D'Addario Reserve Bb Clarinet Reed Review and Comparison!

Back with another full review and comparison, this time featuring the D'Addario Reserve reed lineup! Curious as to how I break in my reeds? Check out my video here: • How to Break in Clarin...
Thank's again to www.northcountrywinds.com for providing the reeds for this video!
Merch Available Now! parkhousecreations.com
Clarinet Equipment Used:
(EM Refaced) Vandoren BD5 Mouthpiece
Inverted Gold Bonade Ligature
Custom EM Barrel
Tosca Bb Clarinet
Audio Equipment used:
Sound Devices Mix Pre-3
Line Audio Design CM4 Stereo Pair
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[@laneevans7360]

This video has a very small target audience (and I expect you know that), but it is done very well, and I thank you for that

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Thanks Lane, you’re right, videos like this may not get millions of views, but I am still happy to make them! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@adamdoesburg9968]

Thank you for this hugely useful reflection. I really appreciate the time you take to give a thoughtful and thorough overview especially with concern to the importance of the reed/mouthpiece interplay. Cheers! Adam, NZ

[@albertnemiroff1502]

I am about to purchase a few boxes of reeds, had played the first two, chose the latter and wondered about the Evolution model. Thank you very much for the presentation and rationale in the summary.

[@thomasshuffield837]

Very nice video. Professional and as objective as possible. I use the Reserve Evolution reeds on an M15 and Reserve Evolution MP ...

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Thanks for the info and kind words Tom!

[@DocCSE]

I play several different brands of reeds. I do use classic reserve 3.5 on a Rick Sayre mouthpiece, Rovner Versa Ligature. I find that I get the most playable reeds out of the box from D'Addario, however, they do seem to weaken and die sooner than VD reeds (V-12). I was happy to hear you play on the Evolution reeds, because I was thinking of trying them, but now I will not since I did not hear a significant improvement over the other two. D'Addario's promotional material states that the Evolution has a thicker tip, but I usually find that I must thin out the tip of the Reserve Classic, especially on the left side, so that I would not find a thicker tip compatible with my mouthpiece. Thanks again for an informative video.

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Thanks for watching, I’m glad you found it helpful! I’ve never tried a Sayre mouthpiece, but knowing that he studied with Kaspar, I can only imagine that it’s excellent!

[@johnwardlaw6204]

After hearing you play, my preference sticks with the reed I actually already play. I’m currently using the D’Addario Reserve Classic in a 4.0 strength on the X5 Reserve mouthpiece with an Ishimori Copper Rose Gold plate ligature. I find the clarity better in that reed compared to the other though as in my own playing I find articulation clarity sometimes suffering. I will say my preference comes from my saxophone playing (DMA in progress) and that clarinet is more a passion project for me than my primary line of work. Thanks for the review!

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Thanks for commenting and watching John! I have been primarily using the Reserve Classic lately as well!

[@ParkHouseCreations]

So, as much fun as it is to play the Brahms and Mendelssohn for all of these videos - and I will continue to do so, because I think it makes it a little easier to compare reeds between brands - I would like to add one or two more excerpts per video that could differ based on the video, to keep things fresh. To begin with, I was thinking about including either the beginning to the 2nd mov. of Mendelssohn's 3rd Symphony or the 3rd Mov. of Shostakovich's 9th Symphony! However, I am open to other suggestions and thoughts! I think primarily I am interested in including an excerpt that has more and faster moving notes with a good combination of articulation and slurring. I think this will give a better idea of how the reeds respond when there isn't as much time to make micro air and embouchure adjustments. Please let me know what you think!

[@LesTwinsSociety]

I typically play with Vandoren V-12, but recently tried these out. I liked the Reserve Classic the best. Now I understand why. 😅

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mendy123z]

thank you for your video, now am using Vandoren V45 wuth Reserve 3.5 and i like th sound over the clasic, the sound is rounded, dark, i feel the reserve clasic hard using the same number 3.5

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Im glad the video was helpful!! Thank you for watching and sharing your setup, it’s always helpful to see what others are playing on!

