OK, as an older beginner, who has been playing for a couple of years now, the whole reed thing was perhaps the biggest obstacle to progress. This video has made a HUGE difference. Thanks, Dr. Wally. Please keep the no-nonsense advice coming!
I cannot for the life of me get this video out of my head. I had played Legere reeds for years simply because I couldn't be bothered and also because some of my horns (looking at my bari sax) isn't practiced nearly as much as my other instruments. However, recently I've come to realize that for whatever reason condensation seems to collect more on my Legere reeds than on cane so I have switched back on alto. But here is the thing -- every time I unwrap a Vandoren I am strangely compelled to welcome it to the states. Dr. Wallace must double as a hypnotist.
I bought a Légère for my tenor after watching your video on the yogourt subject but did not experience it until I couldn't find where I put my reed case of wood reeds. I keep the Légère it in its original pack and after playing it I rinse it with tap water and dip it into ethanol (found at liquor store) for a few seconds and store it back in it original case... boy they do last! I love the sound of them..
Starting saxophone I remembered thinking "I don't want to learn about--or mess with--reeds, I will just use synthetics". Has worked out just fine, some of the best advice I've ever given myself lol.
I do everything you do, so glad to see someone else finally saying the benefits of letting reeds dry out fully! I play clarinet, not saxophone, but this is all 100% true for us too. My reeds last 3-4 months before I notice them getting softer while my colleagues in college have about... 2-3 days? They all have the fancy cases; I just leave them on my desk drawer and take them to school in - you guessed it - a normal reed case.
The moist reed encourages growth of bacteria and fungus that is unseen and breaks down the fiber. Thus, dry out the reed. I wash off the reed to remove a lot of the saliva before storage. Saliva contains digestive enzymes that slowly destroy the reed. I really enjoyed your comments also.
I got off that merry-go-round a few years ago: first with Fibracell; then with Legere signatures. Now I'm enjoying all three of my saxes (soprano, alto and tenor) with Harry Hartmann Carbon Onyx reeds. Just slap one of these black beauties on, tighten up the ligature and enjoy making beautiful, consistent (3+ octave on the alto and tenor) sounds on each without a second thought or frustration. Yes, I remember doing all that stuff, but in my retirement years I want to enjoy life and enjoy playing. I'll let others play carpenter. BTW - really enjoy your videos Doc!
How is the sound on the Onyx compared to the legere Signatures? I really like the Signatures, but they aren't perfect. I have a newer mouthpiece that just is of with synthetics. BTW: I'm looking forward to the Vandoren synthetics, though.
@@Eniral441 the Carbon Onyx sound a bit richer than the Signatures, which I find to be too bright, especially when using higher baffle mouthpieces. Harry Hartmann also now makes the Copper Carbon Classic, which produces a bit darker tone than the Carbon Onyx. I recently tried their Hemp and did not like it. Not as consistent throughout the entire range. I also recently discovered VENN by D'Addario and they compete well with both the Carbon Onyx and Copper Caron Classics, plus they look like regular reeds. Competition seems to be helping grow the synthetic market, which is a good thing. Maybe it will bring prices down, too. Just enjoying the fact of not fussing with reeds anymore. Now, it's just seeing if anybody does it better.
Greatest teacher on the planet for us old duffers or, the new wunderkinder in 7th grade. I even got out my ancient W. Ferling studies book. Whatever Dr. Wally says I will do.The Reed Death with Ginsu knife I want as a Tee-shirt.
I was fortunate to meet a guy that was a concert saxophonist who studied under Eugene Rousseau. We had a wonderful conversation about reeds and mouthpieces and the wonders of the world... He set me out a list of things to do to prepare my reeds that is very similar to the steps you just explained but there are quite a few differences. Doing this allows my reeds to last for a long time and actually saves money as I am not out buying reeds with my paychecks every week. Bottom line is however you condition your reeds, as long as you take the time to do this, you can make your reeds last more than just one performance.
I find myself laughing out loud from time to time during your fine videos! Great comedic timing, and super solid advice and information. Grateful for your help!
I fill an old vitamin jar having a tight-fitting screw on lid with water and 3-4 drops of concentrated peppermint oil. Peppermint is anti-microbial and naturally germicidal. I soak the reed a minute in this before playing (so the reed smells good initially while also getting moist --instead of wetting it in my mouth). I put them in the jar for a couple minutes after playing, shaking it up a bit so the water rinses the mouth junk off the reeds. I wipe the excess moisture off with a small towel or napkin and let them dry before putting them in their flat case. (But if I'm on a gig and don't have time to let them dry, I don't have to worry about sugars and enzymes eating those reeds, sugars making food for spores, nor any spores making headway with the peppermint guard.) When I pull out the reed again, it's fresh smelling and naturally sanitized. I'd like to think also the small trace of oil in the water may lightly fill the fiber pores and prevent saliva from entering the reed fibers; but a scientist could do tests on that hypothesis. In addition to balancing and light sanding I do when I first get my reeds (so they are smooth like glass), I press the reeds against plate glass with the flat back of a spoon in order to close the pores. Brushing your teeth every time before you play goes a long way in keeping reeds from skank and digestion, as well. With these measures I have reeds for months!
