[ZiCheng]

I just bought a super cheap box of reeds (25 in a box for 10 dollars), and from the sample of 8 that I tried, all of them seem to have warping issues. What should I do, besides sanding them flat, to revive them? I don't have any adjustment advice, though I have a book about adjustment coming in the mail, the new book by a fellow named Reed. The reeds are old ricos in an orange box, the reeds are not in individual plastic units.

 

[fballatore]

Advice? You want advice? Throw them out and buy new reeds. Ever hear the expression "You get what you pay for."? :twisted:

 

[Mark5047]

Advice? You want advice? Throw them out and buy new reeds. Ever hear the expression "You get what you pay for."? :twisted:

Frank - are you trying to compete against Grumps for the most grumpy member?
As for the reeds, are you soaking them first? Or just wetting them, slapping them on and playing?

 

[Dave Dolson]

I'll agree that re-wetting them and storing them properly will help reduce the warping issues, although in my experience, all reeds will warp on the tip when they dry, regardless of how they are stored (reed guards, reed cases, etc.).

ZiCheng's post needs to be expanded upon, I think. When do the reeds warp? When they come fresh out of the box? Or, after you play them?

So, when you select a reed to play, wet it - the tip should smooth out. Then play it and adjust it with a knife (much posted about this procedure). If the whole reed is warped, I'd say toss it. DAVE

 

[milandro]

how about soaking them really well and then let them dry after taping them to (or holding them with an elastic) a piece of glass, repeat the process a couple of times, go easy on the sanding. if you try this a couple of times and fail......proceed to the next stage.....toss them!

 

[ZiCheng]

Thanks for all the advice, even Frank's.

My first post was less than clear. The warping occurs at the table, that is, the table is not flat, most of the reeds rocks somewhat when laid on a piece of glass, some rocks a lot. The tip shows no warping. I soaked them for an hour yestarday and stored them in LaVoz reed guards, which I find keeps reeds flat well and doesn't have molding issues.

I will probably get a new box of reeds in the mean time, but I'll do some more research on reed adjusting and tinker with this box as well.

 

[Dave Dolson]

ZiCheng: In my experience, reed-guards only hold the tips (mainly to protect them) - they don't prevent the tip from warping, though.

If the bottom of the reed is warped, that's a whole 'nother ball-game. I don't recall a reed's table ever warping. I'd just toss them if long soaking doesn't flatten them out. DAVE

 

[ZiCheng]

Thanks for that post Dave.

I think I should move away from the "warping" terminology. Basically, the table of most or all of the reeds are not flat but somewhat convex. I took this to be warping of some sort, since I reckon the reeds are quite old.

I feel kind of silly for posting a question (what to do with them) that seems ultimately dependent on to how much time I want to spend on a box of old, inexpensive and easily replaceable reeds. But thanks for all the help.