Vandoren reeds comparison and strengths compared

[Patrick Reolon]

I let you all here the link for the vandoren catalogue in english:

http://www.vandoren.fr/fr/catalogues2010/Catalogue%20Vandoren%202010%20Anglais.pdf
2015 version is here: http://www.vandoren-fr.com/file/166010/

I mainly post in in the reed-context to visibly see the differences between the Java Green, Red, ZZ, ZZ-Top (justkiddin’) etc. reeds.
there are many interestig facts in teh cataloge concerning the cuts which may help you to see what a term refers.

For reed strengths it may also help to see this chart where Rico Jazz select &La Voz are mentioned for reference:
http://www.vandoren-fr.com/file/163071/

And just for easy use:
Vandoren has also a comparison chart for Mouthpieces (comapred to other companies as Ottolink, Berg Larssen, Dukoff Meyer & Selmer)
http://www.vandoren-fr.com/file/146157/

[Patrick Reolon]

I’ve actually noticed that the original post normally is not visible for users.
I therefore duplicate the content:

I let you all here the link for the vandoren catalogue in english:

http://www.vandoren.fr/fr/catalogues2010/Catalogue%20Vandoren%202010%20Anglais.pdf
2015 version is here: http://www.vandoren-fr.com/file/166010/

I mainly post in in the reed-context to visibly see the differences between the Java Green, Red, ZZ, ZZ-Top (justkiddin’) etc. reeds.
there are many interestig facts in teh cataloge concerning the cuts which may help you to see what a term refers.

For reed strengths it may also help to see this chart where Rico Jazz select &La Voz are mentioned for reference:
http://www.vandoren-fr.com/file/163071/

And just for easy use:
Vandoren has also a comparison chart for Mouthpieces (comapred to other companies as Ottolink, Berg Larssen, Dukoff Meyer & Selmer)
http://www.vandoren-fr.com/file/146157/

[Anonymous]

good tip – repeat the 1st post!

I’ve read all the vandoren, ricoh etc.. website informations!
They are interesting to read, but in my limited experuence, and
i’ve bought all the various reeds by the box load, and i reckon
the amount of money i’ve spent on reeds in the 15 months i’ve
been learning to play could pay for a 1/4 of my sax.

I’ve learnt more from trying them out. i’ve also found out that
no matter which brand you try out if you find a top reed in a box
it could be in any of the brands. i’ve also found out by trial and
error certain brand work better with certain mouthpieces.

my selmar mouthpiece is fantastic with a v16 reed and la voz come a
close 2nd. But like i’ve said before a fantastic reed is a fantastic
reed and it could be in any box.

[Patrick Reolon]

I agree.
The technicisms help only once you’re familiar and have chosen your favorites.
For beginners there’s simply nothing around testing, testing and testing different reeds and eventually mouthpieces.

But once you have your favorites and you keep on playing them for a while, have changed mouthpieces or heard a new tip about new reeds to use, the scale helps to check which hardness to try out or the catalogue can help to see in which way the reeds may behave. just as a reference. then, you have to test.

I’m very happy with my java Greens on a ottolink mouthpiece (and before a vandoren T45), but here I’ve read about the ZZ reeds (which I haven’t tried out yet), so the catalogue would be pretty helpful to see which reed strength I need and in which way a change could affect my embochure technique and even sound-shape.

OH: PD: I recently remembered that my first clarinette teacher had a reed clipper. It is used to clip the very tip of a reed once it’s worn out (no bigger clippings) to prolongue lifetime of reeds. Specially for out belovedand rare fantastic reeds. But I have no feedback on that one yet, first have to make my experiences.

[Anonymous]

i like the zz’s, but for me they get very soggy very quickly and tend to go soft after playing an hour or so.

[Patrick Reolon]

Hmmmm…
yes, they do not last as long as other reeds, that’s for sure (I imagine that the way they’re built is more fragile, they get quicker much thinner on the edges than traditional cuts/reed-profiles (something you can see/verify in the profiles of the reeds as seen in the catalogue)). But at the same time, they give me much nicer expression possibilities.
At the same time I made the experience, that a metal mouthpiece reduces the lifetime of the reeds additionally. with my T45 I was able to play the reeds some weeks more than with the metal mouthpiece… (or is it just my embochure technique ?)
I use Java Green #4 and normally can play right ahead without any bigger pre-soaking: From the box to my mouth on my sax and play.
The good ones I can use them for aprox 2 months, stable behaviour, the worse reeds last a month or less.

The zz as the java reeds have a different strength numbering within Vandoren.
A java & ZZ #3 is traditional 2 1/2, #4 is trad. 3 1/2 etc.
that is directly related to the reed-profile.
So perhaps you could try the ZZ or Java in a higher strength, because: what’s for you soggy is for me more flexibility in expression. I mean literally the first while the #4 reeds for me are a little harder, make me work harder on the embochure, but when they get soft, I can take full profit out of their higher flexibility.

I will actually try the zz soon, and the Java Red, I have some gonzalez local jazz reeds too, but with the Java greens I feel like i can tame the reed much more and use them to a higher extent, but they don’t last too long, as a negative point…

[Anonymous]

interesting comments you make!
Now you mention it, my reeds did have a shorter life span when i played on metal!
I didn’t think of trying a higher zz reed – i’ll give that a go!
however the v16’s do the bizz for me.

The best thing i love is when i find a perfect reed! its like the sax wakes up and responds completely differently – like putting a better grade fuel in an engine!

[Anonymous]

metal mouthpieces must conduct the heat away from the bottom side of the reed more than rubber mouthpieces, probably causing more stress/warping on the poor reed – which might be affecting the sound more and wearing it out faster?

[Anonymous]

warm air moves faster than cold air? I wonder if metal mouthpieces when they warm up from the mouth keep the air flow in the chamber more warmer than rubber mouthpieces which gives a bit of an edge on rubber. Appart from the fact that metal must vibrate/dampen sound waves differently.
All interesting stuff taking into account a lot of early sax players didn’t use metal.

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