I am very guilty of playing a Reed too long. And you are absolutely correct when that one goes south the new Reed feels impossible I will be implementing your reed management strategy from now on.
Great informative video. I've still got plenty of students who do the "open a reed, and play it whether it plays or not" method that I'm BEGGING to start breaking in reeds and at the very least have a cheap reed guard where they can keep 4 reeds in rotation. And one kid I'm just trying to get j to even take the reed OFF the mouthpiece when he puts the horn away. I go a bit overkill and have a 20 reed case. I do a breaking in marathon once a year or so and fill in the vacant slots of reeds that have had to be put to pasture.I also have two preferred reed makes that I like depending on my day/mood, so my case has one carriage full of ten of one reed, and another full of the other make of reeds.
Reeds are one thing I never gave any thought other than determining hardness. I always played Rico orange box and just used one until it died and then grabbed the next. I stored them in the little plastic cases they come in out of the box. This is a whole new approach for me. I am curious though, as a home hobbyist for the most part, 10 reeds sounds like a lot to manage especially as an alto and tenor player. I was thinking of 3 to 5 depending on some of the smaller packages available on the market. I will probably stay with Rico orange for a while until I feel I have this process down, especially because I’d like to learn how to make adjustments as well. Maybe I’ll introduce other brands into the rotation once I feel that I’ll really appreciate the differences. I consider myself at the intermediate level.
Great advice Doc., I spent some time with a Fred Hempke protege' who taught @ private university music conservatory. I was his tech.,...but we also performed together. He played Carnegie, and took 1st in intnl. Comp. one yr. He had a reed idea that was interesting, that I copied. He had a piece of plate glass and placed the reeds on it with rubber bands to keep' em' flat. Being that I travel all over the country to play, I wasn't crazy about putting glass in my case.I also didn't like messing with alot of rubber bands. What I wound up with was a piece of plexiglass and an elastic band. Safer, less mess, let's them dry and vent. It also keeps the inside of my case from looking like I had a car accident on the way home from Office depot.
I used to let my reeds dry out completely too. But i found no matter what I did, they would eventually warp. So i started using Rico 4-reed thing. But as i played more each day. They started to mold, even without the case. So, I started placing them in Peroxyde mouthwash after playing but only for a minute or 2. I wrote them off and put them in the case. I flatten the table of each one with a combination of areed geek and just rubbing them on a flat tile or glass. I do soak them and break them in similarly to what you said. Unfortunately, I'm the worst at rotating them though. So, I'm going to start using a time. I've only done 4-5 reeds at a time though. Looking forward to your red case video.
Hi there I liked the talk on reed conditioning and storage. I kept mine in the Reed Juvinate and they turned to c__p. I now let them to dry out and store them in a dry reed case. Protec cases are not sold in South Africa so I have to settle for a Rico reed case which is fine. Thanx
I use Vandorens so on the very first play I will not soak them in water because of the packaging, they have not dried out. I will, after that, soak them and rub the vamp with my thumb on a flat surface. I let them dry in between plays on a flat surface held in place with a rubber band so that they stay flat. My playing time is exponential : 1 minute -2-4-8-16-32 minutes... On the first play (1 minute), I will stay within G first octave and G second octave. No tonguing, no louder than piano. On the second play (2 minutes), low D to second octave C, still no tonguing, mezzo piano. On the third play (4 minutes), low Bb to high F, light tonguing, mezzo forte. On the fourth play (8 minutes), still low Bb to high F, but "normal" playing (articulations and nuances). On the fifth play (16 minutes), same as above, up to altissimo A On the sixth play (32 minutes), same as above, up to limit of altissimo. When they are ready to be used in rotation, I store them in an old Vandoren reed case with a Listerine soaked sponge.
Hey Evan, honestly, I don't work on reeds! Conditioning and rotation gets me enough great reeds I don't have to worry about it. BUT - honestly, that may be partially due to me developing my embouchure for the past 30+ years. I'm not super fussy about reeds anymore (and I find my older colleagues are the same). Great question - happy practicing!
Excellent advice, Wally! I am switching back to cane after extensive trials (and MUCH money spent) of many different synthetics. As you said, the conditioning process really IS a game-changer. I have only discovered a couple duds in my recent purchase of a box of Select Jazz filed 3Ss. I'll also be trying Rigotti (both their Jazz Gold and their Queen varieties) and Hemke, and will definitely employ this method and will expect similar great results. I also use the ProTec reed cases, though I also use the old stand-by Rico reed guard. I don't see myself getting a Reed Geek tool, however... Thank you again for creating and uploading incredibly helpful content.
As a professional beginner of about 2 years experience, I can't get a sound out of a cane reed at all. I've been using a Legere classic which I love, so I can't wait for your opinion. I am genuinely one of life's garbage players, and I will continue to do that to the best of my ability.
