[Wailin']

How are you guys handling tip warping? It seems only natural that the tip warps once the reed drys. The once beautiful sounding reed now refuses to play well. Mine tends to have a wavy appearance.

Sometime ago someone here was adamant about placing reeds in water after playing to keep them soaked when not playing. This they stated prevents the tips from warping. Is this a recommended practise? But this sounds like quite a laborious task and water logging makes the reeds sound stuffy.

 

[TenTenTooter]

Get a reed case with a piece of glass in it to lay the reed against when you are done playing. The glass will keep the reed flat as it dries and get rid of the warping problem.

 

[Dan Molloy]

There are many methods that people use, such as soaking in various liquids, muttering ancient incantations etc. They probably all work as well.
If, like me, you like to keep it simple and low maintainance. Take the dry and warped reed and pop it in a glass off water for a couple of minutes (or your mouth as long as it gets a good soak). When you remove the reed it should be warp free. If not then just place it on a flat surface (I sometimes use the mouthpiece) and apply some pressure with your thumb, don't be to rough.
This will straighten the reed.

There are some good reed break in tips on the Alexander site. http://www.superial.com/mainten_breakin.html

 

[saxtek]

Take the reed off the mouthpiece and wet it thoroughly with your mouth. I like to wet both ends of the reed, but this is not absolutely necessary.

Place the tip of the reed on the flat part of the mouthpiece, just below the opening that is covered by the reed. Hold it on the flat area with your thumb for one minute. Look at your watch - a minute is a long time when you are in a hurry. The warped reed tip will be flat and ready to play.

Dry reeds are a serious problem. I play a lot of shows using several instruments, and I usually use a synthetic reed on bass clarinet to avoid the warped reed problem

My MYSPACE music page has some recordings of sax solos played on reeds that are not warped ;-)

http://www.myspace.com/saxpsychosis

 

[bb]

Everybody's right,maybe another option could be vandoren "hydro case",which I think is a thingamabob to keep the reed in the best dry/wet ratio.I don't know anything about it,but in a big band where I play regularely the bari sax player uses it.Bye

 

[TeeJot]

Hello,

I've tried the rico reed vitalizer with a level of 58% humidity.
Just enough to keep the reeds "in form" for the next play the next day.
After a few days my reeds color turned to green and brown and the reeds started to get mold.

Good idea, but has room for improvement... ;-)


Regards,

TeeJot

 

[Wailin']

There are many methods that people use, such as soaking in various liquids, muttering ancient incantations etc. They probably all work as well.
If, like me, you like to keep it simple and low maintainance. Take the dry and warped reed and pop it in a glass off water for a couple of minutes (or your mouth as long as it gets a good soak). When you remove the reed it should be warp free. If not then just place it on a flat surface (I sometimes use the mouthpiece) and apply some pressure with your thumb, don't be to rough.
This will straighten the reed.

There are some good reed break in tips on the Alexander site. http://www.superial.com/mainten_breakin.html

I took all my warped reeds and placed them in water as Dan suggested . He is right. Within 5 minutes their tips were as flat as glass. Thanks a million!

 

[tranesonic]

Prevention is better than cure - if the mouthpiece cap has a hole at the end (most metal ones do) put tape (gaffa or whatever) over the end. This helps prevent the reed from drying out too much, especially overnight. You should also pack the horn away overnight, I wrap the crook/neck (with mouthpiece in place) in a large duster and tuck it into the bell of the horn. Then the horn goes into it's case. This prevents the reed from getting exposed to the air and thus drying out. I always clean the m/p and reed by the way, but enough moisture stays in the reed to prevent it from drying out too much. Even if I'm feeling lazy and leave the horn on it's stand, the reed still stays flat and playable because of the tape on the cap. Oh, and don't ever leave the horn anywhere near a radiator...

 

[andrewb]

One of my friends showed me this, and I find it works really well...

Put the reed in your mouth for about 10-20 seconds, just enough to get it pretty wet. Then put it on the mouthpiece like you're going to play. Take the mouthpiece alone, and cover the end that would go on the neck with your palm or finger so no air can get out.

Put the other end in your mouth, and apply some suction. Take it out, and the reed should stay stuck to the face of the mouthpiece for a few seconds. It'll make some little hissing sounds while the air slowly comes out, and then just kind of pop off. Repeat this until the reed is straight.

I think it works well because it's straightened by the mouthpiece, so it's just right.

Hope this helps!

-Andrew

 

[jbtsax]

I have used LaVoz plastic reedguards for years. When I get to a gig I pull a reed out of the reedguard place it in my mouth for a few seconds to wet it and put it back into the reedguard and put the reedguard in my shirt pocket. By the time my instrument is assembled I take the reed out and put it on the mouthpiece. It is perfectly flat and is soaked just the right amount to play responsively. After the gig the reed goes back into the reedguard to dry slowly keeping the tip "ironed" flat until it is used again.

 

[BBJQSAX]

Rico Reed ReVitalizer

I got hooked up with one of these at IAJE in January. Its VERY important to use the 73% humidity packs, I think. I'm still on my first packet in the Rico Reed case. To put it simply:

None of my reeds have warped since I started using this product.
None of my reeds have molded since I started using this product.

I pull a reed out, put it in my mouth for as long as it takes me to put the horn together, and its ready to play. I keep alto, tenor and sop reeds in the case.

Yes, its really become that easy. Check these out, y'all.

 

[tensopbass]

I have a foolproof method with 100% perfect results, but I'm no expert so I can't tell you about it. nicko

 

[jazzbluescat]

I have a foolproof method with 100% perfect results, but I'm no expert so I can't tell you about it. nicko

My very thought. jbc

 

[Wailin']

I purchased a plastic reed guard from Sam Ashe. It holds 4 reeds on each side. If the reeds are placed on a flat surface when wet they'll do fine. If left out to dry with the tips sticking out then they tend to shrivel and warp. I also found out that the wet reeds tips will warp if put back in the plastic cases in which they came.

Someone suggested sticking them in water after playing. That creates water logged reeds.

By the way, has anyone found any good use for the plastic cases the reeds originally come in the boxes. I've got tons of them laying around.

 

[FujairahMan]

I have a foolproof method with 100% perfect results, but I'm no expert so I can't tell you about it. nicko

I sympathise with you. At least, I'm expert at annoying my wife.

 

[speyman]

Reed care.

I got hooked up with one of these at IAJE in January. Its VERY important to use the 73% humidity packs, I think. I'm still on my first packet in the Rico Reed case. To put it simply:

None of my reeds have warped since I started using this product.
None of my reeds have molded since I started using this product.

I pull a reed out, put it in my mouth for as long as it takes me to put the horn together, and its ready to play. I keep alto, tenor and sop reeds in the case.

Yes, its really become that easy. Check these out, y'all.

I'll second all of the above execpt the part about IAJE. I put the reeds in reed holders inside the Rico box. Works great for me.

 

[Martinman]

By the way, has anyone found any good use for the plastic cases the reeds originally come in the boxes. I've got tons of them laying around.

Put them in your band director's car.

 

[Enviroguy]

Experts only?

Well, I'm a certified expert on toxic mold and fungi. I guess I won't be able to add my two-cents worth until we talk about moldy reeds.

 

[tensopbass]

I can only get the green mould to grow in the window area. Is there a special anaerobic bacteria that will prosper on the other bits to even out the pressure. Oops, I think I gave away my secret. nicko