Tech/maintenance ATG reed finishing system: wacky, wonderful, or both?

Bernie · May 29, 2015

From this demonstration it all looks too good to be true: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5d77k6FENQ

How can a few strokes with an abrasive pad (done with the eyes shut!) produce consistently positive effects?

Bernie

spike · May 29, 2015

If it's absolutely necessary to balance a reed. A piece of 2 x 4 and an emery board works just as well.

Bernie · May 29, 2015

Do you know that from experience Spike? I mean, do you know that there is nothing more to the "system" than that? That's what it looks like to me, but I haven't seen the "system", the tools or the detailed instructions.

Jeanette · May 29, 2015

Bernie said:
From this demonstration it all looks too good to be true: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5d77k6FENQ

How can a few strokes with an abrasive pad (done with the eyes shut!) produce consistently positive effects?

Bernie

If you search the forum you will find lots of posts re this

Jx

Bernie · May 29, 2015

Thanks Jeanette: I know there are other discussions, but I'd rather have a "live" discussion if that's ok?

spike · May 29, 2015

I haven't used this "system" no - I don't buy into this kind of stuff. I've got the Vandooren one somewhere but I don't use it. My piece of wood and the emery board have always been quite adequate for my needs.
There have been and still are many types of reed kits on the market. The idea with pretty much all of them is to balance the reed by "grinding" a little of the material away where ever on the reed that appears to be necessary. About 20 years ago I used to drill into the shoulder of the reed to improve the response. It was quite fashionable for a while but you don't hear much about it these days.
I could go on talking about this for weeks but that's basically my nutshell reply for now.

Bernie · May 29, 2015

Thanks Spike. It would be interesting now to hear from anybody who has tried the "system", apart from that I think I have heard enough.

Pyrografix · May 29, 2015

I have it, and use it occasionally on reeds which are not easily playable straight from the box. It works. Would I pay the asking price for it again? No. A piece of glass and fine emery paper would do the job just as well!

spike · May 29, 2015

Jolly good - I'll shut up - You may want to check out the Taming the sax page on reeds
http://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxophone-reeds

Bernie · May 29, 2015

Great. I can move onto something else now.

As it happens I bought myself some Francois Louis reeds, and they seem to play nicely straight out of the box, not what I remember from years ago (with other brands of reed).

Nick Wyver · May 29, 2015

ICBA
I play them straight from the box.

ProfJames · May 30, 2015

Nick Wyver said:
ICBA
I play them straight from the box.

With what lig?

Nick Wyver · May 30, 2015

ProfJames said:
With what lig?

Plaited mermaid hair.

ProfJames · May 30, 2015

Nick Wyver said:
Plaited mermaid hair.

Leave it to me......................

kevgermany · May 30, 2015

@Sunray swears by it.

If you really want to know about adjusting reeds....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/074...ebp_QL70&keywords=Ray+Reed+saxophone+reed+art

Sunray · May 30, 2015

@kevgermany
I'll admit to adjusting reeds to make them more playable on odd occasions ... :sax:

😉 I will not admit to swearing ... :old:

I will admit to be currently trying to catch me a beautiful mermaid with long blond hair ...

:banana:

But this has absolutely nothing to do with Sax ...

ProfJames · May 30, 2015

Sunray said:
@kevgermany
I'll admit to adjusting reeds to make them more playable on odd occasions ...

😉 I will not admit to swearing ...

View attachment 4376 I will admit to be currently trying to catch me a beautiful mermaid with long blond hair ...

But this has absolutely nothing to do with Sax ...

The drugs aren't working! >:)

altissimo · May 30, 2015

more reed adjustment info -
http://www.saxlessons.com/reeds/reed-adjustment-chart/
http://www.hopestreetmusicstudios.com/articles/adjusting-saxophone-and-clarinet-reeds

and there's plenty on youtube

griff136 · May 30, 2015

I tend to fettle my reeds with a razor blade when the need arises.

jbtsax · May 30, 2015

I recommend the Reed Geek in conjunction with the information contained in the chapter on Reeds in Larry Teal's "The Art of Saxophone Playing". On pages 28 and 29 there is a detailed illustration of the parts of the reed and a reed adjustment chart.