Reeds Knowing when to say goodbye - lifespan of reeds

jools · Mar 25, 2008

Reeds, reeds, reeds. All these threads about reeds. I'm reluctant to start another, but this is more of a scientific question if anything and the decisions involved seem to be based on a combination of that and personal taste. No other thread has touched on the idea of when - exactly - to abandon a 'favourite' reed and bring in a new one.

Just this week I have swapped over from a reed that has seen me through three or four gigs and maybe a hundred hours of rehearsing and practicing. The reason was that it was starting to struggle at either end of the range and the tone had become 'harsh'. Soon as I got out a new one I was back in my comfort zone with my 'head sound'

So why was the old one given the sack? - it would, in effect, play fine. With a little effort it could do the job, but I 'knew' something was wrong. The life had just been blown out of it. I am suspecting that this is a scientific issue to do with compression of the fibres, their inner 'hollowness' being blocked with a build up of proteins and skin cells, and the breakdown of the tip. Any chemists or scientists out there?

So, in other words, there seems to be a 'golden age' in the life of a playing reed, from being broken-in to being broken-down.

As beginners we would assume that the deterioration in our sound was our fault and a good teacher would simply tut and put a new reed on the sax for us. As experienced players we 'instinctively' know that it's just not playing out - as it did - and off it comes. But what happens to them? how and why do they 'wear out'?

andyblackard · Mar 26, 2008

I'm finding a few well-used reeds that I thought were worn out sound great after letting them rest a couple weeks. Do they actually recover?

helena · Mar 26, 2008

and I recycle my definately dud ones as plant lables for my green house...

Helen

sharon · Mar 26, 2008

This thread is bringing a bit of a lump to my throat because it's reminding me of my "pet" reed that is my absolute favourite out of all my others. It's a Frederick Hiemke and was originally in a box of only 5 - it's the last survivor. It's getting on now and I know that shortly I'm going to have to dispose of it humanely. Everyday I get it out and play it but I know that one day it's going to be time to call it a day. :cry:

Just hope today is not the last ........

Djangette · Mar 26, 2008

Being a flautist I don't have reed problems 🙂

I do know a pro sax player who, gigging 3/4 times a week, kept the same reed on his tenor for over 2 years! Admittedly he had to whip out his cordier and trim it when it got too furry - and only gave it up when it split completely and he sulked for a while after that! :laugh:

I also know another who will buy a box of reeds, reject most of them, and only play the suitable one for a week or so before buying another box.

I don't know about science 🙁

visionari1 · Mar 26, 2008

I do know a pro sax player who, gigging 3/4 times a week, kept the same reed on his tenor for over 2 years!

Only last weekend, I visited another Saxplayer who lives in an isolated part of NZ and travels out to buy his reeds.

I told him about Hahn Reeds from Germany, I've been using them for 8 years now. Would you believe the first one lasted 6.5 years, yes it was chipped, but still played, I was using a Yanagasawa metal Mouthpiece which had plenty of power to it, so the reed deteriation didn't show for a while....maybe I'm not so fussy, and I do think my sound ain't to bad (while busking they love my sound)

These Hahn reeds are made out of Carbon Fiber, pure white with a sort of grain, they work straight away don't need wetting and are bullet proof weather wise......the last one's I got were from Sax Alley in USA in 2005 paid $16us.

Anyone else tryed em..... they work for me!

Ps I've never bought a box of reeds in me life! Being a thrifty Scot going through a box and throwing out the ones that don't work, seems like a waist of time and money!

Djangette · Mar 26, 2008

Wow! 6.5 years, excellent. Still fibre cane/synthetic reeds is cheating isn't it? lol

Don't know Hahn Reeds - I got fed up with my son pestering me for reeds all the time when he was learning and gave him a Rico fibracell, think that was about ?8 and think he's still got it on his clarinet now (though he's into electric guitars and computer stuff as is a young man's wont, so don't think its had much playing recently).

At that time I was all in favour of pernickety musicians as was running a musical instrument shop! It was quite 'normal' for guitarists to have new set of strings for recording or concert and I got told the technical ins and outs of that once <eyes glazed over> - although a friend of mine is convinced that all guitar strings are made in one factory and won't be persuaded otherwise! Saying the 'made in US' or 'made in UK' printing on the packets is all lies! :laugh:

philthd · Mar 26, 2008

when i was playing a lot of guitar i wouldnt dream of not having nice new strings just broken in in time for a gig, even though my writing guitar gets a new set only when i break one, and i just restrung my bass for the first time in about 2 years

i never noticed much difference in brands with strings - but i play a weird custom guage set and have to settle for whatever the shop has as singles

reeds are totally different - its all about feel and nuance - you never really know how long a reed will take to break in (sometimes they never will), no 2 ever respond exactly the same, environmental factors have mysterious influences ...