[saxmaam]

So I have a reed that passes the pop test, but the sound I'm getting is really spitty, like you'd get from a deep fryer. What's likely wrong with the reed? Other reeds play better with the same setup.

 

[Tony5175]

Do you use that reed more than the others?

 

[saxmaam]

Do you use that reed more than the others?

No. In fact it's a newer reed.

 

[Reedscraper]

The spitty sound is usually condensation (spit) built up inside the mp chamber. Metal mp are particularly bad about this. Cold metal vs. hot breath makes the condensation. The only way to help this is "suck" the saliva out frequently. Classical players used to put vaseline, Pam, etc. in the mp chamber to move the saliva through.

 

[Sigmund451]

Also rollover baffles that are not properly adjusted (a bit too high) tend to worsen the problem.

 

[martinm5862]

It's a fact of life. Not all reeds in a box are playable.

 

[JL]

It's a fact of life. Not all reeds in a box are playable.

I don't see how it could be a reed problem. Far more likely to be condensation in the mpc, as reedscraper said. I vaguely remember having this happen with a specific metal mpc I had years ago, but I haven't had it happen with some other metal mpcs, and never with the HR mpcs I use now.

p.s. Now that I re-read the OP, she mentions that it was more of a problem with a specific reed. If that's the case, and it doesn't happen with other reeds, I'd just toss the one that causes the problem. It still seems odd to me that a reed could be the issue.

 

[saxmaam]

It seemed like a reed problem, but I was read in another thread that "inadequate air velocity" can cause this. I mean, the condensation is there inside the mouthpiece, for sure, but I think I'm being too conservative with my wind. Then I was reading the notes I had in the method book that I am revisiting, and it pretty much said the same thing.

My experiments this morning indicate that moving more air through the horn helps this a lot.

 

[Sigmund451]

...this suggests to me that the baffle is probably too high. It is not as easy to see on a metal piece but on hard rubber after running up and down a scale a few times you should only have a sweaty baffle, not puddled up in areas.

Im not suggesting you have to run and get your mouthpiece worked on. Im just pointing out a likely source of the problem. As long as you are not having to put more air through the piece than wanted it is not necessarily a problem. You should be able to play quietly, however.

 

[saxmaam]

Hey Sigmund451, it's a Vandoren Optimum TL3. Probably not a high baffle, right?

In my photo I'm playing a Rovner Deep V. I love that mouthpiece. But I started to study with a classical teacher and I'm playing what she suggests. The Optimum is pretty sweet, too. Easy to play.

 

[bariandyf]

The spitty sound is usually condensation (spit) built up inside the mp chamber. Metal mp are particularly bad about this. Cold metal vs. hot breath makes the condensation. The only way to help this is "suck" the saliva out frequently. Classical players used to put vaseline, Pam, etc. in the mp chamber to move the saliva through.

Don't suck the moisture out - this can lead to all sorts of infections and mouth/throat problems.
the best way to get rid of moisture in the mouthpiece is to blow through the mouthpiece and reed (like while it's all set up on the horn) so you don't sound a note, but fast air goes through mouthpiece and blows the moisture down into the rest of the horn.