I use the D'addario humidipak but I live in AZ where dry really means dry. I find that the reeds are 2x4 like if I don't until they get moist and I like to take them out and be able to play within a minute or two.
Brian Billings I spent a few years in Tucson and Sierra Vista (Army Band), I feel ya! Back then I kept a bottle of water/cup nearby. Also had to rethink ligature for a better seal as they would dry out and warp so quickly! Then the monsoon season would hit....😩
@@drwallysax Tucson has a wonderful music scene. I use the vandoren glass plate to check and flatten the reeds as necessary though I probably play on suboptimal reeds most of the time. :) Sorry for the delayed response, just saw yours.
Dr. Wally, first of all, congratulations for the amazing work you are doing here. I'm having trouble with mold at the very bottom part of my reeds. I have been using a Reed case for several years and have been doing rotation, probably not as often, but still... I live in a small island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, so humidity here is constantly above 95%. What advise can you give me to solve this problem? Whish you all the best!
Dude this is great. Way to add some humor and very good info. How do you feel about keeping Vandorens in the little individual plastic "case" that they each come in?
Hey, thanks Danny. I don't mind the case. As long as I can keep track of individual reeds, I'm fine with them. I use the Protec largely for convenience and keeping them numbered for rotation.
As your embouchure develops (shape and muscle strength) and your voicing is refined, you'll find more (if not most) of the reeds in a box will play reasonably well. Don't let my sarcasm discourage you, keep at it.
What case do you like for soprano reeds? ProTec makes a clarinet reed case, but don't ever say it's good for soprano sax reeds (probably too narrow). The next best I can find is a Vandoren soprano sax/clarinet reed case that holds only eight. I'm currently using the method used by Derek (Sax Spy)... Witz case and a Listerine moistened sponge, but am thinking of trying your method (if I dare in the dry of Minnesota winters).
Huh, I'm not sure. Don't judge me, but I use so few soprano reeds (they seem to last much longer), I just keep them in the box (in the plastic Vandoren holder thingies). If you find a better option than the Vandoren, please do let me know!
I soak my reeds in water prior to playing (instead of my mouth), then rinse them well in water after playing, and let them dry fully. I find they last much longer. I suspect the enzymes in saliva cause deterioration in the reed.
@@drwallysax Compare notes? You might be the one who is disappointed. My sax blowing started less that a year ago and I've never seen a teacher because of lockdowns. My only claim to experience is watching a lot of sax related videos, plus occasional use of my reed geek. It certainly looks like good practice to use the reed geek first thing on opening up a new reed. I've heard a suggestion the reed geek can be used every day. My playing doesn't exceed a couple of hours a day so I'm not convinced I need to use it that much. I am now converted by your video above to rotating my reeds and letting them dry out. I'm planning a 3 reed, 3 day rotation to keep reed numbers down - I want to set up separate rotations of 'classical' and 'jazz' reeds. My gut feeling is to use the reed geek after a reed has been played 3 times, or at most 4 times. To keep the process simple I'm planning to number the reeds with a marker pen, then leave a slip of paper in my reed case showing the current rotation number and use the reed geek on each reed every third rotation. So that's the plan while waiting for your video on how it should be done. And many thanks for this Good Reeds video, I have great hopes that my day to day playing will now be a lot more consistent.
ive been playing sax for 40 years i play meyer 5 with a rico royal 2.5 do u think its to soft ? and wanna play altisamo likr sanborne do i have to play a metal mouthpeice?
Mouthpiece material doesn’t make altissimo easier, but the baffle does! Consequently, many metal pieces have a more aggressive baffle. Harder reeds will make altissimo easier- but it’s a balancing game. Voicing exercises, like overtones, will trump any equipment issue. Great question!
Tommy, I'm kind of in 'your wheelhouse' with that issue. Been playin' pro 50 yrs. I'm using a Meyer 9 with a #3 VD Java red Reed with my tenor. I was using a 5 Meyer for about 40 yrs., and it was becoming so it was too closed in the tip. Switching to a 9made a big difference. More power and control / flexibility. When I was playing alto and mimicking Sanborne style I used a rubber Beechler 8. Found that rubber/metal aren't key factors as much as facing, baffle, rails, etc. I'm beginning to think there's something changed in grading of cane with some manufacturers. The Java's seemed to play right out of the box,... almost. I could get up to 3gigs before they were blown out. Now I can't even get them to last over an hour.
So how long am I supposed to do the 1st day 1 min 2nd day 2 min thing? How am I supposed to know when the reed is broken in and I can actually get a full session of playing on it? (practice session being like an hour or so)
After the 5th day, the reeds are good for an hour session. Then rotate, and you'll hopefully be happily surprised with how long they last. happy practicing!
