Vandoren Javas

[Nefertiti]

I've been using Java's for the last couple of years and they have been great. Almost everyone I take out plays good if not great. I have been very happy with them. About a month ago I was running low so I bought 5 boxes. I went through 2 of the boxes looking for a reed to play ona gig. They were all stuffy and what I consider bad. I finally put on a older reed and played the gig. Yesterday I opened the 3rd box and they are the same stuffy and dead. I'm not sure what happened here. I used to just wet them put them on and they played. I thought the sealed packages would help with consistency. How disappointing. It looks like I'm on a reed search again............:x

[saxmanglen]

Steve,

Are they the new boxes with the individually wrapped reeds in them?

Edit: Obviously you mention the sealed packaging in your post. (I'm such an idiot!)

I bought some ZZ's recently that seem the same way.

[matsuo]

I think you should play around with different strength Rico select Jazz reeds. I found them to be incredibly similar to javas.

[saxmanglen]

Let me add something else:

There's a video of the fellow that made the ATG reed finishing system using some of his techniques. The video is a bit bizarre but I used his technique, a flat surface and some steel wool with the first ZZ I was talking about above. It's now a decent player. (Actually sent Pete my SOTW blues clip using that reed)
I'm not into fussing much with reeds but I'm not into dumping 20 dollar boxes of reeds either

1MBpL-h2dfk

[daigle65]

.... I used to just wet them put them on and they played. Hmmmm...I find that curious because for me Vandos need a longer breaking in period than other brands. Usually after a one hour playing time (by gradually increasing the time each day) they've settled in. If you try those reeds you rejected again for a couple of minutes a day for a week, I'm pretty sure you'll find them more playable..... I thought the sealed packages would help with consistency.....There's been a lot said on the new packaging but in my opinion it has had no effect on quality. I've been playing Vandoren BB's for well over 10 years and I have not noticed a deterioration in quality.

[Razzy]

The Javas have incredibly thin tips. This worked for me for a long time but I had to ditch them on tenor years ago. Thinking about moving on from alto, as well. La Voz or Rico orange box are the name of the game if you're into the "wet it and play" method. A reed is not a reed is not a reed. Vandoren has been downhill in the past few years and the individual packaging was a nail in the coffin for me. Whenever possible, I ask stores if they still have some old stock which are often still good.

[| hp |]

eh....reed hunting time...

[themacintrasher]

eh....reed hunting time...
Wabbit season.

[toughtenor]

the francois louis reeds are good. a lot of nicely playing reeds per box.:)
not cheap though:(

[ShedShark]

Let me add something else:

There's a video of the fellow that made the ATG reed finishing system using some of his techniques. The video is a bit bizarre but I used his technique, a flat surface and some steel wool with the first ZZ I was talking about above. It's now a decent player. (Actually sent Pete my SOTW blues clip using that reed)
I'm not into fussing much with reeds but I'm not into dumping 20 dollar boxes of reeds either

1MBpL-h2dfk

Is it just me or is he oblivious to the fact the he just needs eye-holes in that 'mask' before he looks like the grand dragon? Maybe an actual blind-fold would have been a better choice. :)

[EgilF.]

A music shop in Oslo tells that there was a fire in the Vandoren factory this summer, and that they have to sell reeds that´s "fresher" than before. I don´t know if it´s true.

I was a java 3-2,5 fan until a Year ago. This days I play ZZ 3 on tenor and regular 2,5 on soprano and alto.

[HSkid]

i used javas for a few years and still do for jazz but they just aren't as dark as Vandoren classics so i am using the classics more and more

[| hp |]

i hate reeds.

[skippy]

Time to go back to good old La Voz.

[Twombles62]

Hahahaha! What's with the frickin' KKK hood?!

