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I need to get a new box of Jazz reeds, and was thinking about trying out a different kind from the Rico Jazz Selects that I've been playing on for years. One type I was looking at are the Alexander Superial reeds. Has anyone tried these? What do you think? Are there any other kinds that you would recomend?

Vandoren jazz z reeds are really good, those would be the ones i reccomend

I DISAGREE WITH ALL OF YOU..

buy boxes of the cheap, plain old rico reeds...

why? because through my experience ive found the tone quality etc is basically the same... if you need expensive reeds in order to produce a decent sound.. thats just pathetic
for a cheaper cost, you'll get more reeds, and since you'll most likely break about 5 reeds per day playing gigs, it ends up saving you alot of money...
also, if youre really into producing a great sound, buy a reed sharpening tool... its basically like sandpaper (except its almost like a rock with slightly grainy edges to it) and what you can do is scrape away at the reeds until you get the size you want....

also, id throw your reeds into a cup of water... let em' soak...and throw out any reeds with obvious deformaties. once thats all done, you've got some reeds to play with. since you'll end up doing this to every box of reeds you open, you'll find the amount of deformities between rico and expensive brands to be almost the same....

point is, dont bother spending the extra money.

I"ve used the Alexander Superior reeds once, and my friend uses them.. i see no difference between them and the Vandoran Jazz reeds.. i haven't tryed any others.. but i might just end up getting rico's next, since i need some new ones.. but i have to say, try out different ones, and what ever one you like better, use those

I've tried the Alexander-I didn't like them [and I disagree with whoever said they're like Vandoren-most certainly not!-at least-not the ones I played on]...they were awful!...but to each his own *shrugs*
I've tried Rico Jazz-La Voz-Java [Vandoren]...those are my favs as far as jazz reeds go-but it all depends on your mouthpiece too.
Good luck-and feel free to experiment-b/c what works for one person doesn't for another-and you might like the Alexanders-could give them a try I guess. 3nodding

The Alexander Superial's are great, you just have to be careful with them because I think their cuts tend to be thinner than most. I myself use Vandoren Java. They work, consistenly for me, and that's really the most important thing. I can buy a box of ten, and depending on how much I'm playing I can get at least a week's use out of each reed.

It really depends on what kind of tone you want I guess. I like a bright tone, more upbeat jazz. Lots like darker tones and so they use rovner ligatures :/

Lol, the black lacquer gives it a more muffled tone, not a darker one, j/k. But I getcha. Funny thing is that my and Hector's saxes are made for a dark tone, even though selmer C* and metal ligs make em bright.