rico Jazz Select on all of my saxes for over 20 years.

Those are what I use. No vandorens for me anymore. I've found the ricos (at least the la voz and RJS) to be a lot more consistent and they just work better on my pieces.

[bluesaxgirl]

ZZ"s have more of that jazz feel to it in my opinion and the V16's just project out a little more for soloing.

[JL]

The reed doesn't know what kind of music you are playing.

You beat me to it! "Jazz" reeds, "jazz" horns, "jazz" mpcs, etc: These are pretty meaningless terms. The best reed/horn/mpc/whatever for jazz is the one that works and responds best for you.

I like V16s mainly because they seem to last longer and have a bit more punch than the other reeds I've tried, no matter what type of music I'm playing.

[sambeaux]

The cuts on both the ZZ and V16 are very similar. They both have thicker tips than the Java and the blue box... I find the V16s to have a great "pop" to the sound while the ZZs are a bit mushier. Of course, if you ask someone else, they'll tell you that the ZZ has a nice warm buzz compared with the V16's harshness. It's all in the mouth of the beholder!

[pc1234]

I like LaVoz mediums across the board (S-A-T-B) on mouthpieces with a medium-open facing (like a 7). That said, I've also used Vandoren ZZ's (2.5) for alto and V16's (2.5) for tenor. For whatever reason, I don't like the reverse set-up - i.e., ZZ for tenor and V16 for alto. Go figure.

[joelsp]

The best "Jazz Sounding" reed to me has always been a La Voz, I typically use the Medium Hard on my Meyer, which is around a 6 opening, gets great response and good note separation on runs. I also have been inching back towards liking the Hemke 3's. Though consistency is a problem with Hemke's i find.

[jacobeid]

Never liked Hemkes. I think Rico reed strengths fit me better without having to alter them. Vandorens for me are all way too soft or way too hard.

[saxymanzach]

I like ZZs on alto. I have had an opposite experience from most people, tough. Most people need a half-strength harder than they are used to, but I need a alf strength softer. I play 31/2 Javasand 4 Platicovers on tenor and 3 ZZs on alto.

[king koeller]

The best Jazz reed of all time is the Java!
It's a lavoz cut, with the great french Vandoren cane!!

They last forever, and get better with wear and tear.
Only reed on my tenor set-up

tenor Java 3.5 on a
Morgan Jazz HR 9M .110"

[Mike F]

I've also used Vandoren ZZ's (2.5) for alto and V16's (2.5) for tenor. For whatever reason, I don't like the reverse set-up - i.e., ZZ for tenor and V16 for alto. Go figure.

I had exactly the same experience!

I'm on V16's 2.5/3 on tenor, but I'm using Java 2.5/3's on alto now. Blue box on sop and ZZ on Bari. Works for me!

[badfella518]

I've always thought the ZZ read to be a bit brighter, warmer and smoother than the V16. Kind of like a brighter hemke.
But for punchy power and all around playing, my favorites are V16 and LaVoz.
It's like you can't kill a V16, they keep going and going and going.

[SaxyJ]

You can also try the Vandoren Traditional reeds. Sure, they are marketed for primarily classical venues, but if you want a thick, meaty sound, these reeds help tremendously!

I have tried many types of reeds and eventually stumbled upon the Hemkes. It gave a dark tone and had excellent response. Then, a few days ago, I tried the Vandoren Traditionals for the first time...

It has a "slightly" slower response compared to the Hemkes, but wow, it gives out such a full, dark and rich tone! Paired with a large chambered mouthpiece, this reed will give a close (even exact) sound of the big band era!

[trombone+sax=life]

My friends and I almost always use Rico Royal.

[JimD]

V16s have always been too hard for me, both physically and tonally, ZZs are great for half an hour then they are dead mush. Javas are the Vandorens for me and satisfy on all counts except consistency, but what else is new. But put me in the same team as JL and danarsenault. Any reed is a jazz reed. A lot of the time I use Gonzalez, the manufacturers class it as their classical reed, and I'm sure it makes a lovely one, but it plays like a jazz reed for me.

[jazzbluescat]

Reeds suck no matter what music you play.:evil:

[dirty]

Reeds suck no matter what music you play.:evil:
Too true! As a clarinet major, reeds are the bane of my existence (more or less). I hate them. Too bad I've never found anything that works better...

[Martinman]

Too true! As a clarinet major, reeds are the bane of my existence (more or less). I hate them. Too bad I've never found anything that works better...


At least you don't play oboe or basoon. I hear those reeds are even worse...

You could just scat sing.

[kevvieg]

At least you don't play oboe or basoon. I hear those reeds are even worse...

You could just scat sing.

That's even worse than a bad oboe reed :-)

[Mike F]

At least you don't play oboe or basoon. I hear those reeds are even worse...

Too true! I think that every single read player should have a go at a double reed instrument, and then they would realise how easy they have it!!! :D

[jazzbluescat]

Too true! I think that every single read player should have a go at a double reed instrument, and then they would realise how easy they have it!!! :D
Shoot, that's no problem. I use a synthetic when messing around on oboe. I'm nobody's fool. :)

[Hotspur]

I go with the V16's they really have the edge I'm looking for

[Martinman]

I go with the V16's they really have the edge I'm looking for


Have you ever tried Ponzel reeds? They sound the about the same as V16s, only they are less consistant. Some will be not as good as a V16, but some will be better.

[Hotspur]

Thats cool I'll try a few out

[harmonizerNJ]

For my alto, I use LaVoz medium reeds with my Meyer M10 mpc. I find that out of a typical box of 10, there are 4 that are worthless, 4 that are decent, and 2 that are "now THAT's what I'm talkin' about!". That "high" keeps me coming back for more.

I've been using the LaVoz medium for over 25 years, so I will admit that I am happily stuck in a rut, and that I have not tried any other brand recently, except for some VanDorens, which did not move me. Given my atypical setup, I am not sure my experience makes a good test case for anyone else.

[joelsp]

For my alto, I use LaVoz medium reeds with my Meyer M10 mpc. I find that out of a typical box of 10, there are 4 that are worthless, 4 that are decent, and 2 that are "now THAT's what I'm talkin' about!". That "high" keeps me coming back for more.

I've been using the LaVoz medium for over 25 years, so I will admit that I am happily stuck in a rut, and that I have not tried any other brand recently, except for some VanDorens, which did not move me. Given my atypical setup, I am not sure my experience makes a good test case for anyone else.

I am exactly like you with the La Voz reeds. I have the exact same experience with them. Now, I recently bought a Box of Vandoren Java 3's. I play La Voz Medium Hards.

I don't know if I got a really good box, but the Java's seem to give me all of the stuff I like in the La Voz, but with a more pronounced tone. I still have the same tone, but it seems to speak better, It's hard to describe.

The last time I played Java's I thought they were horrible, so I don't know what has changed.

[CountSpatula]

You went from a dumb dukoff to a good ol' Lost Wax Meyer :P?

jkjk

[Dr G]

Alexander DCs, please.

[coolsax2k7]

You can also try the Vandoren Traditional reeds. Sure, they are marketed for primarily classical venues, but if you want a thick, meaty sound, these reeds help tremendously!

I have tried many types of reeds and eventually stumbled upon the Hemkes. It gave a dark tone and had excellent response. Then, a few days ago, I tried the Vandoren Traditionals for the first time...

It has a "slightly" slower response compared to the Hemkes, but wow, it gives out such a full, dark and rich tone! Paired with a large chambered mouthpiece, this reed will give a close (even exact) sound of the big band era!

These are my current favorite reeds for jazz on any mouthpiece that will play well with them! I found some of mouthpieces in the past did not do well with them and so I preferred a rico royal or that style (superial DC worked as a nicer alternative.)

But I have been using the Vandoren 3's exclusively for everything on tenor and now that I switched to alto, I am pleased I am able to use them again. I experimented with Hemkes and they are pretty good but to me they are a bit brighter, less resiliant and thinner in the heart - a little easier to play but not as dark in sound. But the blue box Vandorens, for me in a size 3, seem to be a great design. I never liked the idea of a seperate setup for jazz and for classical. It can be geared towards one or the other, but should be able to do both, imo. I don't play or listen to a lot of classical but appreciate many of the principles held in high regard by classical players when it comes to saxophone, which for me, is stuff like not using metal mouthpieces, and also using a reed with enough resistance to produce a consistent and stable tone that is complex and layered, but with tons of core.. (I also prefer the older jazz tone concept from the 30's-50's!)

