Mouthpieces Water seeping out from between heel of reed and mouthpiece table

[AlonW]

That’s why I crush the tubules shut as part of preparing new reeds. I believe it reduces the amount of moisture in the tubule during play. I moisten reeds in my mouth before playing rather soak them in water.

I used to do this but then I realized it was damaging the reed. Now I always use fresh reeds as is, throwing away bad ones frequently. Life is too short to worry about saving money on reeds. Especially since your saxophone sound depends on it.

 

[turf3]

...Before use wet and flatten by rubbing the back down smooth paper.
...

Must be some damn rough paper to remove up to a half inch of out of flat material.

Is it this stuff?

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSBHAzAM89sRIJBF3ho-BImVriHyQwsYclSdzlHSApNEA&s=10

 

[cappers]

That's exactly what I've been telling a bunch of folks. You can actually see a drop forming slowly at the blunt end - if you pay attention.

That’s why I crush the tubules shut as part of preparing new reeds. I believe it reduces the amount of moisture in the tubule during play. I moisten reeds in my mouth before playing rather soak them in water.

Whatever the reason - overwet reed, osmosis throught the tubules or a non-gripping ligature - it has not occurred since.

Must be some damn rough paper to remove up to a half inch of out of flat material.

Is it this stuff?

If you quoted the full comment, you'd see the rubbing on clean smooth-finish paper was after reed geeking and before use. Flattening and smoothing, not abrading.

Soak reed then reed-geek it and dry in holder. Before use wet and flatten by rubbing the back down smooth paper.

 

[Colin the Bear]

But... But... But the liquid in the stock increases its density and improves tone, innit.

 

[cappers]

That’s why I crush the tubules shut as part of preparing new reeds.

I used to do this but then I realized it was damaging the reed. Now I always use fresh reeds as is, throwing away bad ones frequently. Life is too short to worry about saving money on reeds. Especially since your saxophone sound depends on it.

How does it damage the reed? I don't think @Dr G is crushing the tips, rails or hearts* of the reed, just the heel end where the tubules are exposed.

* Edited to add, I read somewhere about massaging the heart of the reed to improve playability but haven't tried that.

 

[AlonW]

How does it damage the reed? I don't think @Dr G is crushing the tips, rails or hearts of the reed, just the heel end where the tubules are exposed.

Oh thanks for correcting me. I used to take my fingernail and rub it across the top of the reed. I thought that's what he was talking about. I'm going to try what you are saying now! I'm sure that it can't hurt.

 

[cappers]

Oh thanks for correcting me.

Ooh no, not correcting you, @AlonW sorry if it sounded that way!

I used to take my fingernail and rub it across the top of the reed.

Not sure what you mean by 'top of the reed'? Tip, front or back side?

I have learned by messing up a few reeds, to leave the tip, sides and vamp alone, simply flatten and smooth the back with my ersatz reed geek or very fine sandpaper. I then 'polish' the back on smooth flat shiny paper by dragging it across and off like stropping a blade (I think the late John Talcott / jbtsax suggested it).

@skeller047 is into reed 'balancing' where the tip and top edges and maybe vamp and heart are lightly sanded, but I've not felt the need to go that far. I'm too unsophisticated a player for it to make a difference!

 

[Dr G]

Alexander Reeds-Breakin In

www.superial.com

 

[cappers]

I use Alexander DC 2.5s and give them an initial soak then just flatten the back as mentioned. Currently 2.5s out of the box are a little stiff but break in after a few hours plus use, so I don't do the soft reed procedure.
I was using Alex DC 2s and although ok at home, at rehearsals and gigs where I have to push it more I find they can sound buzzier or even close up ; no problme with the 2.5s.

 

[turf3]

It's not the initial wetting that causes the reed to warp and make the back convex. It's repeatedly playing the reed, the combination of differential humidity inside vs. outside, and the flexure of the reed in playing, that cause the back of the reed to become convex across the long axis, failing to seal to the table of the mouthpiece. This causes problems with response especially on low notes; and water can leak out as well.

The time to flatten the back isn't when the reed is new; it's after it's been played a while. Then use a small straightedge laid across the back and you'll see just how far out of flat it's warped. I often have to reflatten a reed multiple times before it becomes stable. This is not an indication of bad reeds; it's inherent in the nature of the material and how it's loaded in playing.

 

[PigSquealer]

I used to take my fingernail and rub it across the top of the reed.

? Where is the top ?

Not sure what you mean by 'top of the reed'? Tip, front or back side?

I agree and looked for information. I never thought a stupid bit of lumber could be so difficult to describe.

Lol, Rico left out “other side” 🤦‍♂️. Shouldn’t there be a term for overall general description of all six sides ? I only see tip & heel🤔.
I have no clue what’s proper to define the top or bottom. Face ? As in faces the table ? Or is that bottom ?
Sides, yeah the edges of long way. Is the full distance the rail ? This leaves the ends, tip & heel.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Lol, Rico left out “other side” 🤦‍♂️. Shouldn’t there be a term for overall general description of all six sides ? I only see tip & heel🤔.

 

[turf3]

There are people who - "burnish" is I believe the correct term - the vamp of the reed with something hard and rounded, which crushes down the open slanty ends of the tubules and makes that surface smoother. Sometimes I do this just because it makes me feel better to do something although I've never noticed any actual effect. I have read any number of fairy tales about what this operation is supposed to do, but like all these kinds of things, the statements made are 100% data free .

 

[Dr G]

There are people who - "burnish" is I believe the correct term - the vamp of the reed with something hard and rounded, which crushes down the open slanty ends of the tubules and makes that surface smoother. Sometimes I do this just because it makes me feel better to do something although I've never noticed any actual effect. I have read any number of fairy tales about what this operation is supposed to do, but like all these kinds of things, the statements made are 100% data free .

You can soak the entire reed, then burnish a wet reed with your thumb. You can test the efficacy of the process by sucking the butt end before and after burnishing. Whether that has an effect on reed performance is another issue.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Sometimes I do this just because it makes me feel better to do something although I've never noticed any actual effect.

This is a great reason IMO.

 

[LostCircuits]

That’s why I crush the tubules shut as part of preparing new reeds. I believe it reduces the amount of moisture in the tubule during play. I moisten reeds in my mouth before playing rather soak them in water.

I never soak them unless it's one of those single digit humidity days and then you have to repeat it every 5 min anyway. I rather play something a little more difficult to tame than something that constantly changes, like a sawtooth.

 

[turf3]

Well, for the contrarian view:

I have gotten reeds wet by putting them in my mouth, by holding them under a running faucet, by putting them in a cup of water for half a minute to half an hour, and I swear I can't tell a lick of difference. I have also left them on the bandstand between tunes, or waiting for an instrument change, or on an hour's break, and I swear I can't tell a lick of difference. I agree that cane reeds work better when moist, but I think the allowable tolerances and the required amount of perfection in one's preparation routine is far far less perfect than internet scuttlebutt would have it. Just get the thing wet and get on with the job.