vandoren choice on sop for trad jazz

[cfile]

Ok, I'm playing soprano sax in a dixieland band and need to order some reeds. My set up is a 1925 Martin with a 70's model Selmer soloist mouthpiece with a D opening. I was trying to get more volume and asked about some different mouthpieces on the mouthpiece forum and got lots of suggestions for using a stiffer reed than the 2 1/2 Vandoren v16's I was using. Went to the local music store only to find a very limited selection and walked away with 3 Rico Royals and 3 1/2 traditional blue box Vandorens. The 3 Rico's turned out to be softer than the 3 Vandorens I had and the 3 1/2traditionals seemed a bit hard. However, I've woodsheded some and now am playing the 3 1/2's fine. I'm getting more volume too, but the sound seems a lot brighter. I need to go on line and order reeds but am not quite sure what I want to order. I was thinking I'd order 3 1/2 V16's, but most folks on this forum are saying they will be brighter than the traditionals. I'd like a little darker sound, fuller on the bottom end and with as much volume as I can get. Of course my other options are to get a different mouthpiece or to mic the sax which is competing with a trumpet, trombone, drums, bass and keyboard. Any suggestions? I play Java's on my tenor, but the soprano just seems to be a different animal.

[tenor71363]

try the ZZ reeds

[hgiles]

http://www.trephination.net/gallery/macros/cliff_notes.jpg

[Michael Ward]

Vandoren Trad are about as dark as it goes. The Soloist D is a nice piece which should project very well. When I was using one I played 3 or 21/2 Blue Box. The modern Super Session pieces will give you a big sound. They are very powerful but you may have to stay soft on the reeds.

[RICHARD GARCIA]

Try a Fibracell. Be open minded and patient, and allow yourself to acclimate to it, your sound will come out. Be sure to lightly sand and smooth the outer edges of the reed so as not to hurt your bottom lip. My initial reaction was not favorable, but a friend insisted I stay with it and life has been so much easier since. The Fibracells play dark for me.

[silvin]

I would stay with the Rico and buy a Super Session I.
Then, the day after, you sell me your soloist :D
(I'm serious :compress: )

[dirty]

For a trad sound, I would go for LaVoz or something like that. I've tried them on all horns, and love the slightly spread, reedy sound that they produce, very middle of the road in terms of darkness/brightness, but not a super clean, focused sound like the Vandoren reeds produce. I use them for everything on tenor, and find them consistent and long-lasting. Inexpensive, too.

[cfile]

Thanks to all for the info and suggestions. Michael, based on your info, I will probably just order some more trads, perhaps in a 3 which might give me a little more umph in the lower end and maybe reduce the brightness I'm getting on the harder 3 1/2's. I found I could get pretty good volume even with the 2 1/2 v16's if I took more mouthpiece in. Seems this mouthpiece has a longer lay than some and you can still get a lot of control and more volume doing that. Tenor, I might just order some zz's for the tenor, I've never tried those before. Richard, I considered a fibracell but some said don't do it on soprano so I didn't, but I'm sure I can get some volume with one. I used one on tenor before and while I didn't like the sound as much as I like cane, you are correct that they are a lot less trouble and they can be loud. Silvin, I might purchase a super session at some point to get the volume I need, see you recommend the I opening. Don't think I'll sell the soloist just yet. I really lucked into that piece. Bought the soprano at a flee market in the early 70's and when I had it repadded I told the guy I needed a mouthpiece and that's what I got.

[cfile]

Thanks to all for the info and suggestions. Michael, based on your info, I will probably just order some more trads, perhaps in a 3 which might give me a little more umph in the lower end and maybe reduce the brightness I'm getting on the harder 3 1/2's. I found I could get pretty good volume even with the 2 1/2 v16's if I took more mouthpiece in. Seems this mouthpiece has a longer lay than some and you can still get a lot of control and more volume doing that. Tenor, I might just order some zz's for the tenor, I've never tried those before. Richard, I considered a fibracell but some said don't do it on soprano so I didn't, but I'm sure I can get some volume with one. I used one on tenor before and while I didn't like the sound as much as I like cane, you are correct that they are a lot less trouble and they can be loud. Anys suggestions on which hardness to buy? Silvin, I might purchase a super session at some point to get the volume I need, see you recommend the I opening. Don't think I'll sell the soloist just yet. I really lucked into that piece. Bought the soprano at a flee market in the early 70's and when I had it repadded I told the guy I needed a mouthpiece and that's what I got. It's easy to play and has a nice sound, full but no harseness.

[cfile]

Dirty,

How do the lavoz compare in terms of hardness? What would be about the equivalent of a vandoren trad 3?

[dirty]

Dirty,

How do the lavoz compare in terms of hardness? What would be about the equivalent of a vandoren trad 3?

The Vandoren (blue box) reeds tend to run pretty hard, in my experience. I would say a MH would probably be closest to a Vandoren #3, BUT my strength comparisons are based on my experience with tenor reeds, not soprano. There are a few reed strength equivalence charts floating around on this complex system of tubes we call the internet that could probably give you a somewhat more definitive answer. I know WWBW used to have a pretty complete one. Don't know if it's still around.