Rico UK are proud to announce a new addition to the market leading 'Reserve' line - Reserve Classic. The Reserve Classic reeds have been designed for clarinetists by clarinetists, Mark Nuccio, Associate Principal Clarinetist of the NY Philharmonic, taking on an integral role in the production. The Classics, developed using revolutionary 3-D reed-modeling software, underwent months of research and artistic consultation with the input of top symphonic musicians from New York, Cincinnati, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, and more.
The Reserve Classic reeds differ from the original Reserve reeds in that they feature increased warmth of sound and lightened articulation by way of a newly designed tip radius. So players can fine tune their exact strength, the Classics have been specially measured to offer hard-to-find desired strengths including 3.5+ and 4.0+. In addition, the Reserve Classic reeds use a special cane treatment process to help dramatically reduce reed warping. Each of these attributes results in a superior reed.
Each Reserve Classic reed is precisely cut on Rico’s state-of-the-art reed manufacturing machines. Special diamond cutters ensure unparalleled precision and consistency from reed to reed. The Reserve Classic reeds are made exclusively from lower-internode cane, a technique that Rico pioneered, to yield the highest-density cane available. Only the lower sections of each cane pole are selected, giving greater consistency thanks to the ultra-dense structure. Reserve Classic reeds, like original Reserve reeds, are so exceptional that less than five percent of reed cane qualifies. Reserve reeds have set a new standard for quality with reed players and with the introduction of the new Reserve Classic reeds. Rico has raised the bar again.
“After 25 years of making my own reeds, I’ve put down my reed knife!” says Mark Nuccio, Associate Principal Clarinetist of the NY Philharmonic. “The Reserve Classic has warmth, projection and response right out of the box. They stay stable under different weather conditions with a greater percentage of performance reeds in every box.”
“We are very excited by the initial response to the new Reserve Classic reeds in the UK,” states Barnes & Mullins' joint Managing Director, Bruce Perrin. “We have had superb feedback from a number of very demanding professionals and we know that in the US, Rico have seen the top symphonic players come back with rave reviews. Most of all, I'm very happy that we can recommend Reserve Classic reeds to professionals, teachers and their students alike with full confidence in their quality and consistency.”
Rico Reserve Classic Clarinet reeds are available now and retail for £25.00 for a box of 10 reeds.