Use whatever reed voodoo you think works for you.
That's my subjective opinion.

 

Hey there

For years I've been doing the DIY Reedjuvinate system (i.e., waterproof/sealed container with sponge and reeds in their normal reed guards. see the right side of the photo below) and have mostly been content with it, however I was starting to doubt the strength of the plastic reed guards (rico / rigotti) to keep the table flat. I noticed my reeds often needed a decent amount of reedgeeking on the table to maintain their flatness.

In an effort to remedy this, I recently decided to take a piece of advice from Ridenhour and put the reeds inside this protec reed case in a bag with a sponge but I leave the case open a crack.

Anyone else do this? Curious to hear other people's experiences.

(Note: PLEASE refrain from the usual macho "I just put it in my mouth duh" replies, they aren't helpful. Reeds, and saxophone in general, are subjective)
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I’ve tried all the systems and found the ones like these most difficult to maintain homeostasis and most frequent to mold...put one or two just used reeds in the bag and your humidity equation is off for days…but you have one or two more wet ones tomorrow, and the next. Alcohol evaporates faster than water, so leaving your bag/ case open means losing what little disinfection properties you got from the sponge to begin with. Wet (soaking) all the time or dry and stored between works a lot better for me, and yes, the individual plastic holders work perfectly fine.

 

ive actually NEVER had mold with this listerine based system. Yes, previously w/o listerine I had mold in rico cases etc using the humidity pack, but since discarding that approach I've never had mold. Plus I DO clean my reeds every 2 weeks or so with hydrogen peroxide.

 

I was using Reedjuvinate about 8 - 10 years ago and found that my reeds (first Java Red, then Rigotti) started to feel "soggy" by keeping them hydrated all the time. I took the sponge out of the case and that improved things a bit, but they still seemed to get mushy and lifeless very quickly. After some experimentation I wound up with this routine: I have a small jar with a 50/50 solution of Listerine/Alcohol. Five or ten minutes before playing I dip the tip half of the reed(s) in the liquid then put them in the reedguards, and into the Reedgeek container. (If I'm playing a gig I'll do this as I'm packing up and put the reeds in my case at this point.) When it's time to play the reeds will be nicely hydrated and ready to go. When I'm finished playing (and get home from the gig), the reedguards come out of the sealed container and are left to dry in the open air. Next time you want to play, dip the reed, etc.

Downside of this process is that you have to add time to wet the reeds prior to beginning to play, which is no biggie if you're driving to a gig, but does hamper your ability to spontaneously pick up the horn and practice. The other thing is it assumes that you have reeds available that have already been prepped - tables flattened and adjustments made, etc.

 

I've got my own voodoo system, works great FOR ME.

 

Downside of this process is that you have to add time to wet the reeds prior to beginning to play, which is no biggie if you're driving to a gig, but does hamper your ability to spontaneously pick up the horn and practice. The other thing is it assumes that you have reeds available that have already been prepped - tables flattened and adjustments made, etc.

i can agree with this. However, since i am an enthusiast who only sporadically practices, I am more than happy with it!
I do wonder if professionals, or anyone who practically uses their horn 24/7, do find the lack of instant access frustrating indeed...

 

Not a pro, but as an advanced amateur who typically gigs a couple of times a week, I usually get to the venue at least 45 minutes before downbeat. It takes me 30 seconds of that to wet 4 reeds. So those reeds are instantly accessible the remaing 44.5 minutes before and all during the show. Any adjustments would have already been done at home. The main reason I don't store reeds wet is not some macho thing, just the fact that I'm too lazy for complex rituals and don't like the way soggy reeds play.

 

I store my reeds like Torsten Skringer (famous german Prosaxophonist) said in a Jar with Wodka. The Reeds standing 3/4 with the Tip downwards, no reedguards. I practice daily and have 3-4 Reeds in the Jar. It works really good. If the Wodka becomes coloured, I change it.

 

Well, Listerine is well known to be an excellent growth medium for bacteria. Didn't any of you do that eighth grade science experiment? Two petri dishes with agar, dose each one with cheek swabs, then apply Listerine to one - the bacteria grow BETTER in the one with Listerine.