[@Ben-ig3bf]

My experience with the Reserve reeds are pretty good so far. I find that I get the best sound out of all the reeds I tried with them, yet they seem to die pretty quick compared to something like V-12's. I do actually love how they play tho

[@ParkHouseCreations]

That’s great! Thanks for watching and commenting, it’s always nice to hear what is working for other people or what their general experience has been!

[@kevindeibert3369]

I've been using Reserves lately- 2 1/2 on a Vandoren B45 mtpc with a Vandoren M/O lig.

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Sounds like you’ve got some really solid setups. Glad they work for you!

[@kevindeibert3369]

I play more saxophone than clarinet and do prefer D Addario (formerly Rico) reeds in general. Lately I've been liking the Select Jazz reeds for Soprano, Royals for Alto, Reserves for Tenor (and Bass Clarinet). And Select Jazz reeds on Bari Sax!

[@emjay2045]

I would agree. Evolutions work the best on Zinner types (but not ALL).

[@ParkHouseCreations]

I will have to try them with one of my Zinner blanks in the future!

[@jimis3167]

Once in the past tried the Reserve Classic 3.5 on BD5 and didn't like as much as V12 3.5. Now currently playing BD7, maybe will try It again, but number 3 this time, also Reserve 3 may will try too. Already tried the Evolution n.3 on BD7, not good.. Quite heavy.. Mainly not a good match I think. As you say in video, I think that gets confirmed, It works better on more resistant mouthpieces..

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Ya, not every cut will work on every mouthpiece, that’s for sure!

[@willmosher1373]

I use these reeds a lot, and I was surprised a little because I was expecting one thing with reserve and evolution. The reserve classic did not surprise me at all. The reserve classic reed produces more core tone than the other two reeds. The color is much less present. The articulation is a bit duller on the Mendelssohn. It lacks the lightness and evenness of the other two. When I want darker and core tone, I use the X0 and Reserve Classic (I use Vandoren equivalents as well because I have students who use both brands) The Evolution seemed to be the best for light, consistent, and even articulation. I heard more core in the sound than the reserve (not as much as the reserve classic), so from listening, I would go with the evolution for playing Mendelssohn. I feel the evolution may not have the higher overtones in the sound but it has a strong presence of some of the lower overtones. The Reserve classic has a lot of the higher overtones (like the Reserve) but a stronger core sound. The Reserve is just full of color. The sound does narrow quite a bit on the High D in the Brahms with it, but it articulates more cleanly and lightly than the Reserve Classic and is similar to the evolution.. From these samples, the evolution seems to give the best of both worlds on the whole. That’s what I heard. Thanks for putting this out there because I was looking for comparisons.

[@nhartline1]

My two cents (disclosure: I play reserve classic): the reserve was most enjoyable with the lyrical style of the Brahms. The classic reserve came across as more pointed with your staccato style with the Mendelssohn. The evolution sounded like you had to put a lot of effort into it. It was also the least steady of tone.

[@ParkHouseCreations]

This is a solid take, very close to my own! Thanks for the comment!!

[@jimis3167]

Is there any chance you review D'Addario mouthpieces soon? Do you think they might be playing well with V12 and V21 reeds?

[@klarinetta]

It sounds to me that you are using a slightly harder reeds here than in the Vandoren comparison video. That being said I do like the V-12 by faaaaaar the best.

[@davideichler5105]

How does their strength numbering system compare with Vandoren's? If you were going for a sound a bit more on the brighter and more flexible side, which reed of any make would you chose? FYI, I play Gregory Smith 1+ and Kaspar-style mouthpieces (mostly with Vandoren regular and V12 #3.5 reeds), if that is any help.

[@emjay2045]

I think the Evolution is closer to a V-12. They both need more effort and “spongy” IMO

[@sweetnothings12]

Someone recommended these reeds for someone that is just starting out in the clarinet world.

[@Cornodebassetto]

The evolution strikes me as a more german or Viennese cut of reed like Peter Luethner. I’m testing out the evolution now

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Ive never tried the Luethner’s and need to add them to my list!

[@beth7467]

Did you come to a conclusion about the Evolution?

[@Cornodebassetto]

@@beth7467 yes, I’m using them exclusively now. I love the warmth of them.

