Tone or Sound In, Out or On?

[Ivan]

How do you place your reed?

I have always placed a reed tip to tip of mouthpiece (On) until recent discussion encouraged me to place the reed just beyond the mouthpiece tip (Out)

I've gone back to the On position which seems to suit my tone and I think note stability is optimum

Are you an Inny, an Outy or a hey nonny Onny and why?

If you use different positions according to need, please tell

 

[Chilli]

I usually align the tip of the reed with the tip of the mpc (that is, if I press the reed on the mouthpiece, both tips are aligned). However, if the reed is a bit weak or dull, I usually put it slightly more inside.
I can't imagine playing with the reed beyond the mpc tip, especially on baritone, where the reeds are already prone to getting chipped.

 

[Veggie Dave]

Always behind the tip - how far behind depends on if the reed is healthy or I'm having a problem with it as it's too soft/old. The only time I have the reed level with the tip is if the reed is too hard and I don't have another reed option for some reason. I've not had to do reed to tip for a while now after realising that I was using reeds that were too close to the edge of my emboucher's abilities/preferences.

I know I tried numerous different reed positions when I first started, including past the tip, however I can't imagine ever having the reed past the tip these days. I can't see what benefit it could possibly have ... for me, anyway.

 

[spike]

Depends on the reed according to need 😉
I don't ever play OUT - I'd probably cut my tongue to shreds.
I mostly play with the reed ON and sometimes but rarely IN (Just a little fraction but certainly NOT inside the tip rail) 😉
Furthermore, I play bottom lip out and adjust my lip position according to the characteristics of the reed and the sound that I want to achieve by using my lip to lengthen or shorten the amount of the reed that I'm allowing to vibrate.
I often wonder if the rich people who claim to throw away half a box of reeds as being unplayable may actually be using a mouthpiece where the mouthpiece side and tip rails are not sealing properly.

 

[Targa]

I read somewhere when I was learning that the reed should be positioned so that if the tip is pressed to the m/p there is a 'hairs breadth' of the tip of m/p showing above it. I've tried a bit either way from that but it seems to be what is best for me.
Of course it depends on whether you have thin or thick hair.

 

[jbtsax]

The standard is to set the tip of the reed to match the tip of the mouthpiece. Looks can be deceptive so I check it by touch and by looking at the reed from the top down. That said, if the reed is a little soft you can move it slightly beyond the tip, or if it is a little stiff you can move it slightly down from the tip. The reason this works is that you are putting more or less of the thicker part of the reed in the vibrating area also called the "window".

 

[nigeld]

I try to position "on".

I remember once playing bari in a group and feeling I was a bit too quiet; so I was able to get a bit more volume by moving the tip out a bit. But that was an emergency fix. A harder reed would have been a better solution if I had had one to hand. (Since I got a PPT mouthpiece, playing too soft is no longer a problem!)

 

[Ivan]

you have thin or thick hair

Or like me... none... well... not on the solar panel

Mebee hair thickness dictates reed position? There's a PhD thesis for someone with nothing better to do for three years

So far; I'm really surprised that being an Inny is a thing. I didn't think it was 'done'. Maybe it's the secret to all those beautiful, resonant tones y'all record in SOTM, BOTM (always makes me snigger), IOTM and da Blues

I seem to remember @Jazzaferri endorsing the Outy position.... perhaps our Canadian friend can comment?

 

[Colin the Bear]

In out , in out, shake it all about. If it's too hard move it back. If it's too soft move it forward. If there's too much sticking over the tip rail, clip it.

There was an invention on "Dragon's den" that claimed to put the reed in the perfect position. Seeing as there's no one position. I'm out.

 

[jbtsax]

In out , in out, shake it all about. If it's too hard move it back. If it's too soft move it forward. If there's too much sticking over the tip rail, clip it.

There was an invention on "Dragon's den" that claimed to put the reed in the perfect position. Seeing as there's no one position. I'm out.

That's what it's all about.

 

[kevgermany]

I don't like the ridge created by the reed being back. So aligned with the tip when the reed is pressed down with the thumb, otherwise it's got that ridge.

 

[Targa]

In out , in out, shake it all about. If it's too hard move it back. If it's too soft move it forward. If there's too much sticking over the tip rail, clip it.

There was an invention on "Dragon's den" that claimed to put the reed in the perfect position. Seeing as there's no one position. I'm out.

That was Alastair Hanson.

 

[Colin the Bear]

That's what it's all about.

I will see your banana and raise you agif piano

 

[Jazzaferri]

I have come to believe that the tip of the reed should just align with the outer tip of the mouthpiece when the reed is pushed closed. On an fairly open tip mpce that means that the reed will be just a bit past the tip when in static position.

 

[Alice]

I read somewhere when I was learning that the reed should be positioned so that if the tip is pressed to the m/p there is a 'hairs breadth' of the tip of m/p showing above it. I've tried a bit either way from that but it seems to be what is best for me.
Of course it depends on whether you have thin or thick hair.

That's exactly how I was taught and what I still do.

 

[Tenor Viol]

Yes, it was what I was taught too

 

[MandyH]

I'm think my sax teacher has suggested that over/beyond the tip has the effect of slightly softening the reed (or I may have that the wrong way round and it makes the reed feel harder??)

 

[kevgermany]

Beyond is harder. Like clipping the reed.

 

[Ivan]

...over/beyond...

...Beyond is harder...

Can you lot please not alter the nomenclature ?

It's confusing enough trying to work out what's a mention, a tag or a dag on this site without Creatives moving this thread into a muddle

The terms are Out, On or In, as described with utmost clarity in the poll

 

[kevgermany]

But is this measured from the side, or with the reed pressed onto the tip?