Alexander NY reeds? Anyone try them yet?

[Mark R]

Just wondering if anyone here has tried the Alexander NY reed yet, and if so what your impressions/results are with them.

[drakesaxprof]

A good number of threads on this topic, including this (http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=68531) one.

[martinm5862]

Just wondering if anyone here has tried the Alexander NY reed yet, and if so what your impressions/results are with them.

I tried them and all the other Alexander reeds. I had no luck with them. The
Vandoren ZZ have been very consistent lately. Very good cane.
mm

[kerry]

I dont know why, but Alexander make me chirp the reed every once in a while. They do give me the best sound of any reed, but I cant use them because of the some dang chirp effect that can happen when ever it wants to(mind of its own). I never have a problem with any other reed but the Alexanders. My current best=plasticover

Maybe Ill give this new line a shot.

[milomo]

The cost is nausea-inducing, but they're the most consistent reeds i've ever used, so in the end I'm spending less on reeds than I ever have. I was told they run a little hard, so I went from DC 3 1/2 to the NY 3, and so far, after about six months (and multiple batches) the unfiled #3's are working out beautifully. More reeds work, and the ones that do work last a lot longer than any other brand i've used (and i've tried them all at one time or another). What I like the most is that all the good reeds sound very much the same, they're extremely consistent from reed to reed. I've heard all the negatives, including the chipping in transit/returning to Japan thing (which is completely lame), but I haven't had any of those problems yet. If and/or when I do, maybe i'll rethink my position, but as of now I'm pretty happy.

[Raspberry 007]

I have been playing Alexander reeds for about three years now, and I have been playing the Alexander NY reeds for about two months on tenor. I have not had any problems with Alexander reeds, but I have read plenty of concerns on the SOTW forum regarding the reeds. I cannot relate to the problems many people have described with Alexander reeds.

I also like the unfiled Rico Jazz Select reeds, which are significantly cheaper and actually more consistent in terms of strength. However, I like the sound of the DC and NY reeds better than the Rico, so I am willing to pay a little extra for the sound I want. I can't say that the Alexander reeds play/last longer than the Rico Jazz Select.

I find that the NY reeds are about 1/2 size stronger than the DC, at least that is what I have found. I tried the NY reeds b/c I was finding a few of the DC reeds per tin were a little weaker than I could tolerate, which most dramatically impacted the altissimo register.

Alexander reeds are good reeds, but so are Rico Jazz Select reeds. I won't advocate one reed over the other b/c it comes down to personal preference.

I did take five Rico Jazz Selects and five Alexander NYs, prep them, cross mix them and blindly play and place the reeds I liked in order of preference. Four out of the five Alexander NY reeds were in my top five w/o any adjustments. The fifth Alexander Reed placed 6th.

Finally, I tend not to like Vandoren ZZ reeds. Good luck--it is a challenging choice.

[dave2sax]

I love the DC and regular Superials. I tried the NY's and found them significantly darker than either, and a full strength harder. I'll be sticking with the others. On alto, my reed choices are:

Superial 2.5
Superial DC 2.5
Vandoren V16 2

[JimD]

Thanks dave2sax, that's the kind of review that's needed, so, darker and harder than the others, any advance on that?

[daddywagsmusic]

I have been using the DC's for around 3 years on alto and tenor. I have never had any problems with them. No chirping, or squeaks, or anything people mention on here. I also take a lot of time to prepare and a lot of time on upkeep of my reeds, so...

I have been using the NY's on alto and tenor for a few months.

I find the NY's to be harder, a half size, maybe a little more, than the DC's, on both alto and tenor.

On tenor I found the NY's to play with less buzz, but with more power, and I really like them for pop music gigs. I can push them with no end. I really like the sound.

On alto, I am finding the NY's to be similar to the tenor, but don't feel as powerful. They seem darker than my alto DC's, but can be pushed hard for different sounds.

I don't have a main preference right now, but I don't feel I need to.

Great reeds, most play great, or perfect once set up correctly and taken care of - FOR ME. Personally, I think maybe they might be a little better cane, and a little rougher cut (not smooth feeling on the top like some other brands), and maybe a little thicker in the heart, than your run of the mill rico/vandoren, and for that, are harder to break in than those brands, and if you aren't willing to put in the time, they may all be harder to get great results right away, but once they are, they are the best I have ever played, and last for a VERY long time, FOR ME - FOR NOW...

- Brad

[OOlufoks]

I tried them, and they seemed to play harder and less resonant than the DCs . I tried a 3.5 strength.

[Dan Forshaw]

I must try and see if we can get them in the UK again I have been using them for about 3 years but the last batch are really bad so stuffy and just b****'s to play but the good ones from the prev batch are some of the best I've ever played just what is going on with the consistancy?

[monkmydear]

I like the Classique ones and the DC much more than the NY. The NY are half a step harder (the tenor ones), darker but not so clear.

[JB4sax]

...they're the most consistent reeds i've ever used, so in the end I'm spending less on reeds than I ever have. I was told they run a little hard, so I went from DC 3 1/2 to the NY 3, and so far, after about six months (and multiple batches) the unfiled #3's are working out beautifully. More reeds work, and the ones that do work last a lot longer than any other brand i've used (and i've tried them all at one time or another). What I like the most is that all the good reeds sound very much the same, they're extremely consistent from reed to reed...

Ditto - I did the exact same thing. I used DC 3 1/2s for a couple years, and earlier this year I got a batch that chirped something awful. 3 boxes, and everything chirped. So I switched to the NY 3, and it's been great. I will alternate from time to time with ZZ 3's and there is very little difference in the way they play. I just like the sound of the NY 3's better.