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Rico Reserve Reeds

By Christine Ngeo Katzman

Are you tired of buying a new box of reeds, only to find that the majority of them are unusable? To solve this problem, D’Addario, based in Farmingdale, N.Y., introduced the Rico Reserve Reeds for Bb Clarinet, German Clarinet and Alto Saxophone. By changing both its harvesting selection and its manufacturing capabilities, Rico has created a higher-quality, more consistent reed product, according to Robert Polan, woodwind product manager. The Rico Reserve Reeds will be available for the full saxophone family by April 2008.

For this elite line, Rico starts by selecting the lower internode cane, the bottom of a cane pole with the highest density. Less than 5% of Rico’s cane harvests are selected for the Reserve line, Polan explains.

In addition, Rico has implemented several manufacturing improvements, including new digitally controlled machines that use a diamond blade for a smoother, consistent cut. These upgrades are part of a $10 million capital investment into the Rico factory in Los Angeles.

“You want the reed to be cut in a similar way, so you get a more consistent playing product,” Polan says. “Diamond cutting itself gives you a smooth and consistent cut.”

As a nice side benefit, Rico Reserve Reeds feel more comfortable on players’ lips.

But the differentiating features of the Rico Reserve don’t stop there. Each sealed five-pack box contains the patented Reed Vitalizer, a two-way humidity-control system (HCS), which ensures that reeds will not warp, split or crack during transit to the musician.

For more information about Rico Reserve Reeds, visit www.ricoreeds.com.

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