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Rico "equivalent" for Vandoren blue box

Author: salzo
Date: 2011-03-29 09:47

SOmeone gave me a box of Rico reserves (not the classic reserves) which I opened yesterday, and I was impressed with how uniform they all looked- I dont know what they sound like yet, but I want to give Rico a try.
I currently am using Vandoren blue box, #3.5. Which of the Rico cuts would be most similar to the Vandoren Blue box, and which strength would compare to the Vandoren 3.5?
Thanks for any help.

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Re: Rico

Author: curiousclarinetist
Date: 2011-03-29 12:48

According to Rico's reed strength chart, your current strength with the blue box would be equivalent to a #3.5 Grand Concert Select, about a #4 Reserve, and a #3.5 + Reserve Classic. I personally prefer the Reserves. The plain ones, not the classics.

http://www.daddario.com/resources/Rico/ClarinetStrengths.html

Curious Clarinetist
http://curiousclarinetist.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Curious-Clarinetist/155848744465821

Post Edited (2011-03-29 12:49)

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Re: Rico "equivalent" for Vandoren blue box

Author: Steve Becraft
Date: 2011-03-29 13:59

It can often depend upon your mouthpiece whether different brands and styles of reed will work comfortably for you.

Several of my students who play M13 Lyre first switched from VD blue box 3.5 to Rico Reserve 4. Recently they have found that Reserve Classic 4 works even better for them. Another student on the M15 was happy with V12 4 and never felt that any size of the Rico Reserve worked. After she tried Reserve Classic 4+ she was hooked!

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Re: Rico "equivalent" for Vandoren blue box

Author: salzo
Date: 2011-03-29 17:55

Thanks for the responses. I am also wondering about the cut of the reed- If I like the vandoren blue box, which of the rico line would be comprable to the vandoren blue box?

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Re: Rico "equivalent" for Vandoren blue box

Author: curiousclarinetist
Date: 2011-03-29 18:31

In my experience, the Rico Royal seems to be similar to the blue box in terms of feel. I'm not sure about the actual measurements and whatnot.

Curious Clarinetist
http://curiousclarinetist.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Curious-Clarinetist/155848744465821

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Re: Rico "equivalent" for Vandoren blue box

Author: Sylvain
Date: 2011-03-29 20:56

Salzo,

The Rico Reserve are my favorite reeds, they're just very consistent and I rarely have to discard one. My reed of choice before then was VD blue box.

Try the "3.5+" strength, I think it'll be a good match for your VD blue box. It's a thicker reed so you may find that it does not respond as quickly as the vandoren, but give yourself a little time to get used to it.

Let us know how it goes.

--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>

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Re: Rico "equivalent" for Vandoren blue box

Author: salzo
Date: 2011-03-30 02:57

THanks Sylvain,
I just started breaking in the 3.5s, so I cant say for certain but I think they are a tad light. I'll work with them a bit in the next couple of days to see if I can get them right- I will give the 3.5+ a try.

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