Best practice is to let the reeds dry thoroughly between uses.

Besides that, maintaining a constant humidity between uses is an attempt to force a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. When you put the reed in your mouth, the RH is 100% and so you don't need to keep it wet in between uses. Of course the tip will get wavy when you first wet it, for which the solution is to play the thing a couple minutes and the tip will flatten out.

Warping of the back to a convexity is not about humidification between uses, but about the fact that the stresses on the reed inherently cause it to collapse into the mouthpiece window, and that WHEN BEING PLAYED the interior (flat surface) of the reed is wetter than the outside. Keeping it wet all the time isn't going to change either of those.

 

Was it Rousseau or Hemke who advocated keeping reeds in a container with a damp nylon satchel containing rock salt to maintain humidity? I tried it for a while but it corroded my aluminum LaVoz reed guards. May be a worthy experiment with our modern plastics. I gave up attempting to maintain humidity of my reeds. The humidity levels are too low.

 

I agree that you should use whatever reed voodoo works for you.

As for me, I haven't used Listerine, but I've been doing something broadly similar by storing my reeds in plastic Rico/LaVoz Reedgards along with Boveda packs in a sealed ziplock bag. I also rinse my reeds in a 1.5% peroxide solution before putting them away.

This system has worked very well for me over the past couple of years. My reeds seem to last a long time, they don't warp much between uses, and the tips never get wavy.

 

thanks everyone for the thoughtful and unique responses. I appreciate all of it.

as for the listerine / mold issue: I can only speak to my experience using the listine-soaked sponge for years, I've really only had mold grow on reeds when I used the Boveda pack in a rico reed case, or way back when i just threw them back in a reedguard after playing sans humidity. Since the listine-soaked sponge, none whatsoever. is this due to the listerine? or due to the hydrogen peroxide? i dont know, but so far it works.

 

thanks everyone for the thoughtful and unique responses. I appreciate all of it.

as for the listerine / mold issue: I can only speak to my experience using the listine-soaked sponge for years, I've really only had mold grow on reeds when I used the Boveda pack in a rico reed case, or way back when i just threw them back in a reedguard after playing sans humidity. Since the listine-soaked sponge, none whatsoever. is this due to the listerine? or due to the hydrogen peroxide? i dont know, but so far it works.

Well, since we are discussing this and I am myself contemplating a new approach to breaking in, cycling, and maintaining my reeds, can you explain the idea behind the listerine, the spong, the bag, and etc?

(My current routine is a play on the reed, rinse it off with water when done, let it dry for 2h or so, put it back in my Rico reed holder)

 

1. Take reed out of reed case
2. Soak reed in water for a minute, or run under cold tap water.
3. Put reed on mouthpiece
4. Play
5. Take reed off
6. Rinse in water, if available
7. Put reed back in reed case.

The only step above I have difficulty with is number 4. I have never found keeping the reed “hydrated“ to do anything except mess the reed up. Listerine, vodka, water, humidity packs - all for me reduce the useful life of the reed due to mold or sogginess.

 

I actually add step 5 1/2 which is "wipe reed on pants".

But what do I know? I've only been doing this for 45 years now. No wet sponges, no humidifiers, no bags of rock salt, no Listerine, no vodka, no whiskey (not on the reeds, pleny of it inside me), no H2O2.

The reeds last a long enough time, sometimes the tips get wavy which goes away by the time I've played a couple arpeggios to warm up. No mold, mildew, mice, flies, or weevils.

 

My Rico reed holder works better since I stopped putting in the humidity packets. Now I have less mold, and I'm not sure the reeds have noticed the "lack" of moisture.
Other reeds in my old LaVoz metal holder seem fine.
I've never been able to make any of the hydration systems work, and I think I lost more reeds to mold than to drying out. Maybe I just don't have the knack.
What I do find works (for me) is to find a good reed, and just play that till it's dead, and have fewer reeds "in the rotation". This way the reed is played every day and stays relatively moist that way (I hope).
I have always found that reeds in the rotation that got less play just died of old age, somehow.
I tend to overthink things so my acceptance of my ineptitude and giving up on hydration systems has been liberating. Maybe it means my reeds will die sooner and I will have to buy more sooner. Oh well. If I buy one less $200-300 mouthpiece then that will buy quite a few boxes.

