Reserve reeds have been literally designed from the ground up, starting with the raw material. The Reserve reeds are made exclusively from lower-internode cane a technique Rico pioneered that yields the highest-density cane available. Only the lower sections of each cane pole are selected. The Rico cane used for Reserve reeds is so exceptional that less than five percent of reed cane qualifies for the new Reserve reeds. The Reserve reed, designed for the most demanding clarinetists, was developed using revolutionary 3-D reed-Modeling software. Months of research, blind surveys, and testing with the input of top symphonic musicians has resulted in a winning design. Each Reserve reed is precisely cut using French cutting techniques on Ricos newly designed, state-of-the-art reed-manufacturing machines. Special diamond cutters were developed to ensure unparalleled precision and consistency from reed to reed. New automated blanking machines have been implemented that incorporate the use of optical lasers that measure the thickness of the reed blank at the heel, center, and tip to the strictest tolerances in the industry. Color video inspection selects the highest quality cane for color and sorts out any flaws, and state-of-the-art polishing and sanding operations produce a glass-like surface to the reed table to ensure consistency. We combined DAddarios 18 years of expertise in the reed market with our reputation for manufacturing innovation to guide the Reserve reed development process, explains J. DAddario Chairman and CEO Jim DAddario. No stone was left unturned at the Rico factory and plantations, resulting in the highest quality reed on the market. Every box of Rico Reserve reeds is sealed with the patented REED VITALIZER automatic humidity-control system (HCS). Reed Vitalizer with auto HCS maintains the same relative humidity inside every box until opened. Reed Vitalizer ensures that reeds will not warp, split, or crack during the time it takes to get from the Rico factory to the musicians mouthpiece. |