I do what is recomended here and cane reeds are very unreliable for me. The tips break and the backs warp. The back always warps after I soak them in water for a short time. Even if I lightly go over the back with a reed geed they will warp. I store them properly as well. Low humidity in my house 16% today. I also polish the reeds with paper to seal the pores. Does not matter what brand either. I am currently playing synthetic reeds for now. Another video I watched said that if the humidity is below 30% your reeds will act up. I also live at high altitude as well.
While I agree with you that you shouldn't keep your reeds soaking in some kind of liquid, I think it would be good to keep them in one of the rico humidipack cases in the winter to keep them stable. What are your thoughts on this?
Hey David! Honestly, I prefer my reeds to dry out completely. I haven't noticed a huge difference in the lifespan of my reeds in Arizona (about the driest place on earth many months) and here in NC (humid beyond belief). BUT, some really smart people disagree with me! Reeds are a funny thing, gotta do what works for you!
It's certainly frustrating. The honest answer: There's no one "right" way. You have to pick a teacher you like and trust. Give whoever you choose enough time to adapt their method and teaching. Make sure the "teacher" actually has experience teaching (what a concept) and you like their playing. Past that, relax, pick a method and go practice!
Here comes THE Question: No two cane reeds are exactly the same. There’s always one that feels best. I find it extremely difficult to choose nr. 2 out of the reedbox just for the sake of rotation… it’s hard enough to play as it is… Any comments on my opinion? ( Dr. Wally?)
If you don’t share reeds, I see no reason to “sanitize” them. Aside from mold/fungal growth (which I never experience, letting my reeds dry out), there’s really no need. I recently interviewed an infectious disease doctor (retired, now a saxophonist) for the podcast, he confirmed you can’t reinfect yourself (you build antibodies) from reeds. So unless you’re keeping them wet and growing mold, the pros I know (and physicians) don’t worry about reed sanitation. I’ll put a link when the podcast episodes posts. Dr. Ward Robinson is a super smarty pants, I think you’ll dig him.
Each time you finish playing a reed, do you need to rinse it off and DRY it with a cloth before you put it in the case? That’s what I do, but playing 10 reeds for 1 to 5 minutes each requires a lot of rinsing a drying!
@@drwallysax I played on Vandoren reeds - traditional and green java reed, and sound of legere signature reed was big improvement on sound and technic for me.
Hi my name is Tim and I'm a garbage player. But thats Mr. Garbage to you sir. 😁. Ive never heard of this either I just wet it and go for it. Kind of like my ole lady. lol
Your precious french reeds deserve better than putting them into tap water, which may even contain chlorine or whatever. Always have a can of Perrier handy and even crus bourgeois horns of asian origin will sound as if they had french genes when bathing your reeds in it. Take my word for it! 👨🍳
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
"Don't be stupid, it's just water."
You are the best!
Thanks, Skyler! Hope you have a great weekend my friend!
killed me
OK, as an older beginner, who has been playing for a couple of years now, the whole reed thing was perhaps the biggest obstacle to progress. This video has made a HUGE difference. Thanks, Dr. Wally. Please keep the no-nonsense advice coming!
Will do! Happy practicing William!
As an older beginner, how many reeds do you break in each time?
I cannot for the life of me get this video out of my head. I had played Legere reeds for years simply because I couldn't be bothered and also because some of my horns (looking at my bari sax) isn't practiced nearly as much as my other instruments. However, recently I've come to realize that for whatever reason condensation seems to collect more on my Legere reeds than on cane so I have switched back on alto. But here is the thing -- every time I unwrap a Vandoren I am strangely compelled to welcome it to the states. Dr. Wallace must double as a hypnotist.
Hypnotism was my doctoral minor.....or was it? Staaaaare at the watch.......
Warm up your Legere reed and mouthpiece (eg in a pocket) before playing and they don't gather as much condensation.
I bought a Légère for my tenor after watching your video on the yogourt subject but did not experience it until I couldn't find where I put my reed case of wood reeds. I keep the Légère it in its original pack and after playing it I rinse it with tap water and dip it into ethanol (found at liquor store) for a few seconds and store it back in it original case... boy they do last! I love the sound of them..
Starting saxophone I remembered thinking "I don't want to learn about--or mess with--reeds, I will just use synthetics". Has worked out just fine, some of the best advice I've ever given myself lol.
I do everything you do, so glad to see someone else finally saying the benefits of letting reeds dry out fully! I play clarinet, not saxophone, but this is all 100% true for us too. My reeds last 3-4 months before I notice them getting softer while my colleagues in college have about... 2-3 days? They all have the fancy cases; I just leave them on my desk drawer and take them to school in - you guessed it - a normal reed case.
Thank you for this, geeez!! This is the most straightforward no BS reed break in video. Thank you, from this saxophone noobie drummer.
The moist reed encourages growth of bacteria and fungus that is unseen and breaks down the fiber. Thus, dry out the reed. I wash off the reed to remove a lot of the saliva before storage. Saliva contains digestive enzymes that slowly destroy the reed. I really enjoyed your comments also.
