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Re: New Rico mouthpiece.

Author: Ed
Date: 2012-10-15 15:57

I recently tried the new Rico mouthpieces in the X0 facing as that is closest to what I generally use. I have played one of them over the last week or so in a number of settings and have been very pleased with the results.

The consistency in these mouthpieces is quite remarkable. Of the three that I tried, they played very much the same. I would probably have difficulty telling the difference once I warmed up and settled in on any of them.

These mouthpieces are very, very even in response and tone color from note to note. The color is full, rich and resonant in each register with lots of presence and depth to the sound. There does not seem to be any tendency to get reedy or thin, whether in the throat or highest register. The intonation is excellent with very little variation across the range. The focus and projection is excellent.

There is a blowing resistance which gives the sound a lot of hold. There is always a bit of give and take with any equipment. Some mouthpieces tend toward free blowing but may allow the tone to break a little when pushed to the extremes. The hold in the Rico gives it a lot of control. I felt as though I did not need to work a lot with my embouchure to control the dynamics, color or intonation. It often felt as though I could just set my embouchure and play. I have been able to find many reeds that work comfortably.

A word about reed strength- I have performed on this mouthpiece using both Rico Reserve classic 4 and 3.5+. The lighter reed was great when I played in a setting where I needed a little more freedom. Initially, I anticipated that I might need a stiffer reed due to the close facing. Because of the slight hold in the blowing resistance, which I believe is due more to internal dimensions, I have found that this is not the case. I would advise players to try a variety of reed strengths when testing these, including some slightly softer than what one might expect from the facing numbers due to the resistance.

Over the years I have had the opportunity to play a number of mouthpieces -stock, vintage and custom. I believe that Rico is really on to something with this new mouthpiece. It outplays many others that I have tried. It has many great qualities and it could easily be used by any number of players, from students to pros, with great results. The price point, easy availability and great consistency will make it especially attractive to many. As with any piece of equipment, it may not be for everyone, but I feel that it is well worth a try and that it will find its way into many playing situations. One might wonder whether there is room for yet another mouthpiece with all that are available today. The Rico Reserve is a fine player and a welcome addition.

Post Edited (2013-03-21 10:40)

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New Rico mouthpiece. new

Phurster

2012-07-22 12:02