This guy really knows his stuff, and most importantly is very articulate and able to communicate clearly the characteristics of the different reed styles. He's also providing just enough technical insight so that you feel you really understand why the different styles perform the way they do. A VERY VALUABLE PUBLIC SERVICE. It could take you weeks of time and boatloads of cash to do this research yourself.

traditional 0:59 v12 2:32 green java 4:16 red java 5:48 v16 7:18 zz 8:36 v21 10:24

There are few absolute certainties in life. Vandoren blue box is one of them.

I really love the V21s for classical playing. They're similar to the blue box but I think just a little brighter so they work well for Jazz too.

I purposely use the V12 almost exclusively on my Sop. setup because of the resistance and its ability to hold back on the sharpness that sometimes comes with a sop. But I've recently - Re-discovered the ZZ's, that also seem to produce that resistatant feeling but at the same time offering a more fluid , darker tone... but I'm still working on them :)

That V21!!!!!- Vandoren hands down makes the best saxophone reeds.- Their research and development is extensive and the unique characteristics of each reed is very prominent in each of the designs - you’ll have a hard time finding anything else like these Vandoren reeds I assure you

My favourite ones are the green java reeds

I love this. I’ve been trying to find the right reed and thanks to you I can!

I love that the boxes are Alto boxes butyou are playing a Tenor. I fall back on the V-16’s often. I am usually the lone horn with a 6 piece group. I need all the cut through power I can get.

Surely comparing reeds is crazy as even in one box of reeds you can have some that won’t play at all & need work & some that will play straight out of the box. Because there is a total lack of consistency & no two reeds are same if could be the particular reed that has a darker or brighter sound, or buzzy or smooth, easy or hard to blow & not necessarily because eg. it’s a traditional compared to a java red. I feel quite lucky to just get a reed that works & responds how I want it to as more often than not they don’t & I have to adjust them with a reed geek tool just to get them to play.

The V12 and Java Red sounds very similiar to me that i couldn't tell the sound difference, only that Java Red has the most blow resistance of all Vandoren reeds which feels for me unconfortable to play. My favorite is the Java Green because i like the buzziness sound for pop music and I can form the sound very easy.

Thank you for the video my dude! Although you seem to not enjoy v12 after hearing it I just insta bought it as it is the exact sound I want. Hopefully I can get the same lovely sound out of it myself. Thanks for the demos

1:26 the way he said "nice" reminds me of Michael Rosen

In the first example I liked the Green Java, but in the examples in the end I liked the V16 more.. did you change the settings?

11:30 conclusion of all reeds

Thanks! Very helpful indeed.

Thank you so much for this wonderful work. Would you please produce -when possible - a comment about synthetic reeds versus natural ones?

Can you put a little more low notes in your phrases ? I would like to know how deep or easy to play they are

At the end, the green had husk and projection, and the v21s were more centered and projected.

Love you Jim!

cheers Hugh Dennis

I used to play V12s on tenor. They were WAY stiffer than any other reed I've ever played. Jim should've used a softer one (lower number).

I use the Green Java

Very good demonstration! Thanks! This is a nice phrase you are playing. Is this original or taken from a famous solo by a famous player ? What mouthpiece are you using here and horn ?

Vandoren Traditional: Balanced Nice. V12 - Stuffy. Java Green - Buzzy, Stuffy. Java Red - Bright, Nice. V16 - Dark, Resopnsive. ZZ - Bright, Thin. V21 - Dark, Nice, Responsive.

My favourite zz

I should mention to that I really like Lupafarro reeds , but they are hard to find locally

i really wish that you played the classical reeds in a classical setting... i know it will work and everything but it helps better.

You sound great Jim but...these special Vandoren cuts don’t last on live gigs. They sound/play great but they blowout in like one night. They all have less material than the Trad. or the V 21. In my opinion the D’Addario Reserve/Vandoren Trad./Vandoren V21 reeds are by far the best reeds for your buck and will last WAY longer. BTW, your core sound was on point with the V21!!