I got off that merry-go-round a few years ago: first with Fibracell; then with Legere signatures. Now I'm enjoying all three of my saxes (soprano, alto and tenor) with Harry Hartmann Carbon Onyx reeds. Just slap one of these black beauties on, tighten up the ligature and enjoy making beautiful, consistent (3+ octave on the alto and tenor) sounds on each without a second thought or frustration. Yes, I remember doing all that stuff, but in my retirement years I want to enjoy life and enjoy playing. I'll let others play carpenter. BTW - really enjoy your videos Doc!
How is the sound on the Onyx compared to the legere Signatures? I really like the Signatures, but they aren't perfect. I have a newer mouthpiece that just is of with synthetics. BTW: I'm looking forward to the Vandoren synthetics, though.
@@Eniral441 the Carbon Onyx sound a bit richer than the Signatures, which I find to be too bright, especially when using higher baffle mouthpieces. Harry Hartmann also now makes the Copper Carbon Classic, which produces a bit darker tone than the Carbon Onyx. I recently tried their Hemp and did not like it. Not as consistent throughout the entire range. I also recently discovered VENN by D'Addario and they compete well with both the Carbon Onyx and Copper Caron Classics, plus they look like regular reeds. Competition seems to be helping grow the synthetic market, which is a good thing. Maybe it will bring prices down, too. Just enjoying the fact of not fussing with reeds anymore. Now, it's just seeing if anybody does it better.
This guy is the best 😂
Awwwwwwww
Greatest teacher on the planet for us old duffers or, the new wunderkinder in 7th grade. I even got out my ancient W. Ferling studies book. Whatever Dr. Wally says I will do.The Reed Death with Ginsu knife I want as a Tee-shirt.
I was fortunate to meet a guy that was a concert saxophonist who studied under Eugene Rousseau. We had a wonderful conversation about reeds and mouthpieces and the wonders of the world...
He set me out a list of things to do to prepare my reeds that is very similar to the steps you just explained but there are quite a few differences. Doing this allows my reeds to last for a long time and actually saves money as I am not out buying reeds with my paychecks every week. Bottom line is however you condition your reeds, as long as you take the time to do this, you can make your reeds last more than just one performance.
I find myself laughing out loud from time to time during your fine videos! Great comedic timing, and super solid advice and information. Grateful for your help!
Bill that made my morning, thanks my friend. Have a great weekend and happy practicing!
I use the reed geek. It’s a big improvement 👍🏻
I fill an old vitamin jar having a tight-fitting screw on lid with water and 3-4 drops of concentrated peppermint oil. Peppermint is anti-microbial and naturally germicidal. I soak the reed a minute in this before playing (so the reed smells good initially while also getting moist --instead of wetting it in my mouth). I put them in the jar for a couple minutes after playing, shaking it up a bit so the water rinses the mouth junk off the reeds. I wipe the excess moisture off with a small towel or napkin and let them dry before putting them in their flat case. (But if I'm on a gig and don't have time to let them dry, I don't have to worry about sugars and enzymes eating those reeds, sugars making food for spores, nor any spores making headway with the peppermint guard.) When I pull out the reed again, it's fresh smelling and naturally sanitized. I'd like to think also the small trace of oil in the water may lightly fill the fiber pores and prevent saliva from entering the reed fibers; but a scientist could do tests on that hypothesis.
In addition to balancing and light sanding I do when I first get my reeds (so they are smooth like glass), I press the reeds against plate glass with the flat back of a spoon in order to close the pores.
Brushing your teeth every time before you play goes a long way in keeping reeds from skank and digestion, as well.
With these measures I have reeds for months!
Dr Wally ... does it again !!!
I got nothin' else to do!
I am very guilty of playing a Reed too long. And you are absolutely correct when that one goes south the new Reed feels impossible I will be implementing your reed management strategy from now on.
me too 😭 the only reason i'm here is bc my favourite reed of 8 months (yes 8) just broke and i need to learn how to rotate and break them in
Great informative video. I've still got plenty of students who do the "open a reed, and play it whether it plays or not" method that I'm BEGGING to start breaking in reeds and at the very least have a cheap reed guard where they can keep 4 reeds in rotation. And one kid I'm just trying to get j to even take the reed OFF the mouthpiece when he puts the horn away. I go a bit overkill and have a 20 reed case. I do a breaking in marathon once a year or so and fill in the vacant slots of reeds that have had to be put to pasture.I also have two preferred reed makes that I like depending on my day/mood, so my case has one carriage full of ten of one reed, and another full of the other make of reeds.
Reeds are one thing I never gave any thought other than determining hardness. I always played Rico orange box and just used one until it died and then grabbed the next. I stored them in the little plastic cases they come in out of the box. This is a whole new approach for me. I am curious though, as a home hobbyist for the most part, 10 reeds sounds like a lot to manage especially as an alto and tenor player. I was thinking of 3 to 5 depending on some of the smaller packages available on the market. I will probably stay with Rico orange for a while until I feel I have this process down, especially because I’d like to learn how to make adjustments as well. Maybe I’ll introduce other brands into the rotation once I feel that I’ll really appreciate the differences. I consider myself at the intermediate level.
