Boston Sax Shop Reeds - First Reed in the Box REVIEW

[@RayKimSax]

Ordered a box after watching this video, they’re exactly as you described! Super happy with them so far

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Awesome! Yeah with reeds theres a lot to be skeptical about but these were the truth! I'm still using the reeds I used to make that video too 🤯

[@jimberwolf7359]

I stumbled on this channel while reed shopping, but ended up staying for your playing. Absolute killer, man! May I ask who your big influences are?

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Thanks man! Just about everybody I listen to to be honest :) Favorites include Ben Webster, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Seamus Blake and many others. In the last couple years I’ve been really focused on trying to play things I like rather than copying other people as I feel this is the best way to get better once you start improvising at a decent level 👍🏼

[@bruhlmaoo]

i use these for jazz and classical cause of how well the high register just sings (alto) for the rest, i use them but because they’re just great

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

so cool - I never thought to try them but I could totally see them working on classical

[@masterllama321]

I love these!! Super consistent. Not to mention they last forever.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

💯 - yeah they sound better as they get older sometimes for months - crazy!

[@VGANick]

I love these reeds but are they as narrow on your syos MP as on mine.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Yeah I do find them to be - the SYOS pieces are a little wider too though.

[@davidolahmusic]

The best reeds i ever played on. I hope the quality will not decrease.

[@benperschall6648]

I used to always play d’addario reeds but recently switched to rigotti and have liked them so much more. Boston sax reeds are certainly on my list to try though.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Nice! I am also a fan of Rigotti - BSS reeds have similar characteristics for sure.

[@jambajoby32]

They’re the same maker which is really cool! Slight difference in cut tho, made to BSS specs

[@parkerpolen]

I love them, I’ve been hooked since I started using them. They are stupid consistent and I love supporting Jacks business. Also - do you have any tips for extending my pianissimo dynamic range (just playing quieter)?

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Right on man! Yeah I agree on the addiction and consistency 😂 - with playing softer it comes down to experimenting with reed strength and tip opening size. Also just doing it more - you eventually find the sweet spot for where the reef will make sound using the least amount of air. Anybody that knows me is aware that I practice a lot of different hours of the day so I’ve had to learn over the years how to play barely using any volume in order to get practice time in. Hope that helps man!

[@orzanoap]

Would you consider these “jazz reeds”? Any brand that markets itself as a jazz reed I have never liked. Java, daddario jazz select. Even though I play jazz I use blue box vandoren size 3. Do you think I would like these? Should I order the same size? I play alto.

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

I think these are definitely on the 'brighter' end of the spectrum and would not recommend them for classical but that doesn't mean that wouldn't work. If you play blue box 3 I would try both a 3 and 3.5 in these just to be safe. I have never been a huge fan of the Jazz Select or Javas... It takes a while to find a good reed with them. You'll get a lot more good reeds out of the boston sax shop boxes 👍

[@garripastor4]

Great review, your playing is amazing man, I am currently using la voz reeds they give me a very full and round sound, but almost half of the box is always trash, Could these reeds give me a full an round sound?

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

For me they don't get better than this. I used to like La Voz a lot - one of the things I mention in this video is that even if the reed isn't perfect out of the box with a BSS reed, a lot of times it will be pretty close so there are a lot less 'bad' reeds in the box. If you use a reed knife/reed geek and reed trimmers, you can make these last a really really long time 👍

[@pel1337]

first time I’ve bought a box that werent v16’s in years wish me luck thanks for the $2.50 savings ;)

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

You're gonna be ok! Let me know how they work out :)

[@timtully8015]

How do you trim a #2 reed to turn it into a 2-1/4?

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

I've heard that this is not actually what is happening, but when you trim reeds they do get harder. That is what I was referring to here :)

[@timtully8015]

@@SaxophoneSteveKortyka Got it. Thank you.

[@RobertForejtekjazz]

What strenght of reed is that?

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

I play on 2s... not a very high strength but large tip openings (9)

[@cadegutz]

What reed clipper do you use?

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

cordier reed trimmers. I think they're around $50 the last I checked. Totally worth it - just don't lose them lol

[@sebastianbartholomew8521]

I can’t find your tenor mouthpiece on the syos website

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Hi Sebastian! Sorry about that, it is currently being revised. It will be back up when I get done working out the revisions with them - hold tight!

[@theludicrouslime]

What do you use to trim your reeds?

[@parkerpolen]

TheLudicrousLime try a Reed Geek

[@theludicrouslime]

Parker Polen I meant for what he uses to clip the tip of his reeds

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Yo - sorry thought I replied earlier - I use a Cordier Reed trimmer - I think it has the best shape to it for matching the mouthpiece

[@pipthebari]

D'addario Jazz selects for... life?

[@SaxophoneSteveKortyka]

Giver a try!