M Hemp Fiberreed vs. MS Onyx Fiberrreed?

[Keith Taylor]

…and please excuse the multiple spelling and type-o’s in that. I should have proofed it before I posted it, and now can’t figure out how to edit or delete it to repost.

[john]

couple things Keith…
for me it’s the opposite; I find the hemp plays easier and sounds thinner than the onyx.
for me any MS is too soft and any MH is too hard….I’m a true medium guy and nothing else seems to do.
so, I can’t tell you if there’s a drastic difference between the 2 you asked about. we are all quite different!

they are sand-able so if one seems a bit too hard try working on it a bit. Fiberreed has some good tips on that on their site.
but really, all these things about reeds hits all of us at some point, that’s why they’re a royal pain in the butt!

I too love vandorens and when I get a really good one in a box of 5, it costs me about $25 and lasts a few weeks so
I’m really happy with my Onyx right now. I’m still blowing the prototype from last January and it’s still good.

as for sending it back…no can do because Fiberreed doesn’t take them back from me. I bought a Legere once, hated it, never played it again and it sits in my studio. It was a $20 lesson.
I understand all your concerns here Keith. there’s things to consider and chances to take but in the long run, you try a few reeds, spend a 100 bucks and discover one that will last you for a year or more, and you now have a reed you can count on for years to come.
I’ve dropped that much with one trip to the music store for a few boxes of cane reeds that didn’t last me a year.

sounds like you’re feeling pretty good about em… it took me a while too. I struggled a bit with the altissimo on the onyx but now
it’s the same as I felt on the cane reeds. may take a few weeks not hours.

[brother cavefish]

i might buy the MS onyx, what size tip MP are you using, as far as other reeds, VD green java are great

[Anonymous]

Is it wrong to assume that the softer reeds will allow one to play more comfortably at a lower volume?

I can’t play as loud at home as I can in a large building, as the sound pressure level hurts my ears too much.
Those softer reeds may come in handy for times when you want to play more softly at home.

I’ve read that playing with a softer reed gives a more expressive tone (esp. for subtone), and is another skill we have to develop.

[Anonymous]

I had a similar problem early this year.

I’ve been used to playing on La Voz (med/hard) reeds and then i wanted to try out the vandoren V21 reeds, so i bought a V21 (size 2&1/2) thinking it
would be the equivalent size to the La Voz (med/hard).

I had to go back to the shop and buy a V21 (size 3) which was more like the same strength of the La Voz (med/hard).

Same old story, for different types of reeds, you have to try out various sizes to get the proper equivalent. I don’t shave hard reeds, as i end up destroying the shelf life of the reed – so i just bin them, no point in keeping a mouldy old reed that im never going to play.

You should be able to play soft on any reed, going down a reed size will only muck about with your embouchure strength and restrict your playing even more. The only time to go down a reed size is when you go up a mouthpiece size or your embouchure is shot from not having played for several weeks.

[Pete]

Keith
Like Johnny said, you can sand the onyx down easily I bought a MH onyx
and it playable but felt it was a little to hard, just shaved it a little
and it is perfect now, so glad I bought a onyx after watching Johnny on is
demo about reeds.

[brother cavefish]

i think , as far as reeds go just get the reed that works for your mp, and then play softly .
i would not rely on certain reeds to use to play softly, and certain reeds to use to play loud——–for me i have a few MPs, some work better with V16s, other work well with Java greens, but it could just be the strength needed, , but no matter what i use the one i can play loud and soft , never switch reeds when I want to play softly , i just play softly——— i use softer reeds anyway, i am not a screamer , if i want a louder more projective sound, i have different MPs for that, , but my reeds are pretty consistent ,

[Mel]

Started playing the V16 2.5 on my Jody Jazz Hard Rubber. Really liked them a lot! Able to play soft or loud and the high notes come easier and more in tune. I picked up a Vandoren V16 T6
Mouthpiece and have been playing the V16 reeds on it with the Vandoren Optimum ligature and I really like this set up. The more I play it the more I like it. It is now my go to set up 🙂

[jake]

I did the same thing Keith. I got the M hemp reed and find it too stiff for me. I play fibracell 3 reeds on my tenor. I ordered the onxy to try out in a MS. I hope its not too much softer. I haven’t received it yet but when I do I can let you know if I have the same results you did.

[brother cavefish]

Yup V16s reeds are serious , 1.5 is my flavor, Java 2, they seem to be the most consistent reeds i have used, i also have some alexander NY, gonzalez and a handful of fibracel premiums and regular they buzz too much—i also tried vandoran purples yuk—
i have yet to find a synthetic reed that sounds like wood- the qualities in bamboo is soft, and it absorbs the sound and vibrates great, —synthetic reed can’t possible have pores, so the sound can be the same , the pores balance sound and absorb ———- the onyx seems like it might pull it off but my guess would be it still has bright qualities, — i don’t need reeds with bright qualities i have MPs for that-my thoughts anyways

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