Rigotti Gold Jazz Tenor Saxophone Reeds — Official Importer in Ukraine SoundsGood

Q: What strength should a beginner tenor player choose?

2½ or 3 Medium. Tenor saxophone typically requires slightly harder reeds than alto. For a standard student mouthpiece this is the optimal starting point.

Q: Which tenor mouthpieces work with Rigotti Gold Jazz?

Jazz tenor mouthpieces with wide tip openings: Otto Link Tenor, Meyer Tenor, Jody Jazz, Vandoren V16, Berg Larsen Tenor.

Rigotti Gold Jazz (France) — tenor saxophone reeds with a jazz cut, crafted by the Rigotti family from premium French var cane. 9 strength numbers from 1 to 5 (½ step increments). The unique Light / Medium / Strong subseries system guarantees a consistent box: all 5 reeds are the same calibre. Minimum waste, maximum predictability.

The Jazz Tenor series is designed for musicians who need a rich, projecting sound with a strong attack — everything that jazz, pop, funk and R&B demand from a tenor saxophone.

SoundsGood — official importer of Rigotti Gold Jazz in Ukraine! Full range of genuine French reeds, guaranteed authentic.

🏅Official Importer
Rigotti in Ukraine

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✅Genuine Product
Made in France

🏭 About Rigotti

The Brand

Rigotti is a French family company with a century-long tradition of reed making for woodwind instruments. The var cane is grown and processed exclusively in France, selected from the finest harvests. Over 100 years of quality.

Official Importer

SoundsGood is the official importer of Rigotti in Ukraine. Full range of genuine French reeds with authenticity guarantee.

Gold Jazz Tenor Series

Jazz cut for tenor saxophone — rich, projecting sound with a strong punchy attack. Ideal for wide-opening jazz tenor mouthpieces: Otto Link, Meyer, Jody Jazz.

Box of 5

Rigotti Gold Jazz tenor reeds are sold in boxes of 5. Thanks to the L/M/S system all 5 reeds in the box are consistent — every single one works for you.

🎯 Rigotti Gold Jazz Tenor Strength Range

9 main strengths from 1 to 5 in ½-unit increments. Most strengths are available with L/M/S subseries. Tenor saxophone typically requires reeds ½ to 1 strength higher than alto for the same mouthpiece opening.

1 and 1½

Softest. No subseries. For the easiest possible tone production. Rarely used on tenor — mainly for very narrow student mouthpieces.

2 and 2½

Available in L / M / S. For beginners and students with entry-level tenor mouthpieces. Easy response, reduced embouchure fatigue.

3 and 3½

Available in L / M / S. The most popular range for the majority of tenor players. Balance of response and projection — the professional standard.

4 and 4½

Available in L / M / S. For advanced tenor players with wide jazz mouthpieces (Otto Link 8*, Berg Larsen). More resistance, maximum projection.

5

Hardest. No subseries. For experienced players with a very strong embouchure and a specific mouthpiece setup.

⚖️ The Light / Medium / Strong Subseries System

Even within a single strength number, the difference between reeds can be significant. Rigotti solved this with subseries inside each number.

Light (L)

Soft end of the number. Quick response. For players who prefer the softer side of their number. Less embouchure fatigue over long rehearsals.

Medium (M)

Centre of the range. The most popular choice for most tenor players. Optimal balance between ease of response and the resistance needed for a full tenor sound.

Strong (S)

Hard end of the number. More resistance, stronger projection. For experienced tenor players using wide mouthpieces or with a powerful embouchure.

Note: subseries are available only for strengths 2, 2½, 3, 3½, 4, 4½. No subseries for 1, 1½ and 5.

🎵 Rigotti Gold Jazz Tenor vs Rigotti Gold Tenor

Gold Jazz (tenor)

Jazz Cut. Rich, dense tenor tone with a punchy attack and strong projection. For jazz, pop, funk, R&B. Partner for wide-opening jazz mouthpieces.

Rigotti Gold Tenor (classic)

Classical/French cut. Soft, rounded academic tone. Suited to classical performance and chamber ensembles. Academic narrow-opening mouthpieces.

What They Share

Both series: highest-quality French cane, L/M/S system, consistent box, Rigotti manufacture (France). The only difference is the cut and tonal character.

🎺 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpieces

Rigotti Gold Jazz Tenor reeds are designed for jazz tenor mouthpieces with wide tip openings. The wider the opening, the harder the reed you should choose.

Otto Link Tenor

Classic vintage tenor sound. Wide opening (7–9*). Recommended strength: 3–3½ Medium or Strong.