Great advice Doc., I spent some time with a Fred Hempke protege' who taught @ private university music conservatory. I was his tech.,...but we also performed together. He played Carnegie, and took 1st in intnl. Comp. one yr. He had a reed idea that was interesting, that I copied. He had a piece of plate glass and placed the reeds on it with rubber bands to keep' em' flat. Being that I travel all over the country to play, I wasn't crazy about putting glass in my case.I also didn't like messing with alot of rubber bands. What I wound up with was a piece of plexiglass and an elastic band. Safer, less mess, let's them dry and vent. It also keeps the inside of my case from looking like I had a car accident on the way home from Office depot.
I used to let my reeds dry out completely too. But i found no matter what I did, they would eventually warp. So i started using Rico 4-reed thing. But as i played more each day. They started to mold, even without the case. So, I started placing them in Peroxyde mouthwash after playing but only for a minute or 2. I wrote them off and put them in the case. I flatten the table of each one with a combination of areed geek and just rubbing them on a flat tile or glass. I do soak them and break them in similarly to what you said. Unfortunately, I'm the worst at rotating them though. So, I'm going to start using a time. I've only done 4-5 reeds at a time though. Looking forward to your red case video.
Hi there I liked the talk on reed conditioning and storage. I kept mine in the Reed Juvinate and they turned to c__p. I now let them to dry out and store them in a dry reed case. Protec cases are not sold in South Africa so I have to settle for a Rico reed case which is fine. Thanx
I use Vandorens so on the very first play I will not soak them in water because of the packaging, they have not dried out. I will, after that, soak them and rub the vamp with my thumb on a flat surface. I let them dry in between plays on a flat surface held in place with a rubber band so that they stay flat.
My playing time is exponential : 1 minute -2-4-8-16-32 minutes...
On the first play (1 minute), I will stay within G first octave and G second octave. No tonguing, no louder than piano.
On the second play (2 minutes), low D to second octave C, still no tonguing, mezzo piano.
On the third play (4 minutes), low Bb to high F, light tonguing, mezzo forte.
On the fourth play (8 minutes), still low Bb to high F, but "normal" playing (articulations and nuances).
On the fifth play (16 minutes), same as above, up to altissimo A
On the sixth play (32 minutes), same as above, up to limit of altissimo.
When they are ready to be used in rotation, I store them in an old Vandoren reed case with a Listerine soaked sponge.
Wonderful arguments for synthetic reeds. If only I could stand the experience more than a couple of times per season of needing to play one.
Do you have a video on working on your reeds? For example: Reed knives, files, etc.?
Hey Evan, honestly, I don't work on reeds! Conditioning and rotation gets me enough great reeds I don't have to worry about it. BUT - honestly, that may be partially due to me developing my embouchure for the past 30+ years. I'm not super fussy about reeds anymore (and I find my older colleagues are the same). Great question - happy practicing!
Excellent advice, Wally! I am switching back to cane after extensive trials (and MUCH money spent) of many different synthetics. As you said, the conditioning process really IS a game-changer. I have only discovered a couple duds in my recent purchase of a box of Select Jazz filed 3Ss. I'll also be trying Rigotti (both their Jazz Gold and their Queen varieties) and Hemke, and will definitely employ this method and will expect similar great results. I also use the ProTec reed cases, though I also use the old stand-by Rico reed guard. I don't see myself getting a Reed Geek tool, however... Thank you again for creating and uploading incredibly helpful content.
How's the Rigotti been? Never tried them!
Great tips!
I’ve used the humidity controlled environment for years and I have no complaints, but I am will ing to try the drying out method. We will see!
Let me know what you think - I'm never going back to humidity!
@@drwallysax
On another topic, are you still doing the podcast?
excellent video fun and full of good advice.
Thats kind, thanks James!
As a professional beginner of about 2 years experience, I can't get a sound out of a cane reed at all. I've been using a Legere classic which I love, so I can't wait for your opinion.
I am genuinely one of life's garbage players, and I will continue to do that to the best of my ability.
I use the D'addario humidipak but I live in AZ where dry really means dry. I find that the reeds are 2x4 like if I don't until they get moist and I like to take them out and be able to play within a minute or two.
Brian Billings I spent a few years in Tucson and Sierra Vista (Army Band), I feel ya! Back then I kept a bottle of water/cup nearby. Also had to rethink ligature for a better seal as they would dry out and warp so quickly! Then the monsoon season would hit....😩
@@drwallysax Tucson has a wonderful music scene. I use the vandoren glass plate to check and flatten the reeds as necessary though I probably play on suboptimal reeds most of the time. :)
Sorry for the delayed response, just saw yours.
Dr. Wally, first of all, congratulations for the amazing work you are doing here. I'm having trouble with mold at the very bottom part of my reeds. I have been using a Reed case for several years and have been doing rotation, probably not as often, but still... I live in a small island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, so humidity here is constantly above 95%.