[Chicken 'Lil]

Rigotti Gold.

[Ferret]

I tend to like 3 strength Vandoren ZZ. I might go try some 2.5s, as I see a lot of people like that strength.. Anything to help me play longer without getting tired. :]

I currently am in a debate between V16 and Vandoren ZZs as to which I like more for Jazz. I play some funk, and am big into ska, but jazz is my main genre. I was wondering if anyone else had good experiences with either of these, or would recommend another type of reed. Thanks guys! you are always a help!


Your screen name inspired me to break out my less than average photoshop skills:

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/8854/yodasaxix5.jpg

CONSIDER YOURSELF AVATARED

[joelsp]

You went from a dumb dukoff to a good ol' Lost Wax Meyer :P?

jkjk

haha, actually the last time I tried a Java was on my trusty Meyer 8m that I played for years before my Dukoff stint. Nothing makes you a appreciate a Meyer like playing on a Dukoff for awhile. :)

[CountSpatula]

I hear ya' there :)

[kevvieg]

I had a teacher who said "I wouldn't use a Dukoff for a hash pipe".
He was a funny man :-)

[Wailin']

Reeds suck no matter what music you play.:evil:


You think reeds are bad! I'd like to find a weightless saxophone!

[tigerhobs]

A weightless sax? My Keilwerth is a heavy beast... I think the MarkVI Bari I got to play on last year weighed less than my tenor! (kidding)

I've been using LaVoz reeds for 6 years, and within the past few years moved to the medium hard. Works well for jazz, though you do get 2 or 3 pieces of lumber in every box.

I want to start trying different reeds soon, those Alexander DC's sound good, but only because I've come to respect Dr. G's opinion on everything. Besides, now that I graduated college and have a job, I can afford a few extra bucks on reeds... right?

[SaxJazz12]

I really don't buy into the marketing hype of a "jazz" or "classical" reeds. A good reed is a good reed. For me, the most important thing is finding reeds that are durable, consistent, and match well with my mouthpiece. What has been most helpful to me in the ongoing development of a "jazz sound" has been listening to players that I love, playing along with the recordings, and of course--spending time on different long tone/embouchure exercises.

I think that the thing reed companies are most concerned with is making money. Because of that, their marketing/advertising has gotten out of control. "What reed so and so plays" won't help you play like them one bit! I wish it was that easy.

[Dr G]

I had a teacher who said "I wouldn't use a Dukoff for a hash pipe".

Probably preferred a larger chamber... 8-)

[hakukani]

I had a teacher who said "I wouldn't use a Dukoff for a hash pipe".
He was a funny man :-)

I wouldn't use a Dukoff for a hash pipe either.

Alto necks work MUCH better--and you have a built in 'carbuerator' .;)

[SaxJazz12]

I'd use a C-Melody for a water bong.

[LampLight]

Those [la voz and RJS] are what I use. No vandorens for me anymore. I've found the ricos (at least the la voz and RJS) to be a lot more consistent and they just work better on my pieces.
I also switched from Vandoren to RJS for the consistency, and the RJS packaging is very convenient, too. Vandorens are still great reeds though.

[Wailin']

It depends on the mpc you're playing. The basic rule of thumb is relatively closed mpc's take harder reeds such as Van Doren and others. Relatively open mpc's are fine with softer reeds like La Voz and RJS. When I use to play an Otto link 5*, a closed mpc, Van Doren reeds worked fine. Now that I'm on Guardala, a very open mpc, La Voz is doin' it.

[LampLight]

It depends on the mpc you're playing. The basic rule of thumb is relatively closed mpc's take harder reeds such as Van Doren and others. Relatively open mpc's are fine with softer reeds like La Voz and RJS. . . .
I don't understand this. Both Vandoren and Rico offer different profiles and a wide range of hardnesses within each profile. Vandoren offers Jazz, ZZ, V16, and Traditional. Rico offers RJS Filed, RJS Unfiled, La Voz, Royal, Hemke, etc. Each of these profiles can be had in softer or harder strengths.

Hardness comparison charts are available from Vandoren (as a pdf) and Rico (a link on their product page).

[BYOB]

I like using RJS reeds for my Meyer, and Vandoren (any kind) for my C*.