[robert4xst]

I thought I would setup a post of different reeds... so people could post their reviews on them. Here's the reeds I've used before. I won't even mention the Rico Orange Box Reeds, becuase they are cheap and bad.

Clarinet:
Mitchell Lurie: Really good reed, dark sound. Not too costly, unfiled. 7-8 good reeds out of 10
Rico Grand Concert Selects: Dark sound, really good reed, filed. Moderate cost. 9 good reeds out of 10.
Vandoren (Blue Box): If you get a good reed it will be really good but not enough good reeds per box for the cost. 5 good reeds out of 10.
Vandoren V-12: Really good, but again plagued with the same problem as most Vandoren reeds. There isnt enough good reeds per box. 6 Good reeds out of 10.
LaVoz: Average sound, good if your on a budget and just need a cheap reed. Reeds don't really last that long though, but are consisitant. 8 playable reeds out of 10. (My personal choice for Harmony Clarinets).
Legere: Synthetic reed, sounds like a good cane reed. Awesome sound, doesn't require wetting or preperation. Just put on and play. Lasts a long time, comes with a 30 day money back satisfaction garantee. Fairly Costly at $20 or so a reed.

Saxophone
Vandoren (Blue Box): Not bad classical reed, plagued with lack of good reeds per box. If you find a good reed it will be really good. 5 good reeds out of 10.
Vandoren Java: Really good, not plagued with the normal Vandoren problems. Good bright sound, however since the have a thin tip they usually tend to blow out fairly quickly. 9 good reeds out of 10.
Vandoren V-16: Again this reed isnt not plagued with the normal Vandoren problems. Good loud and soft. Good bright sound. The tip is thicker than in the Java, tends to last longer than the Javas. 10 good reeds out of 10.
Hemke: Good classical reed, fairly consistant. Dark sound. 3 good reeds out of 5.
Rico Plasticovers: Fairly good reeds, a bit harsh good for Marching Band or outdoor events. Loud and lasts fairly well, doesn't require wetting as much becuase of the black plastic cover. Looks really cool becuase its black. 5 playable reeds out of 5.
LaVoz: Good workhorse reed thats cheap. Fairly good sound. 7 playable reeds out of 10. (My choice for Bari sax).

[billikenn]

A new reed to my arsenal is Alender superial Classique. Amazingly different playing then any other reed I have tried. Wood is very dense compared to normal shop reeds. cut is excellent. 10 good in box of 10. No inclusions on any reed. break in period was dramatically shorter then most reeds. Tip is thick and gives a strange sensation when playing. Much more of the reed tip vibrates compared to anything I have played. (only tried 3's so far) --------- I think I found my new reed of choice.

My normal reeds consist of Vandorean classic cut anywhere from a 3.5 - 5 (usually 4's) often have to smooth down heel more then I like to in order to let lower register blow. and often table needs to be sanded to make good seal. I buy 5's and cut them down to 4's. Cut is fairly consistant, but I only buy from open boxes.
Vandy 4.5 was my choice on bari. very good bari reeds.

I find Lavoz's cut horribly inconsistant, used to use these for practice but decided to just use good vandys I had. My last instructor pushed these reeds - im not sure why, he was an amazing classical player and taught me everything about reeds, maybe he had stock in the company or sumthin. I sure dont care for them.

As for Hemke, they were my first step up from Rico's (orange and royals) in about 5th grade. I havent played them since I had a tenor. I would probably still play them is I had a tenor. I put them about equal with Lavoz.

I cant remember the brand bu tI used to play clear plastic reeds onmy bari for jazz. They buzzed more then anything, and allowed more expression then I have ever gotten from reed. cool concept - would never use seriously though.

[bandgeeky007]

i mostly agree... i'm a student clarinet/alto sax player who's been in search of good reeds for a while now. i started on michel luries... i actually hated them. they wore out too quickly (became veryyyy soft!) for daily use and were pretty easy to chip as well. for the last two years, i've used vandoren regulars at the insistence of my 7th grade director. they were all right for a while, but just as you said, you had to buy several boxes to get enough good reeds. this year, my private lessons teacher suggested v12s... yuck!! i happened to buy a box with NO good reeds at all. what a waste of money. so i asked the top clarinet player what she uses and she suggested grand concerts... i just got my first shipment in today (unfortunately the music stores around here don't carry them so i had to order off the internet) and i LOVE them! i've never used a synthetic, seeing as i only play c-net for concert and not marching band, and i never plan to use one.
as for alto, it's a lot easier... i use vandoren javas for marching band + concert band (VERY good lows), and lavoz mediums for jazz band. they actually get a good jazz sound for a good price. i've also heard hemkes are good for jazz.

[robert4xst]

Update to my other post.... I kinda forgot to do this a while ago.

Rico Jazz Selects: I use these now for jazz. These work best with my Yangaisawa metal mouthpeice.

I never really liked Hemke's for jazz, I've never really liked a french cut reed for jazz.

[bandgeeky007]

yeah, personally i've never tried a hemke, but my best friend's brother swears by them sooo... different reeds for different people i suppose!

[littlesprinter]

Has anyone tried any of VanDoren's new "ZZ" Reeds?

[Bri-Guy]

Lucky Clarinet and Sax players. . . y'alls reeds are cheap. Us bassoonists and oboists have to pay like 12 bucks a reed. It sucks!!!

[robert4xst]

Well the difference is that oboe and basson players usually make their reeds once they get to an advanced level. The materials and tools to make double reeds are a lot more readily available than for single reed players.

[Saxophone]

This is true and not to mention the cost of getting them and specially ordering them.

[E-Dogg777]

Well Sax reeds aren't that cheap as far as money goes but mowt of the time we'll get 3 good reeds out of a pack of 10 so that makes the reeds even more expensive per say. Now on the other hand you can spend 50 dollars on a box of 10 VanDoren reeds that have been hand-picked. Now these reeds are worth everybit of 50 dollars...but that's just me.

[Saxophone]

I hand pick all my reeds. Normally I buy them one at a time for one reason, quality. If the heart of the reed isn't a perfect "V" and the grain is messed up it effects sound as we know so buying out of a box isn't economical by anymeans. I say buy the reed you want out of the box so you get what you want.

[saxchick]

at the moment im playing on rico jazz select reeds. I find that i get a fairly bright but strong and steady sound, which doesn't last long tho. They tend to blow out pretty easy and become pretty useless after a few days. But thats just what i find. Its a pain in the butt cause i need to buy lots to keep the sound up. They also seem to get softer the more you play them, which can get annoying too.

[robert4xst]

Originally Posted by saxchick

They also seem to get softer the more you play them, which can get annoying too.

Most reeds tend to do that if they aren't plastic. Actually I have a Rico Jazz Select reed that I've been playing on forever, at least 2-3 months. I keep saying I need to replace it but I always go back to it when I'm in a gig.

[CareBear14]

Ok, I am new to saxophone playing, and I am supposed to play soprano sax this year for marching season. I have the horrible habit of biting down on a reed during practice, and I find the taste to be horrible! Bleh...Does anyone have any tips on how I can stop that? Or direct me in the direction of some not so nasty tasting reeds?

[Mr. Kimchi]

Well....I believe that there are flavored reeds on the market, but I hear they're horrible... Also, I think there are flavored reed sprays...but I don't know brands or anything for either.