What advise can you give me to solve this problem?
Whish you all the best!
You are, obviously, a maestro. Most others advocate sealing the pores by sanding or at least, buffing with paper. Feel free to respond, or not! :>)
Dude this is great. Way to add some humor and very good info. How do you feel about keeping Vandorens in the little individual plastic "case" that they each come in?
Hey, thanks Danny. I don't mind the case. As long as I can keep track of individual reeds, I'm fine with them. I use the Protec largely for convenience and keeping them numbered for rotation.
I think I might be a "garbage player."
As your embouchure develops (shape and muscle strength) and your voicing is refined, you'll find more (if not most) of the reeds in a box will play reasonably well. Don't let my sarcasm discourage you, keep at it.
Saxophone Academy hahaha
This dude is awesome 👏
This dude thanks you. You're awesome, MemesOverAll!
Saxophone Academy Haha keep up the great content!👍
What happened to that future episode about reed adjustment?
Always wash them off after played, use peroxide and water. Store on flat surface or table of mouthpiece about 1/8 “ from tip.
What case do you like for soprano reeds? ProTec makes a clarinet reed case, but don't ever say it's good for soprano sax reeds (probably too narrow). The next best I can find is a Vandoren soprano sax/clarinet reed case that holds only eight.
I'm currently using the method used by Derek (Sax Spy)... Witz case and a Listerine moistened sponge, but am thinking of trying your method (if I dare in the dry of Minnesota winters).
Huh, I'm not sure. Don't judge me, but I use so few soprano reeds (they seem to last much longer), I just keep them in the box (in the plastic Vandoren holder thingies). If you find a better option than the Vandoren, please do let me know!
this is good
On days 2 - 5, do I start in a glass of water for a couple of minutes or is wetting with the mouth enough?
I soak my reeds in water prior to playing (instead of my mouth), then rinse them well in water after playing, and let them dry fully. I find they last much longer. I suspect the enzymes in saliva cause deterioration in the reed.
Follow on from your recent comment that you love the reed geek Dr W, at what stage of the conditioning process would you recommend using it?
GREAT question Steve! And I'm going to completely disappoint you by answering: I'm not sure! I'm still experimenting. Can we compare notes?
@@drwallysax Compare notes? You might be the one who is disappointed.
My sax blowing started less that a year ago and I've never seen a teacher because of lockdowns. My only claim to experience is watching a lot of sax related videos, plus occasional use of my reed geek.
It certainly looks like good practice to use the reed geek first thing on opening up a new reed.
I've heard a suggestion the reed geek can be used every day. My playing doesn't exceed a couple of hours a day so I'm not convinced I need to use it that much.
I am now converted by your video above to rotating my reeds and letting them dry out. I'm planning a 3 reed, 3 day rotation to keep reed numbers down - I want to set up separate rotations of 'classical' and 'jazz' reeds.
My gut feeling is to use the reed geek after a reed has been played 3 times, or at most 4 times. To keep the process simple I'm planning to number the reeds with a marker pen, then leave a slip of paper in my reed case showing the current rotation number and use the reed geek on each reed every third rotation.
So that's the plan while waiting for your video on how it should be done.
And many thanks for this Good Reeds video, I have great hopes that my day to day playing will now be a lot more consistent.
ive been playing sax for 40 years i play meyer 5 with a rico royal 2.5 do u think its to soft ? and wanna play altisamo likr sanborne do i have to play a metal mouthpeice?
Mouthpiece material doesn’t make altissimo easier, but the baffle does! Consequently, many metal pieces have a more aggressive baffle. Harder reeds will make altissimo easier- but it’s a balancing game. Voicing exercises, like overtones, will trump any equipment issue. Great question!
Tommy, I'm kind of in 'your wheelhouse' with that issue. Been playin' pro 50 yrs. I'm using a Meyer 9 with a #3 VD Java red Reed with my tenor. I was using a 5 Meyer for about 40 yrs., and it was becoming so it was too closed in the tip. Switching to a 9made a big difference. More power and control / flexibility. When I was playing alto and mimicking Sanborne style I used a rubber Beechler 8. Found that rubber/metal aren't key factors as much as facing, baffle, rails, etc. I'm beginning to think there's something changed in grading of cane with some manufacturers. The Java's seemed to play right out of the box,... almost. I could get up to 3gigs before they were blown out. Now I can't even get them to last over an hour.
So how long am I supposed to do the 1st day 1 min 2nd day 2 min thing? How am I supposed to know when the reed is broken in and I can actually get a full session of playing on it? (practice session being like an hour or so)
After the 5th day, the reeds are good for an hour session. Then rotate, and you'll hopefully be happily surprised with how long they last. happy practicing!
