I'm interested in hearing from people about their experience with ReedGeek tools. What models have you tested, and how did they work for you? I haven't used one, but I have worked on reeds with sandpaper and razor blade. Is ReedGeek worth the money compared with old school methods?
ReedGeek Opinions
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4,727 Posts
I have two Reed Geeks - the 1st edition, and the new Bullet. They are both very well made, and they do what they say they will do. Having said that, I think I tend to buy things that look cool but that I don't really need.
I also have a couple of 3/8" High Speed Steel lathe tool bits that I got on Amazon for about $5 (they came two to a pack). I call these the "cheap geek". For flattening the back, they work just as well as a Reed Geek. They don't have the curved cutout or the radius "eraser" on the end that the real Reed Geeks have.
I have tried using the "eraser" for adjusting the tip, and the curved area for adjusting the side rails, but they don't work as well, **for me**, as plain old 320 grit sandpaper with the reed on a piece of glass. I do flatten the backs of every reed I use, but I tend to use the "cheap geek" for that as it's a little bigger and easier to use.
However, if I were a touring musician (those days are gone...), I would take the Reed Geek with me instead - the lathe tool bits have an angle on each end, and the edges are sharp enough that a TSA agent might confiscate them. The Reed Geek will pass TSA inspection. That's worth the extra $40 or $50 they cost.
I also have a couple of 3/8" High Speed Steel lathe tool bits that I got on Amazon for about $5 (they came two to a pack). I call these the "cheap geek". For flattening the back, they work just as well as a Reed Geek. They don't have the curved cutout or the radius "eraser" on the end that the real Reed Geeks have.
I have tried using the "eraser" for adjusting the tip, and the curved area for adjusting the side rails, but they don't work as well, **for me**, as plain old 320 grit sandpaper with the reed on a piece of glass. I do flatten the backs of every reed I use, but I tend to use the "cheap geek" for that as it's a little bigger and easier to use.
However, if I were a touring musician (those days are gone...), I would take the Reed Geek with me instead - the lathe tool bits have an angle on each end, and the edges are sharp enough that a TSA agent might confiscate them. The Reed Geek will pass TSA inspection. That's worth the extra $40 or $50 they cost.
I have a ReedGeek. It has been worth it for me, but I never dabbled in the traditional methods (sandpaper, etc). I usually do very minimal work with it, a few scrapes to take off the roughness on both sides and flatten the back, and a few if the reed is stuffy or unbalanced. That said, I've used more aggressively on reeds I was not happy with at all and brought them to where I liked them.
If you already have a method that works for you, a ReedGeek is probably only going to be another tool that may or may not be easier for you. That said, I don't think they are unreasonably priced at all, frankly $50 is not really that much money for a tool that will last for years at least. But if you already can adjust your reeds to your satisfaction then it's not necessary.
If you already have a method that works for you, a ReedGeek is probably only going to be another tool that may or may not be easier for you. That said, I don't think they are unreasonably priced at all, frankly $50 is not really that much money for a tool that will last for years at least. But if you already can adjust your reeds to your satisfaction then it's not necessary.
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2,390 Posts
Save yourself some money. These work great. https://www.harborfreight.com/5-pie...-tool-bits-for-metalworking-lathes-40641.html
I have the original. Visiting their website I can see they have a lot more products and they have become more expensive. I used to originally adjust reeds with the ATG Ridenour system. Now I only use the Reedgeek loosely following Dave Liebman's suggestions from his sound production book and video. I can make almost all reeds play to my satisfaction. It also works on Fibereeds Onyx and coppers. Not much luck with other synthetics. I think overall it's worth the investment but return of investment is less as their prices went up. There seems to be much cheaper options that I have not tried. Besides their cheapest classic Reedgeek I am not interest in trying any of their other products but that's just me.
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463 Posts
IMO they are amazing tools, but I got mine before the price went crazy though. Realistically now I am 100% sure there are quite a few tools you can find in any shop for less that 1/4 of the price and will do exactly the same. Save your money!!! Even half the price they have now is already pushing it.
I like the lathe bit idea. Looking forward to giving it a try. I guess the ReedGeek would be worth it for a traveling musician. I prepare my reeds at home where I keep a sheet of plate glass, sandpaper, and a single-edge razor blade in my music room.
I took Reet's advice and bought the lathe bits from Harbor Freight. Received them today and used them on an old reed that has always been too hard for me. I must say I was impressed. I made a significant improvement in the reed quickly. Maybe just beginner's luck, but it's promising.
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3,065 Posts
I had a mini screwdriver confiscated in Hong Kong. I never brought a blade on a plane of course. (Take that back, I had blades pre 9-11 a few times).
Nowadays the reedgeek is the only small and reliable reed tool that can go on the plane. So that puts it very above other sharp options!
Regarding people sharing the various bits from freight stores, they aren’t made out of the same material. Surely in this case material has to matter because the reedgeek will dull MUCH slower than the cheap metal bits.
Additionally, if all you are doing is flattening the table, you shouldn’t have a reed geek anyway. Just carry very fine grit sandpaper. A reedgeek is a precision tool for people that want to do substantial reed work, particularly while on tour.
I have found that people saying negative things about this particularly brilliant and useful tool really just have a beef with the company itself.
The reedgeek edges alone is really spectacular!
Nowadays the reedgeek is the only small and reliable reed tool that can go on the plane. So that puts it very above other sharp options!
Regarding people sharing the various bits from freight stores, they aren’t made out of the same material. Surely in this case material has to matter because the reedgeek will dull MUCH slower than the cheap metal bits.
Additionally, if all you are doing is flattening the table, you shouldn’t have a reed geek anyway. Just carry very fine grit sandpaper. A reedgeek is a precision tool for people that want to do substantial reed work, particularly while on tour.
I have found that people saying negative things about this particularly brilliant and useful tool really just have a beef with the company itself.
The reedgeek edges alone is really spectacular!
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4,847 Posts
No beef with the company. No idea who they are and not concerned with that.
... but I am not a commercial for the product, either. My beef is simply with the price.
No need to carry either on the plane. Sax on the plane, but main bag in the cargo hold with the lathe bits.
The lathe bits seem to hold their edge quite well. Arundo Donax is much, much softer than any tool steel.
... but I am not a commercial for the product, either. My beef is simply with the price.
No need to carry either on the plane. Sax on the plane, but main bag in the cargo hold with the lathe bits.
The lathe bits seem to hold their edge quite well. Arundo Donax is much, much softer than any tool steel.
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3,065 Posts
Or even better yet just have ten+ different mouthpieces so that every reed *has to* work on one. :-D
I remember seeing a photo Walt Weiskopf shared on Facebook of him going on a super long tour that was like three months of nightly shows. In one of the photos he showed a box with about eight metal Otto link mouthpieces that all appeared to be the same vintage. Maybe that is what he was doing. :-D
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2,356 Posts
Yes, you can buy a set of lathe bits, same material, much cheaper. They might eventually become dull from working on reeds, if people are still using reeds a few thousand years from now. I like the T-shirt though.
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