Vandoren Reeds 2 1/2 or 3?

[JPrince]

Well, I have a question that I have been thinking about, and now that I'm getting my own bari (thanks Frank!) I am currently using my schools Yamaha YBS-52 bari, and my mouthpieces are the schools Selmer C and Yamaha 5C. I use to use the Selmer C with a Vandoren trad. 3 reed, and the tones and responses were great. But now in Jazz Band I use the Yamaha 5C. However, I am starting to notice something. Using the same Vandoren 3 reed, I notice low tones (Low C, B, Bb, and A) are a bit harder to get out, and while they sound clean, they take a lot more air and someimes splat. Now I have a BARI medium synthetic reed (I used it for marching band, I would tend to chip regular reeds) and last night I put it on my Yamaha and all notes, from high E (for some reason the high F doesn't work on this horn) to the low A, no splatting, and I didn't have to force out any notes. I think this synthetic reedis equivelent to a 2 1/2, and I was wondering if for this mouthpiece if I should go to a slightly softer reed for a better tone. Also, would I also need to do this on a The Martin Baritone? Thanks again guys.

[max]

No one can really answer this for you. Sometimes the only thing to do is to buy the reeds and try them.

I know it stinks, especially on a student's budget (and *especially* for bari reeds!), but some things you just have to find out for yourself.

Sorry...

[JPrince]

No worries. I finally got off my lazy rear and bought a 2 1/2. It sucks for the Selmer C, but it does make it easier to play through the whole instrument. Thanks for replying.

[Andrew]

Best of luck to you.

[Balladeer]

I became curious about Vandoren reeds, and bought a single traditional (blue box) 2.5 and 3 for tenor today. Both reeds are players. To me, they sound and feel like a cross between Lavoz and Rico Jazz Select Filed. However, the 2.5 plays harder then the 3. I'll be doing minor adjustments to both of these reeds following break-in.