Confused about Reed Preparation

[Basil]

Newbie that I am , I spend too much time trawling the net for saxophone information. I have come across several pieces of advice about reed preparation. I currently use Vandoren 2.00, which after about 10 minutes of sounding like a swan in season, settle down quite nicely. However, the advice seems to be that I should smooth the reed down by rubbing it on wet glass, or fine grade sand paper etc. to make it play properly and to last longer.

Is this really neccessary in 2007 ? Or for someone like me, who has only been playing since May ?

 

[Pete Thomas]

Basil wrote:
Newbie that I am , I spend too much time trawling the net for saxophone information. I have come across several pieces of advice about reed preparation. I currently use Vandoren 2.00, which after about 10 minutes of sounding like a swan in season, settle down quite nicely. However, the advice seems to be that I should smooth the reed down by rubbing it on wet glass, or fine grade sand paper etc. to make it play properly and to last longer.

Is this really neccessary in 2007 ? Or for someone like me, who has only been playing since May ?

I don't do this, but some people do. can't do any harm and probably does do a bit of good. (Sorry if that isn't the most useful answer).

 

[philthd]

in my years of playing i have very rarely done much sanding.

a lot of sax players have intricate methods for getting the best out of their reeds

you are right that the average reed made today is well engineered and i believe this kerfuffle is much less necessary than it was

it does help, but the difference is small enough that i doubt most beginners would even notice

 

[philthd]

**bump**

 

[jonf]

I tend to bung new reeds in a small spice jar for a few minutes to moisten them before playing, partly because new reeds always taste foul to me. Then I blow them. If they feel really rough I rub them with something abrasive - my thumb. If they feel really hard I might scrape them with a very sharp knife. If they are still not right I chuck them in the bin and get the next one out of the box. Life's too short for any more messing about than that IMHO.

 

[kirky]

My brother used to use a spice jar,
I stick mine in my mouth for 30 seconds and then a quick wipe but I only use thin reeds and that will do for me at the mo,I wouldn't know a bad reed unless it was split or green

 

[philthd]

i used to play on absolute shockers - soggy old things with lumps out of the tip - until they snapped in half or fell apart, and got away with it

but it makes you lazy, is bad for your chops and dreadful for your tone - i sounded so much better once i started caring a bit

i think its an logarithmic kind of curve - a bit of reed preparation makes a huge difference over none, but the amount of improvement declines with the time being spent on it

 

[Rogerb]

What spice did you have in the jar ? 😉

 

[Basil]

Thanks Guys. I like the don't do anything approach the best ! That way I will always have an excuse !!

I assume that the spice jar had something in it ?

 

[Basil]

I have just noticed the asterix that has appeared under my sign in name to the left. Others have many more asterix than I (RogerB has 5!) What does that mean me wonders ? :?

 

[Pete Thomas]

Asterisks denote how many posts you've made, * = 0 - 64 I think, then you get ** and so on.

 

[Basil]

Small way to go then !

Thanks Pete.

 

[kirky]

My bro had plain old water in his not very spicey

 

[TonyMoroney]

I've seen some real odd ones in my (short time) looking on the web, I've seen people that spend 3 days preparing a reed (soak overnight, play for 2 to 3 mins the following day, soak for a few hours, play for 15 mins ... etc etc).....

Me, I let it sit on my tongue in good ol' saliva for a few mins, then I attach it to the mouthpiece and use "The Mouthpiece Exercise" as seen on rec.music.makers.saxophone to play it in, and to frustrate myself. That said I try and do "The Mouthpiece Exercise" twice a week or more if I can.

Cheers

T.

 

[Col9]

Our Teacher, says that saliva has an enzyme in it that attacks the wood that reeds are made from he says to soak them for 20secs ish in water before and after playing. Says they last longer this way.

He makes reeds for oboes and bassoons so should know what he's on about.

Col.

PS. if anyone wants an argument about it , I'll see the them in the playground at playtime 😉

 

[sharon]

I drink warm water and lemon ( I know!) and pop my reeds in the glass for a few minutes and then take them out and I use the water to wet me whistle while I'm playing. Seems OK. I also play around 3 reeds in an hour because I rotate them. Very anal no.

Sharon

 

[justin_chune]

I wash them, and check them for balance. If they play the same both sides then that's it. Otherwise I balance them up. If the lip surface is rough, I smooth it by stroking it towards the tip with the back of a pen. This closes the open ends of the tube fibres to give the reed a smooth feel. These days I find that most reeds are ready to go.

 

[ochaye_mckay]

Hi Justin,

How do you "check them for balance" to ensure they play the same both sides??

That went right over my head - quite a regular occurence for me!

Dave.

 

[Basil]

I managed to cut my tongue on a reed last night. That's a first for me. Thodding thing ! 😡

 

[jonf]

Basil wrote:
I managed to cut my tongue on a reed last night. That's a first for me. Thodding thing ! 😡

That reminds me - about twenty years ago I was leafing through a book of music with my tenor hanging loose round my neck. (I know, I know, not wise). My dad shouted up the stairs and I instinctively turned round, and the sax swung like a pendulum. Right into my gob, with the tip of a Lawton metal mouthpiece. Blood and curses everywhere. :cry: