How to Fix Any Reed With the ReedGeek

➡ www.thomashaehnlein.com
➡ / thomas_saxophone
Saxophone players are highly dependent on the performance of their reeds. It can be really frustrating to try to find a new reed that plays well or to discover that the reed that played great yesterday plays terrible today. In this video I show you how to make literally any new reed play and how to fix used reeds that don't play well anymore using the ReedGeek G4.
Link to Hanstoni Kaufmann's book "Adjusting Single Reeds": www.blattbau.ch/adjusting-sin...
#saxophone #musiceducation #saxophonereeds #reedgeek #saxophoneteacher #saxophonesound

[@ThomasHaehnlein]

Which reed brand do you find most reliable? Let us know down here in the comments!

[@bluessax5089]

Thanks man, great reed geek video!! When I get a Reed that’s too soft, I get a reed clipper and snip off just a little bit.

[@Balkanoscent]

Thank you so much for all your nice tutorials. Helps a lot !

[@ThomasHaehnlein]

Thanks for your comment Mihai, glad it helps!

[@edthesaxplayer8450]

I use vandoran 2.5 jazz reeds -I love the way they play but so frustrating when you pick up the sax next morning and it sounds like a sick goose. I have also experienced the exact opposite wheh a reed is not performing and next morning is playing beautifully. thank you for the tips I will try them out.

[@Nestor_Fernandez]

Hi Thomas, I use the reed geek as well and it is useful for me. I use González 2.5 reeds for alto sax and I am happy with them. I also have a good experience with the Vandoren jazz 2.5

[@Bwahzehdezooner]

Vandoren 2.5. I am a novice, so I think this is best for me right now. I have a Reed Geek, and it is useful.

[@DavidBrandSaxophoneAcademy]

Great Advice Thomas! I mainly play classical/contemporary saxophone; for me, vandoren classic edition is always fine. Years ago I played a brand called "marker" and "hemke" but I think they are not available anymore... Beste Grüße 🎷David

[@ThomasHaehnlein]

Hey David, thanks for your comment! Ah yes I remember Marker, I played them occasionally too :) Hemke I also played for a while.

[@JayCee-hw4zc]

Good tips Thomas. I will certainly try them. My favourite reeds at the moment are jazz mix vandoren java red, green and zz 2.5!

[@ThomasHaehnlein]

Glad you liked the video JayCee!

[@dennis524]

Excellent video. I use a reed geek as well and I'm usually able to better the overall playability of my reeds. I go between Rigotti gold jazz reeds and Vandoren Javas. Thanks.

[@ThomasHaehnlein]

Thanks for your comment Dennis, glad you liked the video!

[@akitikallc6161]

soaking an old reed that is past its prime in Hydrogen Peroxide will often bring it back to life. When you drop it into the Hydrogen Peroxide, you will typically see bubbles. After a few minutes, pull the reed out, rinse it in clear water, and give it a try.

[@chrismills5110]

Having thought about that, I do I agree, that in producing, and particularly in slurring, Low Notes, especially on Baritone, there is a lot more smothering to be done on thicker part of vamp?

[@haraldspreng]

Hallo Thomas, vielen Dank für die guten Tipps . Hast du eine Idee, wo man das Blatt schleifen muss, wenn es einfach etwas zu schwer ( hart ) ist, aber sonst sehr gut klingt. In diesem Video hat du auf der Blattunterseite geschliffen.
Danke und Grüsse aus Heidelberg

[@ThomasHaehnlein]

Hallo Harald, ich würde auch so vorgehen wie im Video beschrieben, wenn das Blatt bereits sehr gut klingt: erstmal die Unterseite allgemein schleifen, aber falls das nicht hilft, testen, ob das tiefe, mittlere oder hohe c am meisten Widerstand haben und dann entsprechend abschleifen. Oder du probierst, das Blatt über ein paar Tage immer wieder kurz zu spielen, dann riskierst du nicht, an der falschen Stelle etwas zu verändern. Hoffe das hilft!

[@chrismills5110]

Thanks, very useful video. I use Hemke 4 reeds on Baritone and Tenor. I never soak in water, but take every precaution to keep reeds away from water. I do lots of sanding, up to 12000 Grit, and initially, I soak reeds overnight or longer in Olive Oil. Then, before each play, I use mix beeswax/mineral wax on both sides of reed, wiped away clean. In between plays, I soak reeds in 99% alcohol - 'surgical spirit' - it keeps mould away, because oil and wax will attract bacteria. Using these methods, there is never a rejected reed, and I have gotten up to 100 hours play out of one reed. I do not understand your saying high notes come off tip of reed and lower notes from further down. Pitch of notes surely comes from exiting horn, not entering horn?

[@ThomasHaehnlein]

Hey Chris, interesting concepts, thanks for sharing! About the location of high and low notes on the reed: I‘m no expert on the why, I just know that it works well that when there’s a lot of resistance in the higher notes, you can take away material at the tip of the reed to improve your reed