[ErikJon]

Hello, friends.

There is a music store in my neighborhood, that has a "clearance" table. I often find useful reeds of odd strengths, brand new and in the box, for about half the normal price. Sometimes the strengths are actually useful to me, albeit not always my preferred strength or brand, so I buy them.

Then I noticed that the design on the box is typically different from that of the ones on clearance, meaning that they are all from older stock, typically about two years old, I guess, but occasionally even ten years old, judging from how the design has faded in a few rare cases.

At any rate, my question is this: all other factors equal (e.g., brand, strength, cut, size), and assuming that there are no major manufacturing changes within the same brand and strength, are unused reeds from old stock, inherently any less useful than unused reeds from brand-new stock? In other words, do they break down after a few years, dry out, crack, fail to last, or else have other issues that I should be aware of, before I continue to buy old stock on clearance?

(I am currently switching from years of synthetic to cane, so I am still on a quest for the right make and strength, and also for the right mouthpiece, so I still have to try different strengths and brands anyway, to a point. I even find the orange-box Ricos useful, so far. This is not to say that I am asking for advice on this thread regarding brands of reed or mouthpiece, for the sake of sticking to the subject, but just to point out the reason that I would buy different brands and strengths at this time, rather than sticking to only one.)

 

[kreacher]

Well, think of it like a vinyl record. If you play an unused one that is 20 years old, it will play like new. The cane doesn't break down if it's well stored, meaning no extreme temperatures, moist or physical abuse.

Have you ever seen how they make reeds? Usually the cane is set to dry for 2 years or more and then the reed is made, so more time won't destroy it.

 

[Hassles]

Vintage reeds can be very interesting I find them all the time but NEVER those I want :-(

 

[Lambros]

The packaging of reeds in plastic reed holders normally fair better than those layered or sheathed in paper. Even so I've found older lots of NOS boxed reeds packaged both ways that were perfectly fine.

Hello, friends.

There is a music store in my neighborhood, that has a "clearance" table. I often find useful reeds of odd strengths, brand new and in the box, for about half the normal price. Sometimes the strengths are actually useful to me, albeit not always my preferred strength or brand, so I buy them.

Then I noticed that the design on the box is typically different from that of the ones on clearance, meaning that they are all from older stock, typically about two years old, I guess, but occasionally even ten years old, judging from how the design has faded in a few rare cases.

At any rate, my question is this: all other factors equal (e.g., brand, strength, cut, size), and assuming that there are no major manufacturing changes within the same brand and strength, are unused reeds from old stock, inherently any less useful than unused reeds from brand-new stock? In other words, do they break down after a few years, dry out, crack, fail to last, or else have other issues that I should be aware of, before I continue to buy old stock on clearance?

(I am currently switching from years of synthetic to cane, so I am still on a quest for the right make and strength, and also for the right mouthpiece, so I still have to try different strengths and brands anyway, to a point. I even find the orange-box Ricos useful, so far. This is not to say that I am asking for advice on this thread regarding brands of reed or mouthpiece, for the sake of sticking to the subject, but just to point out the reason that I would buy different brands and strengths at this time, rather than sticking to only one.)

 

[KeithL]

There are lots of folks who feel older reeds actually play better. This has been my personal observation though everybody's situation and playing needs are different. Regardless, I wouldn't shy away from buying older reeds in older packaging if I found them in a strength I could use especially if I could get them at a good price. Most of the time what you find are very soft or very hard boxes like 1 1/2 and 5's so there's a reason they are NOS.

 

[lydian]

A friend gave me a box of Ricos for bari that he got in the 1970's. They play just fine. Another friend still plays from a box of clarinet reeds he got in the 60's.

If you can find the strength you want, NOS reeds are a bargain.

 

[raindog]

What if you find the holy grail of perfect reeds from old stock, and it's something you can't get reliable supply of anymore? Might be better off without that knowledge..

 

[Grumps]

I still have Rico Royals from the 80's for my bari sax that I find good use for. Had a bunch for soprano to, but since I play more soprano than bari these days, those just ran out last year. New Royals are garbage... so yeah, I'd rather have the old ones.

 

[Hornlip]

Back when I was buying and selling lots of old horns I used to find unused reeds in the cases all the time. I gathered so many unused NOS reeds I didn’t buy any new ones for years. Old Ricos, La Voz, Vandoren, Vibrators - all sorts. Some of them were probably from the ‘30s. If they were in the strengths I liked I played ‘em and they worked fine.

 

[lostcircuits]

I have a box of Rico Royals from 1999 and they are fine, same thing for Ponzols from 1998 (both alto). Only problem is when you get used to them and you run out, it's hard to re-stock them

 

[ErikJon]

So, then, I am curious to know why a store would mark down perfectly-good current brand reeds, by 40%-50%. I guess it is just because a new box design came out, and they did not want the old box to sell alongside the new design.

 

[CluelessEPA]

Best cane reeds I ever played were a box (25) of Charpen tenors that were given to me by an old retired repairman from NYC in the early 60's. I was playing Catskills summer resorts at the time. Played great and they seemed to last forever. And they still played just as good in the late 90's (after an extended layoff period).

 

[LateNiteSax]

I have tons and tons of La Voz, Brown and Orange box Ricos, Rico Royals, Hemkes and other Rico brands from the 1970s and 80s that I have bought in very very hard strengths that most people don't want. I love then because I prefer to start with a reed thats too hard and sand it down with a piece of 220 wet or dry sandpaper to exactly where I want it.

The general rule I've found to be true is that good quality cane that is resonant and doesn't warp (very much) gets better with age, but dead, warping and mushy cane will always ALWAYS suck.

 

[ErikJon]

Thank you, guys.

 

[clarnut]

Yes, I always keep in mind that people who make reeds often age the cane for extended periods and pride themselves on cane that is many years old. A number of years ago I can upon some old store stock of Vandorens that were many years old. They were terrific. They sounded and responded great and really lasted.

 

[hakukani]

I have reeds from when I was an undergrad in the 70s. They suck as much now as when I bought them.

 

[Lambros]

I had a similar experience many years ago when I bought Vandoren alto reeds that, if I remember correctly, were packaged in a small plastic box with a lid that was a purplish color. They were virtually indestructible.

Yes, I always keep in mind that people who make reeds often age the cane for extended periods and pride themselves on cane that is many years old. A number of years ago I can upon some old store stock of Vandorens that were many years old. They were terrific. They sounded and responded great and really lasted.

 

[LateNiteSax]

Every single vintage box of old Vandoren purple box plastic or cardboard were absolutely terrible reeds. Just my experience.

I had a similar experience many years ago when I bought Vandoren alto reeds that, if I remember correctly, were packaged in a small plastic box with a lid that was a purplish color. They were virtually indestructible.

 

[JL]

The consensus seems to be that reeds don't degrade over time, so that answers your question. And until you settle on a brand/strength you like, no reason not to buy the older ones at a considerable savings.

However:

What if you find the holy grail of perfect reeds from old stock, and it's something you can't get reliable supply of anymore? Might be better off without that knowledge..

This would be one concern for sure. And holy grail or not, you'll have trouble getting the same brand off the sales table over any period of time. So best bet is to eventually settle on a brand you like that you can continue buying well into the future.

 

[Lambros]

I didn't care for them at all. What Vandoren has done since doesn't compare. These were pre blue box as you know.

Every single vintage box of old Vandoren purple box plastic or cardboard were absolutely terrible reeds. Just my experience.