 

Even when I was using cane and playing every day I never had a mold problem with a regular ol' plastic reed holder. No case, no sponge, no mouthwash. And with all the sound hygienic practices of a high school student.

 

I’m kind of fascinated by reed voodoo, but I don’t really do anything special. I will soak new reeds in warmish water for 15 minutes or so, wipe them off, put them back in the little plastic Rigotti holders that they come in and let them dry out for a day so that the whole reed gets a full expansion and contraction cycle before I get to vibrating the hell out of it.

After that I just wet them and play them, and I always let them dry out before playing them again.

Works for me!

 

I actually add step 5 1/2 which is "wipe reed on pants".

Regarding step 5 1/2, this introduces so many new variables. What material are the pants made of, wool, polyester, denim? Cuffed, straight or flared? Machine washed or dry cleaned? This merits a whole new thread IMHO.

 

I thought acid wash would be the obvious choice, but different strokes…

 

Okay, I'll give you my method (no one really wants to hear another miraculous method I'm sure).
1. Flatten the bottom side of the reed with a reed knife or now my fancy BSS muli-tool.
2. Soak in water (both sides: tip, butt end) for a few minutes or less (briefly, reed is already humidified somewhat).
3. Play.
4. When done, briefly soak in original yellow/brown Listerine. Wipe off excess before next step.
5. Store in a D'Addario reed case with a 59% humidity pack.

FOR ME, it's been the best method for reed longevity and getting more reeds to play. I play almost every day and have reeds last months. I rotate reeds as I practice, I normally have 4 or more useable reeds ready to play. The steps don't take me long, I'm playing within a few minutes of getting my horn out of the case. I've been at the pro sax game for longer than some of you have been on the planet (gawd I'm old).

 

Keep in mind that the 21.6% ethyl alcohol and sucralose in Listerine can provide a growth medium for various bacteria. I refer back again to the eighth grade science class demonstration.

 

Keep in mind that the 21.6% ethyl alcohol and sucralose in Listerine can provide a growth medium for various bacteria. I refer back again to the eighth grade science class demonstration.

Which Listerine though? I use the original yellow and mold is not an issue at all:

LISTERINE® Antiseptic Mouthwash ORIGINAL Flavor | LISTERINE®

Learn about the antibacterial benefits of LISTERINE® ORIGINAL Antiseptic Mouthwash and how it fights the causes of bad breath and reduces plaque on teeth.

www.listerine.com

 

Mold is not the same thing as bacteria.

 

Mold is not the same thing as bacteria.

I guess. My reeds last a long time with my method using the original yellow Listerine. I don't saturate them, just dip them briefly after playing. I've been playing professionally for decades, best reed maintenance I've found so far.

 

What do you mean "you guess" molds are not the same thing as bacteria? It's not up to you.

Fungi (of which the molds are one subset) are multi-cellular organisms in the kingdom "Fungi", within the domain "eukaryotes". Bacteria are unicellular organisms in a completely different domain, that of "Bacteria".

 

What do you mean "you guess" molds are not the same thing as bacteria? It's not up to you.

Fungi (of which the molds are one subset) are multi-cellular organisms in the kingdom "Fungi", within the domain "eukaryotes". Bacteria are unicellular organisms in a completely different domain, that of "Bacteria".

It works for me, reeds last a long time. Using original Listerine also.

 

No mold or bacteria, discolored reeds.

 

My way of reed storage - smoothie-PET-bottle with (original) listerine-soaked sponge
I never had problems with mold etc.

 

Ya I second this, I’ve never had mold be an issue with this method.

I’m curious if anyone has had experience substituting Listerine for Vodka in this type of set up?