For years, I used natural reeds on clarinet and saxophone. I tried different brands, different strengths, different cuts - all of which changed every time I changed mouthpieces, of course - and invested a lot of time and even more money in the pursuit of the 'perfect reed'.
The conclusion I've come to is twofold : 'there isn't one' and 'if there were, it would be called Fibracell'! After years of throwing out 1/4 of the reeds in a box, or sanding and trimming to save stuffy, poorly cut or worn out reeds, I gave up and tried Rico Plasticovers. They are definitely brighter, longer lasting and more free-blowing, but I found grading inconsistent and had trouble with 'chirping'. I tried Bari clear plastic reeds and found them durable, but tone was monochromatic and they were best outdoors or in a situation where tone wasn't as important, like marching band.
Finally, I found Fibracell. These are a resin/Mylar composite that look and feel very much like natural cane, but the resemblance ends there! They are durable, consistent, don't require soaking, don't get soggy, don't split, crack, warp or squeak and are more free-blowing (important for Jazz and Commercial players who want a brighter, more open sound) than cane. Each reed costs about $9, but will last for months. Many pros and teachers now use them, and I've had good feedback from students as well as improved tone and performance in my playing.
There are a couple of mitigating factors that need to be taken into consideration, however: 1) they run a little softer than cane reeds, anywhere from 1/2 to a full grade. So, your tenor sax 2.5 will become a 3, and your clarinet 3 may become a 4. And 2) I find the stiffness ratio of tip to heart is a little different than cane, so intonation and articulation will have to be adapted accordingly. Regular practicing over a period of a couple weeks should make for a good transition; I wouldn't take one out for the first time on a gig!
I am a 79 year old amateur clarinet player, addicted to New Orleans jazz. My practice schedule is limited to "When I feel motivated!' . Because of that, I've been using Fibracell Clarinet reeds (no need to slobber over the reed in order to practice". However. I have observed an interesting thing about these reeds! I began to notice a "layer of plastic", on the mouthpiece side of the reed. On some of my "more mature" reeds, I found a layer of "plastic film" which I was able to peel away from the reed, and what was left was a sticky layer of????
Therefore, I decided to clean away the ???? layer of goop, with acetone, which not only removed the goop, but all other identifying marks on the reed! Being a mechanical engineer, I decided to install this "clean" reed onto my clarinet and give it a try. It performed as well as might be expected from a "plastic" reed! So, what is the purpose of the plastic thing which is glued on the reed? Does Fibracell produce only one reed "strength' then increase the "strength" by gluing on a??? plastic reinforcement, to increase the stiffness ("strength") by applying a layer if plastic?
I've noticed it on some of the reeds also, but just leave it alone. When it starts to de-laminate, it generally tells me that its time to move on to another reed!
I've only tried fibracells once, and i didnt like them. The reed I got sounded airy.
might've been the grade - sounds like the reed was too stiff!