[tjontheroad]

A temporary rant...

So I've been playing this one Roberto's 3 soft tenor reed for God knows how long. It's on it its last leg now. It's turning nasty colors and has that smell (ewe) :shock: I've done all I can to make it last forever. Still, I know I'm just prolonging the enviable.

I've been trying to find and break in a replacement, but none out of the same box have yet equaled the response and tone of this one poor dying reed. That reed had buzz, bottom and brightness all at the same time. Now it's all over!!! It's like playing reed Goldilocks. One's to soft, one's to hard, another just will not play for ****. No sanding, wetting, trimming just is working. Oh, poor me, when will I find the one that's just right :crybaby:

Rant over

 

[Reedsplinter]

just prolonging the enviable.

This is something to which we all aspire!

Been there, done that (except maybe for "that smell":shock: ). You are on the quest. Though maybe you really want a synthetic reed (don't use 'em myself).

 

[gary]

You know what? Unkind words alert - "deal with it". :twisted:

You should get used to playing on different quality reeds in case you get into performing situations where you just get stuck. Also get some Dutch reed and learn to work your reeds. You'd be surprised how many of those losers you can carve up into shape. Dave D, as a matter of fact (I believe) just has a little pocket knife handy and shaves them with that.

I've got confidence in you, Mike. It'll make a man out of you.

edited: tj in for Mike.

 

[tjontheroad]

Though maybe you really want a synthetic reed (don't use 'em myself).

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I never liked those either. Besides, real cane is bio-degradable. At least I know I'll be giving back to the earth all this fine reed gave to me

 

[saxjazz42]

one problem with using the same reed forever is that you get used to playing it as it softens over time, so now you get used to playing a softer strength. then the rest of the box feels stuffy and unresponsive...i've been there too. try to make yourself rotate around a few reeds and keep bringing new ones into the cycle every so often, even if some reeds in the rotation aren't quite as good as the one you are trying to prolong...some day i'll create a ten step program for breaking the old reed habit...peace- mike

 

[Reedsplinter]

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I never liked those either. Besides, real cane is bio-degradable. At least I know I'll be giving back to the earth all this fine reed gave to me

Don't blame you in the least. Just thought it might help you avoid, you know, the smell factor.

What Gary said. He's right.

 

[tjontheroad]

You know what? Unkind words alert - "deal with it". :twisted:

You should get used to playing on different quality reeds in case you get into performing situations where you just get stuck. Also get some Dutch reed and learn to work your reeds. You'd be surprised how many of those losers you can carve up into shape. Dave D, as a matter of fact (I believe) just has a little pocket knife handy and shaves them with that.

I've got confidence in you, Mike. It'll make a man out of you.

Oh I'm dealing with it.. I drank 2 cups of coffee today when I usually only have one. That helps :twisted:

btw, who's Mike?

 

[Rackety Sax]

...btw, who's Mike?

Maybe that's Gary's way of saying he DOESN'T have confidence in you, TJ.

To your original post... It seems that a recitation of AA's mantra is in order: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

Unless you are not religious, in which case you'll just have to suck it up and buy some reed rush as Gary suggests.

 

[tjontheroad]

Maybe that's Gary's way of saying he DOESN'T have confidence in you, TJ.

To your original post... It seems that a recitation of AA's mantra is in order: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

Unless you are not religious, in which case you'll just have to suck it up and buy some reed rush as Gary suggests.

I'm crushed

Actually, I do rotate my reeds like saxjazz42 (that Mike) suggested. I may also do some praying too.

 

[gary]

btw, who's Mike?

Ooops- Got you mixed up with Face Ache Mike.
You guys'll just have to figure it out what that means! :shock:

 

[Face Ache Mike]

:evil:

 

[tjontheroad]

:evil:

I think he just dumped on us both Mike :?

 

[Pgraves]

Geez. How can you play one reed so long?
I keep 5-10 in varying stages of use from new to old enough to be thrown out in a reed case ready to go. Even one that was outstanding for awhile but aging, pales in comparsion to a new good one. The bang for your buck factor with a new/good reed is worth it to me.
Re: colors and smell, try a short soak in diluted hydrogen peroxide. It's seems to help the older dying reeds and will kill some of the mold and bacteria that may not be the best thing to be putting in your mouth. To say nothing of the mold and bacteria working over the fibers in the reed itself.

 

[Rackety Sax]

Or you could do as Marcel Mule did. This is recounted by Marshall Taylor on dornpub.com:

Mule had one really great reed, which he kept for special occasions and he showed it to me once. It was so old it was practically black. He told me where he had gotten it. I think it was in Rouen, where Joan of Arc had been burned at the stake, but in any case he mentioned parenthetically the connection with the Maid of Orléans. I said that perhaps it had come from the actual stake, which might have accounted for its blackened condition, and I always thought of it as his Joan of Arc reed.

 

[tjontheroad]

Geez. How can you play one reed so long?
I keep 5-10 in varying stages of use from new to old enough to be thrown out in a reed case ready to go. Even one that was outstanding for awhile but aging, pales in comparsion to a new good one. The bang for your buck factor with a new/good reed is worth it to me.
Re: colors and smell, try a short soak in diluted hydrogen peroxide. It's seems to help the older dying reeds and will kill some of the mold and bacteria that may not be the best thing to be putting in your mouth. To say nothing of the mold and bacteria working over the fibers in the reed itself.

Other reeds in my rotation didn't last as long and true. I kept going back to it like it was an old friend. I did the hydrogen peroxide soak too, but the germ genie came back.

Oh well, time for a new relationship

 

[hakukani]

Other reeds in my rotation didn't last as long and true. I kept going back to it like it was an old friend. I did the hydrogen peroxide soak too, but the germ genie came back.

Oh well, time for a new relationship

I had a really great reed in 1978. I found it a couple of months before my senior recital. It just kept playing great, and kept playing great a couple of months after my recital.

Man, that was some reed...

 

[bluesaxgirl]

I laughed at this post earlier. Then, I went to go practice and now I know exactly how you feel. That reed was perfect in every which way...

 

[bluesaxgirl]

I laughed at this post earlier. Then, I went to go practice and now I know exactly how you feel. That reed was perfect in every which way...

Or maybe its just because I got my braces taken off today. And I just sound really bad now.

 

[sonnymobleytrane]

I had a really great reed in 1978. I found it a couple of months before my senior recital. It just kept playing great, and kept playing great a couple of months after my recital.

Man, that was some reed...

Funny post hakukani

But there is an element of truth to it. I remember when I got my Guardala in the mail it was like 1985 or 86 It came with (I beleive) a vandoren reed on it That played great. I could never find a reed that played on it like the one from Guardala!

 

[hakukani]

Funny post hakukani

But there is an element of truth to it. I remember when I got my Guardala in the mail it was like 1985 or 86 It came with (I beleive) a vandoren reed on it That played great. I could never find a reed that played on it like the one from Guardala!

I hate reeds. That's why I quit playing oboe...