@@drwallysax oh cool cause I'm on my 9th day and they seemed pretty solid, thanks
I do what is recomended here and cane reeds are very unreliable for me. The tips break and the backs warp. The back always warps after I soak them in water for a short time. Even if I lightly go over the back with a reed geed they will warp. I store them properly as well. Low humidity in my house 16% today. I also polish the reeds with paper to seal the pores. Does not matter what brand either. I am currently playing synthetic reeds for now. Another video I watched said that if the humidity is below 30% your reeds will act up. I also live at high altitude as well.
My Protec case is weird. The slots are slightly too narrow. So, sometimes it damages the reeds when I try to slide them in or out :/
While I agree with you that you shouldn't keep your reeds soaking in some kind of liquid, I think it would be good to keep them in one of the rico humidipack cases in the winter to keep them stable. What are your thoughts on this?
Hey David! Honestly, I prefer my reeds to dry out completely. I haven't noticed a huge difference in the lifespan of my reeds in Arizona (about the driest place on earth many months) and here in NC (humid beyond belief). BUT, some really smart people disagree with me! Reeds are a funny thing, gotta do what works for you!
Hi Dr. Wally, do you immediately put the reeds in a protec case after playing or do you let them dry outside first?
The case I use (protect) is not airtight, so I pop them in right away!
@@drwallysax Thank you, perfect timing to answer as i bought the case today ❤️
About how long will a box of 10 Vandoren reeds last if I play for 2-3 hours a day and follow your tutorial closely?
Is it okay to store it in a zip lock bag
I go to You Tube and I find so many people saying different things. How can I be able to find the right video? What, or who do I actually follow?
It's certainly frustrating. The honest answer: There's no one "right" way. You have to pick a teacher you like and trust. Give whoever you choose enough time to adapt their method and teaching. Make sure the "teacher" actually has experience teaching (what a concept) and you like their playing. Past that, relax, pick a method and go practice!
Here comes THE Question: No two cane reeds are exactly the same. There’s always one that feels best. I find it extremely difficult to choose nr. 2 out of the reedbox just for the sake of rotation… it’s hard enough to play as it is… Any comments on my opinion? ( Dr. Wally?)
I’m gonna test this with 3 reeds and compare my recorded tapes,
Can I store reeds in refrigerator?
Who am I to judge?! Go for it!
@@drwallysax 🤣🤣
Great presentation but...you could have touched upon reed hygiene and Sanitation.
If you don’t share reeds, I see no reason to “sanitize” them. Aside from mold/fungal growth (which I never experience, letting my reeds dry out), there’s really no need. I recently interviewed an infectious disease doctor (retired, now a saxophonist) for the podcast, he confirmed you can’t reinfect yourself (you build antibodies) from reeds. So unless you’re keeping them wet and growing mold, the pros I know (and physicians) don’t worry about reed sanitation. I’ll put a link when the podcast episodes posts. Dr. Ward Robinson is a super smarty pants, I think you’ll dig him.
Each time you finish playing a reed, do you need to rinse it off and DRY it with a cloth before you put it in the case? That’s what I do, but playing 10 reeds for 1 to 5 minutes each requires a lot of rinsing a drying!
Honestly, I don't. I imagine they would last longer, but time is short, and there's so much good stuff on Netflix :)
@@drwallysax Thanks, Dr. Wally. If you don’t bother, neither will I. (but I’d rather practice sax than watch Netflix……)
I bought and try today sintetic reed, and it sounded better to me than my cane reed. So I don't have this problem and it will last much longer.
Legere is sending me a big bunch of their reeds to try, I'm looking forward to it - will be posting a review soon!
@@drwallysax I played on Vandoren reeds - traditional and green java reed, and sound of legere signature reed was big improvement on sound and technic for me.
“Chances are, you’re a garbage player” 😂😂
I soak mine in everclear
imagine having bad reeds- Boston sax shop gang
I do love them, but I found a stinker in the box this morning.
It sometimes does feel like a 2'' by 4''...
A common sense video..and funny with it !…
💥💥💥🎷💥💥💥👍🐻👍
There's a lot of sales talk going on....
Did you get the impression I was selling something?
@@drwallysax I'm sorry, no not at all...I meant to say that I agree with you!
@@lejazz6938 Ah gotcha! I hate the snake oil stuff regarding reeds as well! Happy Wednesday, LeJazz!
Hi my name is Tim and I'm a garbage player. But thats Mr. Garbage to you sir. 😁. Ive never heard of this either I just wet it and go for it. Kind of like my ole lady. lol
J
Damn condition 10 reeds at once. That’s like 70$
I usually buy a box of ten for around $35? What brand are you using?
Your precious french reeds deserve better than putting them into tap water, which may even contain chlorine or whatever. Always have a can of Perrier handy and even crus bourgeois horns of asian origin will sound as if they had french genes when bathing your reeds in it. Take my word for it! 👨🍳
12 bad reeds in a pack of 10?
thats. the. joke.
@@drwallysax jokes aside I always get like 4 bad reeds and sometimes 5
Is this video a joke? Am I really supposed to be changing out my reeds every 5 minutes every day til they all run out?