Vandoren sells a jazz assortment pack with one each of the Java Green, Red, V16, and ZZ. I liked the V16 best with my Selmer C*, but now have switched to a Rico Metalite M5. Went back to LaVoz Mediums at first, but now using the V16 again. After watching this, am going to give the others a try on the M5.

Red Java favorite

Great work Jim!

V21 has a very broad range from bright to dark quality all mixed in. Red and Green follow closely. Traditional is sort of muted.

Bro this guys voice is legit ASMR

Link to manufacturer’s descriptions, including cross-section diagrams: vandoren.fr/en/reeds-technical-elements/

Great video!

Jim , is the V21 harder or softer than the ZZ's? I would like to try it but don;t know what grade to buy. Thanks.

...great....tanx

Would it be possible to identify the mouthpiece you use with each reed - if different? If it is the same, can you provide the brand, tip opening with each reed. I love the comparisons but, it would help me tremendously to know the combination of the reed with the mouthpiece. Thanks and greatly appreciate the series of videos.

Newbie here..playing almost a year..upgraded mouthpiece to a van doren v16 6m after playing a Yamaha 5c..but I'm having trouble with the vandoren reeds 2.5..I honk and squeak in altissimo so much I get sea gulls and geese on my window sill..the only reed which works best is my legere signature 2.25.. I don't squeak at all on my 5c..I'm thinking perhaps the 2.5 reeds are too soft?. A chart I saw stated 3 reeds are best for vandoren red/green..thoughts anyone; would be greatly appreciated..thanks

What do you think? V16 or ZZ is the better?

I think he's using one of those custom jodyjazz mouthpieces along with a rovner dark ligature

I've always hated Vandoren reeds. If it was all I had, I'd use it, but give me Rico or LaVoz any day. But the absolute best reeds, in my opinion, are the Alexander Superial reeds. Half as many come in a box, but you can almost count on getting 5 good reeds.

My main issue with reeds is they either buzz too much or are way to hard to play

Is that “Harlem Nocturne” you are describing playing? If not… it is damn close to it

How do you get that balanced tone . My sound is very baritone like

I play with zz it great very smoothy when you want and java red for the bright le zz est très confortable dans les graves suaves et profond pour le son péchu un peu mou. pour le jazz c'est top la java red est vraiment bien pour les pêches et riffs voilà

Would be nice to know what opening\piece\style mpc you're using

If the V16 is beneficial to produce a percussive and penetrating sound, why did you demonstrate it on a flowy jazz piece?

what reeds good for Vandoren A20 I like to play ballads songs?

i personally like red javas the best

Why aren’t you playing into the microphone? I mean… Wouldn’t it be good to hear what the actual horn is producing from the bell...As in the studio? Just curious

Here's my idea(good) 11:41 v12 12:01 red

The alto sax reed boxes while playing tenor sax

Is this a Trevor James tenor? sounds wicked...

Overall, d’addario has munch more punch and more lows. Fater sound. Vandoren is more controled but also more narow sound, much more classical, and on the up side thay last longer.

Where are the Juno's??

What Mouthpiece is Jim using in this video?

What is the difference between the ZZ and the V16?

reed ad

What kind of mouthpiece is that

j'ai de plus en plus l'impression que toutes ces appréciations ressemblent de plus en plus aux antiques discussions concernant le sexe des anges......en tout cas dans ses conclusions qui n'ont jamais mené nulle part ! Tout cela étant uniquement un problème de jeu , d'oreille et de recherche d'un son totalement personnel , aucune conclusion générale constructive ne peut être tirée , bien entendu . Si ce n'est que , tout au plus , avons-nous utilisé quelques minutes à nous amuser à propos de queues de cerises , comme on disait chez nous "dans le temps", hahahaha !!!

I am not asking about everyone's play style. Jim, does your bottom lip cover your teeth?

Traditional sounds best

help me im newbie and cant spot the difference 😟

you talk too much