Meyer Tenor

Warm, full-bodied jazz tone. Medium-wide opening. Recommended strength: 2½–3 Medium or Strong.

Jody Jazz Tenor

Bright, projecting sound. Wide opening. Recommended strength: 3–4 Light or Medium.

Vandoren V16 / Java

Powerful, groovy tenor sound. Wide opening. Recommended strength: 3–3½ Medium.

Berg Larsen Tenor

Classic Danish design. Wide opening. Recommended strength: 3½–4 Light or Medium.

Student Mouthpieces (Yamaha 4C)

Narrow opening. For beginners. Recommended strength: 2½–3 Medium.

💧 Reed Care

Before Playing

Soak the reed in water or in the mouth for 3–5 minutes. Tenor reeds are larger and need a bit more hydration time than alto reeds.

After Playing

Wipe dry. Store in a reed case or holder — not on the mouthpiece. Avoid direct sunlight and sudden temperature changes.

Rotation

Alternate 2–3 reeds between sessions so each one rests. This extends reed life and stabilises sound quality. With a 5-reed box, rotation is especially important.

New Reeds

Break in gradually: 10–15 minutes per day for the first 2–3 days. Rushing the break-in process can warp the reed and shorten its lifespan.

📊 Comparison

Feature	Rigotti Gold Jazz Tenor	Rigotti Gold Tenor	Rico Royal Tenor	Vandoren Traditional Tenor
Cut	Jazz Cut	French/American Cut	American Cut	French Cut
Tenor sound	Rich, projecting	Rounded, academic	All-purpose	Classical, warm
Attack	Punchy, expressive	Soft	Medium	Precise, even
Subseries	L / M / S	L / M / S	None	None
Box consistency	High	High	Medium	Medium
Reeds per box	5	5	10	10
Style	Jazz, pop, funk	Classical, orchestral	All-purpose	Classical
Country	France	France	USA	France

🎯 How to Choose

🎷 Jazz Club / Concert Stage

Rigotti Gold Jazz Tenor 3 Medium or 3 Strong. Wide mouthpiece (Otto Link, Meyer). Maximum projection and attack on stage.

🎓 Beginner Tenor Player

Gold Jazz Tenor 2½ Medium or 3 Medium. Student mouthpiece. Easier tone production on a large instrument.

🎤 Pop and Soul Ensemble

Gold Jazz Tenor 3–3½ Medium. Rich tenor tone that cuts through the mix. Great with a microphone.

🎸 Funk and R&B

Gold Jazz Tenor 3 Light or 3 Medium. Fast response, groovy attack for rhythmic tenor parts.

🏆 Experienced Pro (Wide Mouthpiece)

Gold Jazz Tenor 3½–4 Light or Medium. Otto Link 8*, Berg Larsen Tenor. More resistance = more control of a large instrument.

🔍 Zero-Waste Approach

Any Strong subseries: all 5 reeds in the box match your density. Full use of every single reed.

🎺 Alto + Tenor Doubler

Same L/M/S logic. If you play alto on 3M — try tenor on 3L or 2½S. The difference in opening is compensated by the subseries choice.

🏫 Music School

Gold Jazz Tenor 3 Medium — the most versatile choice for a teacher. Boxes of 5 same-calibre reeds are ideal for students.

❓ FAQ

How many reeds are in a box of Rigotti Gold Jazz tenor?

A box contains 5 reeds of the same subseries (Light, Medium or Strong). Thanks to the L/M/S system all 5 are consistent — minimum waste. Note: tenor boxes contain 5 reeds, unlike alto boxes which contain 10.

What are the Light, Medium, Strong subseries?

A more precise strength division within one number. Strong is harder than Medium, Medium is harder than Light. The difference is in density only, not in tone. Subseries are available for strengths 2, 2½, 3, 3½, 4, 4½.

Rigotti Gold Jazz or Rigotti Gold for tenor?

Gold Jazz — jazz cut, punchy attack, projecting sound for jazz, pop, funk. Gold — classical cut, soft rounded tone for academic playing. The L/M/S system is identical in both series.

What strength should a beginner tenor player choose?

2½ or 3 Medium. Tenor saxophone requires slightly harder reeds than alto. For a standard student mouthpiece (Yamaha 4C) this is the optimal starting point.

Which tenor mouthpieces work best with Rigotti Gold Jazz?

Designed for jazz tenor mouthpieces with wide tip openings: Otto Link Tenor, Meyer Tenor, Jody Jazz, Vandoren V16/Java, Berg Larsen Tenor. For narrow-opening academic mouthpieces, the classic Rigotti Gold series is a better fit.