[@beth7467]

@@Cornodebassetto Thanks a lot. Recently changed mouthpieces (moved to Vocalise G from my R) and am trying to match reed to mouthpiece. :\

[@Cornodebassetto]

@@beth7467 good, I found them great on the vocalise G.

[@kevindeibert3369]

Reserves have a richer sound- I like

[@mendy123z]

I think the reserve have biger and better sound than clasic.

[@MayfieldCreations]

I don't hear much difference between Reserve and Classic, but Evolution has intonation issues and wavering/thin sounds to it.

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Good ear! The intonation issues surprised me the most with the Evolution. I felt like I was basically required to use an absurd amount of embouchure pressure to get the reed up to pitch. This in turn definitely caused stability issues!

[@gesaffelsteinisallyouneed]

I herd that the BD5 not the best choise for Tosca because of tune. I prefer b40 after bd5.

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Ah, that was never really my experience. The 440 version BD5 tunes a little on the low side so I always had to use slightly shorter barrels, but in general the scale is pretty accurate. The B40 is great too though!

[@kevindeibert3369]

I always add my 3rd fingers and pinky on C/F when I play throat Bb.

[@jimis3167]

I've also noticed Rico Reserve and Rico Reserve Classic. These are better than D'Addario?

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Rico Reserve and Reserve Classics are no longer made, they were replaced by the D’Addario line.

[@jimis3167]

@@ParkHouseCreations They still exist in a store nearby me!😂 Worth trying?

[@ParkHouseCreations]

I thought they were good when they were still produced! They could be worth trying, just don’t get too used to them!

[@jimis3167]

@@ParkHouseCreations So, not ideal, I prefer reeds will be existing on the market.. Because all get unusable at the end.. Someone on FB said these Rico (Reserve and Classic) were very good and D'Addario took them and ruined them..

[@musicpassion8548]

@@jimis3167 This is 100% true..

[@kevindeibert3369]

classic have better articulation to my ear

[@badlourising]

D adario reeds are not same as rico reeds were. New owner with different cane /reed method

[@jmwoods190]

Never thought I'd comment exactly 6 months since the upload of this video, but here we go! It's certainly a toss-up between the 'Vanilla' Reserve & Reserve Classic, though I'm slightly more partial to the former(only 1 of the 3 I haven't tried yet), as the sound is more direct yet with good amount of depth. The Classics sounded a bit light to me and the depth of sound isn't as much as the 'Vanilla' Reserves, but I can imagine it working better for a mellower mouthpiece like the BD5(my Fobes 10K 3L mpc doesn't fall into this category, and I didn't like the Classics on it, sounded too light & pale, and didn't feel 'grounded' enough for me). The Reserve Evolution does have potential, but it doesn't seem to work on your BD5, and while it sounded okay on my Fobes 3L mpc(and very powerful!!) the super-thick spine makes things feel weird and require extra effort to achieve enough clarity(ditto when I tried their Reserve tenor sax reeds on bass, as I normally use the actual Reserve bass reeds aka the big version of the 'Vanilla' Reserve Bb reeds). I feel that it's more designed for a certain type of facing/mpc configuration, but the question is: what else's similar to their Reserve Evolution mpc? Lastly FYI: The Classics(their distinct cut aside) run 1/4 strength lighter than their Reserve 'Vanilla' & Evolution counterparts, so the it might be a fairer comparison e.g. to test a 3.5+ Classic reeds alongside the 3.5 of the other 2 cuts(and unfortunately they don't make 3+s for the other 2 which lines up with the Classic 3.5s). And the same can be said about the 4 cuts by Vandoren.

[@ParkHouseCreations]

Thanks for the really excellent comment Josh! I appreciate you taking the time. I definitely agree that the evolutions feel “weird” and required extra effort. I hear you about trying to match strengths better! I do check all of their charts before I do these reviews, but I also like to get the same strength across the board to put the chart to the test. Sometimes the differences aren’t quite as large as a company would make them appear and in other cases it just seems to be incorrect. For instance V21s seemed to play harder for me than their chart indicated they should. But I totally get where your coming from! Thanks again for commenting!