Mike emailed me asking about reeds and mouthpieces.
Please leave a comment about mouthpieces and reeds you have tried!
Thanks
Hi Neal:
My greatest frustration on the sax was always ( and to a certain degree still lingers) is “Reed vs. Mouthpiece”. I am a self-taught saxophonist (autodidactic). When I started with the sax I had no one to advice me, internet didn’t exist,cellphones either. Living in an fourth world country never gave the opportunity to visit a sax music store an try out different mouth pieces & reeds ( I don`t even think they let you do that, you have to BUY)-
So I have never been able to try out the whole array of close tips vs. hard reeds, the inverse,etc, or talk with anybody who knew better.
So I thought the goal was playing a #5 reed on a #8 mouthpiece…!!!!…on an old leaky sax!!!! ! Can`t explain how I didn´t burst !
Oh my friend,…I suffered. I don`t know how, or why, I kept on pushing.
Actually I play on Otto Link metal #8 with Rico #2 on a Yamaha CustomZ tenor…..
I perform over my own tracks and interpret covers from the 40`s to the 80`s. From Duke & Dixie to Sting & Pink Floyd, even Elton !. I also play flute (that`s how I started , it was Jethro Tull`s fault), soprano and croak (sing) yes, I`m a singer too.
I have NO IDEA of how it feels/sounds to play on a close MP with a very hard reed, or the inverse. I still have and always will have the fantasy of having before me different MP and reeds and get to try them all ( half a bottle of scoth or tequila would turn the experience into a party !
Very well Neal… I have let out some of my saxophone frustrations…Uff , feel better!
I will appreciate spanding on this subject…at least so I can fantasize .
Cheers !
-Mike
My experience:
Right now I’m using a Vandoren V16 mouthpiece with a 9 tip opening. At first I was using V16 size 3 reeds, but they were too hard, so I went down to 2.5 and then 2.
I also use Fibracell reeds sometimes- a size 2.5 seems to work well with the V16 T9 mouthpiece.
Before the Vandoren mouthpiece I was using a Selmer American 7* mouthpiece with size 3 V16 tenor reeds.
And I also have a Meyer 8 which I was using size 3 reeds on too.
My alto mouthpiece is a V16 A8 and I’m using size 3 Fibracells on it.
It takes some experimentation.
-Neal
As a hobbyist player I tend to play #5 and #6 mouthpieces with #2.5 to 3 reeds. I’ve played so many mouthpieces I can’t even begin to list them but my saxes (s,a,t,b,b) each seem to like different thangs. I don’t play enough to be playing a #4 reed or #8 mouthpiece; hey I have a day job.
So I go for the sound and then try to stay with my selection until such time that I become unhappy with my sound.
Thanks Jim! Persol asked a question about mouthpieces a little while ago too- https://saxstation.com/reed-and-mouthpiece-question-from-persol.htm and Evan Tate left a useful comment. I thought it was funny he’s using a V16 9 like me.
I play a Yamaha yas-23 alto with a Phil Barone New York Meyer 6 model with a standard ligature and standard Rico reeds #3. The Barone has had some work done on it.
Hi – ( the neighbours grass is always greener)
waht i would like to add on this question – i started 20 years ago with my search for the perfect combi reed+ mouthpiece – and i’m still in doubt… my suggestion = the proof is in the playing… i heard ( hre in amsterdam the netherlands often good sounds from the ponzol mouthpiece beiing really allround – ( check the price)
but i am sticked to a metal dukoff ( 8) since a year after ruining a dukoff 7 with sandpaper. i am happy wiht the dukoff sound – it’s hard and straight and perfect for rock and latin
my favorite reed= vandoren java strength 3
on alto i recommend a meyer ebonite – very dynamic…..
recently experimenting on a otto link metal but it’s much harder to get a decent tone on alto although it has some more presence and edge than the meyer…..succes on your search
I am a creature of habit. I have been playing a Dukoff D8 on tenor for years. Rico Royal 3.5 reeds. Tenor. Recently the Rico Royal reeds have begun to fail me so I am searching for a replacement. LaVoz seems to be working a bit. Alexander, Rico jazz, Van Doran, Hemke Don’t know yet. Bugging me. You know what else is bugging me? Again, creature of habit using slim Ray Hyman sax starps for many years. They have gotten really cheap feeling and don’t move up and down. Disgraceful manufacturing. Do they even try what they make? Who makes them selmer? Any wonder why everyone plays selmer saxes made in the 40s through the 60s?
