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Re: D'Addarrio Reserve Classic reeds

Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2014-11-06 21:36

WRT the original question, I played the Rico Reserves (not Classics) for a good while and liked their liveliness/vibrancy. Their tone was a "bit" on the bright side, but I could tailor that. I tried the Rico Reserve Classics only briefly and didn't care for them as much, perhaps because I am playing on a more open facing.

I tried a few samples of each of the new D'addario Reserve (Classic) reeds and felt that each cut was better (for me) than their predecessors, although I still favored the regular (non-Classic) cut.

For the past few months I have been playing the D'addario Reserve (not Classic) #3 reeds as well as VD Traditional #3 on a 1.16/ML facing. I find these reeds to be very compatible. However, I find that the D'addario (typically) have a darker, "woodier" sound than the VDs, but sometimes do not respond quite as well. For me, the Reserves sometimes get a bit "mushy" as well. I probably get 60% of the VDs to play well and somewhat more of the Reserves (~70-80%). I'm now using a much more methodical break-in using a box with 7 compartments so I can make sure each reed gets 2-3 minutes of playing/adjusting each day before becoming eligible for entering my current "rotation". I think this strategy is helping the "mushiness"--I'll have to see how it affects lifetimes.

With respect to reed life, I find that after a a couple months in my rotation, I would rather retire a reed than continue "life support". This seems to be true for both the Reserve and VD reeds.

Since I've found that VD Traditional #3.5 seem to work OK if I work them down in strength a bit, I'm now trying this technique with D'addario #3.5 Reserves to see if that helps to keep the reeds more responsive.

Bob Barnhart

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