Reeds reed warping

[allansto]

I have a question about my reed warpage
After I finish playing and remove my reed for storage and to dry out,

How do I hold the reed flat so that It will dry flat and not buckle across the tip?
The plastic holders that the reeds come in do not prevent this.
Or should I never let the reed dry but somehow keep it moist,if so How ?
Do proper reed cases do this?
Allansto

 

[kevgermany]

I have a question about my reed warpage
After I finish playing and remove my reed for storage and to dry out,

How do I hold the reed flat so that It will dry flat and not buckle across the tip?
The plastic holders that the reeds come in do not prevent this.
Or should I never let the reed dry but somehow keep it moist,if so How ?
Do proper reed cases do this?
Allansto

The rico holders are pretty good at keeping the reeds flat.

But a proper case is much better - Rico, La Voz... They're close to identical.

 

[aldevis]

I have a question about my reed warpage
After I finish playing and remove my reed for storage and to dry out,

How do I hold the reed flat so that It will dry flat and not buckle across the tip?
The plastic holders that the reeds come in do not prevent this.
Or should I never let the reed dry but somehow keep it moist,if so How ?
Do proper reed cases do this?
Allansto

I gave up many years ago. I just let them warp and soak them before playing. That should bring them back to normal.

 

[allansto]

thanks thats what ive been doing
I just thought it might be helpfull to stop them from doing it if possible

 

[aldevis]

thanks thats what ive been doing
I just thought it might be helpfull to stop them from doing it if possible

I remember when I did everything properly, with reed holders, glass, hygrothings... Eventually I obtained a perfect reed. Like new.

The following day, as soon as came in contact with my saliva, it went obscenely bent. Like a badly built kayak gone wrong.
Maybe we should start a gallery of reed horrors.

 

[kevgermany]

Maybe we should start a gallery of reed horrors.

Like the black mould backed one that came off my son's clarinet.... Made me feel sick to see what he'd been putting in his mouth cos he couldn't be bothered taking the reed off... Things have changed a bit since then.

 

[aldevis]

Like the black mould backed one that came off my son's clarinet....

Real musicians don't waste their time messing with reeds and saxophone websites.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Vodka. You know it makes sense.

 

[davidk]

The best case I found is a Wiseman Cases reed case that I got from Howarth's. Holds the reed flat against a piece of glass with some moisture absorbing fabric in the lid. Never had a warped or mouldy reed since using this.

 

[jbtsax]

The Rico LaVoz reed holders work very well for me. Putting my reeds into one after playing allows them to dry keeping the tip straight and flat. A trick I learned playing several saxophones and a clarinet in a band I used to play with was to put each reed I was going to play in my mouth for a few seconds to moisten both sides and then put it back in the Reed Guard while I assembled all of the instruments. By the time each instrument was assembled, the reed in the holder had absorbed the right amount of moisture and was ready to put on the mouthpiece.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Saliva does damage a reed. I tend to moisten mine in a mixture of water and alcohol (rum) for a minute or so before playing. I keep them in a Vandoren Hygrocase, and always have at least 4 reeds on the go...............

 

[jbtsax]

Saliva does damage a reed. I tend to moisten mine in a mixture of water and alcohol (rum) for a minute or so before playing. I keep them in a Vandoren Hygrocase, and always have at least 4 reeds on the go...............

That is interesting. Does the case allow the reeds to ever dry completely, or are they always moist? I suppose the alcohol content would inhibit mold and fungus from growing on the reed.

 

[TomMapfumo]

The Hygrocase is described thus: Hygro reed case (6 reeds) HRC10 / HRC20 . I am not quite sure what humidity controlled means but the reeds seem to remain flat, have circulating air and seem fairly dry when removed from the case, but not painfully so. I've used them for about 7 years and have them for all my saxes. They are low maintenance and the tube of dessicant material can be removed and dried out under a light bulb - replacement parts are available.