[stu the sax player]

I find my Rico Jazz Selects to be very close to Javas with better consistency per box. ONe suggestion if you go that route, I find that if you can easily play on a 3S then a 3M would be perfectly fine and your reeds will last longer all my students now play these reeds and agree with me

[Nefertiti]

Let me add something else:

There's a video of the fellow that made the ATG reed finishing system using some of his techniques. The video is a bit bizarre but I used his technique, a flat surface and some steel wool with the first ZZ I was talking about above. It's now a decent player. (Actually sent Pete my SOTW blues clip using that reed)
I'm not into fussing much with reeds but I'm not into dumping 20 dollar boxes of reeds either

1MBpL-h2dfk

I have that system. Someone on this forum gave it to me. I actually used it on the reed I had and it helped but then it felt too soft. Maybe i did it too much because I was so frustrated.

[CTravaglini]

ill tell you a funny story. i started on javas, after my teacher really scared me on the use of rico royal reeds, and all the badness of them. so i played javas. after a while i got up to a size 4, and was able to produce the tone i wanted, and i loved everything about it. when i got close to finishing a box of 4's, i went to school and took home a size 2 rico royal reed. i have to tell you now that every java reed i played must have been a dud one because this rico was brand new, and played so damn well. it had a bright cutting sound that i could tame, it got me all the way up in the altissimo notes. actually, i got further with this 2 than i did with the javas. i got up to a high a 2 octaves above a (1 - 2) with the octave key, with power and easy. from now on, im gonna be picky about my reeds.

[SOMETHINGSOAD]

Like someone said earlier before, you have to break them in for abit. It takes me a good week to break a java down.And i still have a java reed of 5 months and it still sounds like the newer ones i just brought.

[dave2sax]

I'm still a believer in the Alexanders. Both the Yellow Superials and Superial DC 2-1/2's seem to work out better than Vandorens for me over the long run. Nothing I've tried tops a good Alexander 2.5 DC, nothing. The good ones are the best sounding reeds I've ever played, and I really haven't had that many bad ones. The yellow ones are a tad brighter and softer, the DC's are a bit tip stiff and just slightly darker.

I don't like any of the Ricos including the RJS much at all, LaVoz are still pretty good, but I seem to be somewhere inbetween M and MS with them. I prefer the Vandoren V16 over the Java, but the Alexander DC is still king - long may it last.

[Buck Laughlin]

I'm still a believer in the Alexanders. Both the Yellow Superials and Superial DC 2-1/2's seem to work out better than Vandorens for me over the long run. Nothing I've tried tops a good Alexander 2.5 DC, nothing. The good ones are the best sounding reeds I've ever played, and I really haven't had that many bad ones. The yellow ones are a tad brighter and softer, the DC's are a bit tip stiff and just slightly darker.

I don't like any of the Ricos including the RJS much at all, LaVoz are still pretty good, but I seem to be somewhere inbetween M and MS with them. I prefer the Vandoren V16 over the Java, but the Alexander DC is still king - long may it last.

I agree. I've read some threads here where people have told horror stories of bad Alexanders. I haven't experienced this myself. Maybe only 1 out of 10 are "duds" -- especially after balancing them a bit with some sand paper or a reed knife. For a great tenor jazz sound, the DCs (2.5 or 3.0) can't be beat. And for a more contemporary sound, the yellow tin Superials (3.0) are spectacular. To me, every other reed requires some level of effort to play well. The Alexanders seem to play themselves. Maybe I'm just too used to the Alexander cut to appreciate any other reeds now. Before I discovered Alexanders, I was pretty happy with ZZs and RJSs. Now they just don't cut it for me.

Buck

[daigle65]

You have to take what anyone says (including endorsers) on reeds with a grain of salt because on any given make or cut of reed you'll find opinions and judgments ranging from;

"this is the best reed ever, every single one plays great"

to... "I can only find one in ten that works, the consistency has gone down lately".

[kerry]

Javas are the top favorite ranked reeds in this poll.


http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=93140

[raysaxpauley]

rigotti golds all the way, they play in between the styles of a java and zz but are 10,000 times more consistent.