M
I am a female 77 year young bari sax player. I play in a big band and a concert band. My first NEW instrument was a birthday present to myself for my 70th BD. I bought a Bronze Yanagasawa and use a Jody Jazz DV mouthpiece. I use only Fibracell reeds and 2 suits me just fine. I know the “fellas” like to blow their brains out with stiff reeds – not my way of thinking. Use what works for you with out straining so the experience is a pleasant one rather than a chore.
Hey Jean, that’s cool. So the Yanagasawa’s working well for you? I use fibracells part of the time. Stan Getz used to play on really stiff reeds, but when he went to a lower number he was much happier.
I actually thought that “play 5s if you’re a pro” thing died years ago! I know of a lot of top pro players, who have switched to much softer reeds over the years, there’s no point in working that hard, especially if you’re playing an open mouthpiece. Fortunately, I never bought it that, altho at one point, briefly, I did play 5s, but can’t even remember the mouthpiece they worked for me on.
I now use LaVoz Med/Soft or Med, or Hemke 2, 2.5, or 3s on my Selmer Mark 6 Tenor (& lots of players use 40s-60s Selmers cause the good ones play and sound great), LaVoz Med/Soft or Med, or Hemke 2.5/3 on my Selmer Omega or Buescher Tru-Tone Alto, LaVoz Med Clarinet, or LaVoz Med/Soft or Hemke 2/2.5 Soprano reeds on my Buescher Tru-Tone Soprano or King Saxello…
Sometimes I use Rico Plasticover reeds on my tenor or alto if doing an outdoor gig in the summer, to avoid them wilting on the horn…
The reed strength should just depend on you and your mouthpiece. I have still heard people recommend stronger reeds, even to me, but my tenor piece has a 9 tip opening, so I know more about my setup than they do.
Hi Jean….. You are one fantastic, and very special lady. Bronze bari and a Jody mpc. Brilliant…..wonderful set up. I used to play a lot of bari. For years i had a beautiful Zephyr. It was damaged too bad……i never got another bari. Your horn Jean……..i know grown men,….” “players ” “……..your combo would scare them senseless!! brilliant……they wouldnt stand a chance. Jean…you have made my day my dear. I am blown away. I am new to Sax Station……though badly hooked. Please post as much as you can. Do you have a tenor?……Jean, you are an inspiration. God bless you……ade
I play a Bon Fils Alto from Steve Goodson, and a Voodoo Child mouth piece also from Saxgourmet. I play La Voz mid. & Vandoren blue box # 2 with great results. I ordered two Harry Hartman carbon fiber reeds thinking I would not need cane reeds again. Boy was I mistaken. The carbon fiber reeds are reed shaped objects. They are really that bad. I have tried to adjust them by sanding them to get them to play, but they suck to put it mildly.
To add insult to injury they cost $30.00 a piece. I guess live and learn. Has anyone else had luck with these reeds?
Cool, thanks for letting us know about your setup Tim.
Not all synthetic reeds are created equal, and I would say a good cane reed is better than any of them. Synthetics have much better consistency though. Haven’t tried that kind myself.
The carbon fiber reeds for me were a big disappointment and also the plastic reeds. I stick to Fibracell 2-1/2 or 3 right now and they do best with a 4C or 5C Yamaha mouthpiece.
I stopped using cane reeds once getting accustomed to Fibracell. Does anyone else prefer Fibracell over cane reeds?
The Vandoren mouthpiece is great, but for what i paid for it.
I have both a Yamaha Advantage 200 for practice, and i just purchased a Selmer 52 for performance, and both have been good for me. Any comments on the Selmer 52 let me know.
I use Harry’s Carbon classic on a Durga 9 vintified and two different saxes Martin committie 1
& Saxgourmet super 400 both tenors and found them to be excellent now using the Hemp reeds for a little more resistance and earthier tone
Thanks for sharing Rob
Hi Neal,
I new at learning the sax but I’m having a mouthpiece and reed issue as well. I just purchased a metal MP and it really allows me to do scales great but when it comes to playing a simple elementary song , it is difficult to play the notes freely like when I am playing a scale. Should I try a different reed? I’m using a 2 now. Is there a certain no. reed I should use on a metal MP?
Hello Rochelle,
If you’re new at learning the sax, it’s probably going to be harder to control a metal mouthpiece. A #2 is already fairly soft, you don’t necessarily want to use a lower number than that. Might be better for you to play on a different mouthpiece for a while first.
Chick P
what reed make/strength do you recommend with an Otto Link hard rubberTone Edge bari sax mouthpeice 6* opening? I want to hit the low A easily.
I don’t play a lot of bari. What reeds have you tried?