Reeds split reed

[peedee]

As I fitted the metal guard back over my mouthpiece after a practice session the other day, I inadvertantly hit the still attached reed, and split it in the middle about 4mm long. As I had no more Rico 2-1/2's, the next practice session I tried it, and wow, a nice buzzy effect, that I liked. Could this save me money as I won't have to buy/try various mpc's!
Now I'm gonna buy a razor blade, (I normally use an electric razor, or throw-away razors, which have hard to remove blades) and try 2 or maybe 3 or more slices of various lengths. I wonder what a V shape cut in the middle will produce? Or cutting off the edges?
I'm getting quite excited, the options seem endless, maybe I should patent different shaped reeds, for different sounds.
Drat! Now I've given the game away, someone is bound to beat me to the patent office, or have they already?

 

[griff136]

PeeDee wrote:
I inadvertantly hit the still attached reed, and split it in the middle about 4mm long. As I had no more Rico 2-1/2's, the next practice session I tried it, and wow, a nice buzzy effect, that I liked. Could this save me money as I won't have to buy/try various mpc's!
Now I'm gonna buy a razor blade, (I normally use an electric razor, or throw-away razors, which have hard to remove blades) and try 2 or maybe 3 or more slices of various lengths.

if you wanna save money - dont buy a razor blade ( youll have to buy a pack) dont damage 2 or 3 more reeds, in order to get that "buzz" sell your sax and buy a kazoo i think you can get them in Eb and Bb

:whistle: :laugh:

 

[Jules]

Splitting reeds down their length with a razor blade is an old rock & roll trick. I remember one of the old 1950s rokcers mentioning it in an interview....

 

[Pete Thomas]

If it works for you then do it, there's all kinds of things you can try, drilling a hole into the reed is another.

These things change the sound, whether it's an improvement is in the ears of the beholder.

 

[griff136]

Do you mean drilled all the way through the reed Pete?

Ive only seen reeds with a cavity drilled into the body of the reed where the ligature goes.

and of course as you mentioned "if it works for you"

 

[Pete Thomas]

No, just a bit into the reed. There was some discussion about this on SOTW.

 

[Smiffy]

Why did I read this thread, I have had enough problems finding reeds I like from the box without drilling/splitting and so on



Where is me tool kit 🙁

 

[peedee]

Ok, thanks for the feedback guys. Just had another thought,(oh no, I hear you say) how about a double reed, maybe create an overtone, or are metal reeds available, as found in a harmonica?
I know, I know, but it could be an interesting effect. :S

 

[peedee]

griff136 wrote:
[quoted


if you wanna save money - dont buy a razor blade ( youll have to buy a pack) dont damage 2 or 3 more reeds, in order to get that "buzz" sell your sax and buy a kazoo i think you can get them in Eb and Bb

:whistle: :laugh:

That's the sort of comment I would expect from an ex "Booty".
Mind you, it makes sense, would be a lot cheaper. Do you service them as well?
:laugh:

 

[griff136]

oh god yeah, the main problem with kazoos - especially the cheap chinese imports are that the mebrane above the "fan wheel" tears.

:whistle:

 

[phil_edwards]

griff136 wrote:
oh god yeah, the main problem with kazoos - especially the cheap chinese imports are that the mebrane above the "fan wheel" tears.
:whistle:

Steady on there, Griff, that's a bit of a generalisation.

I heard that some of the Chinese ones were very good now, with membrane design and technology based on top end European models... :laugh:

Sorry...

Phil

 

[peedee]

griff136 wrote:
oh god yeah, the main problem with kazoos - especially the cheap chinese imports are that the mebrane above the "fan wheel" tears.

:whistle:

and what about the bearing onwhich the fanwheel rotates, what size balls are therein, do they wear or crack if not lubricated?

 

[Greywolf]

Here's the site for the definitive stuff about reed drilling.

http://www.geocities.com/reed_drilling/

sorry don'y know hot to make linky links work on this site.

 

[Greywolf]

Hey that's cool, the linky thingy does it automatically. Better than the photo site I inhabit as my alter Igor.

 

[suethesax]

OMG - that reed drilling looks ace. Where''s John's tool box and how do you use a drill? I'm definitely having some of that.

 

[justin_chune]

They used to sell reeds like that. I guess they never caught on.