I had lessons 30 yrs. ago and never heard of adjusting reeds. After more than two decades of doing other things than playing alto sax I came along this video and counted all my reeds. almost fifty hidden in a shoe box. Gonna get me this tool, work on reeds and restart playing after all these yrs - thanks!
Reed Geek arrived a few days ago. I’ve only been studying clarinet for two years. I started with cane and it was a nightmare. So I changed to Legere. I loved Legere but my teachers didn’t especially in the upper register above middle G. So they have requested (strongly) that I change back to cane. I didn’t want to but why take lessons if you don’t pay attention to your teachers. I feared opening a box of cane reeds and testing them and only having one or two I could use. After watching this video (4x) and using the Reed Geek I have many good cane reeds I can play on. I’m still learning and I have some stuffy reeds that need more work and two that I’m challenged with. But having the RG and being able to make cane reeds play well across all registers is indeed a blessing!!! Thanks for making this video and for the Reed Geek!
The clarinet and saxophone section at my marching have a reed hole. It’s the hole left over from an old sign that was removed, and whenever one of us has a broken reed we put it into the reed hole and we burn it at the end of the year
Great tool! I am going to buy one tonight. I have been doing this to my reeds with three different blades for 25 years... you should have seen me going through several airports with "knives" in my sax case. Thanks for sharing
I still use my the smallest Victorinox swiss knife, been using it for many years and I own a Reed Geek, just knowing what to do with the reed is the most important thing.
A really great way to test the balance rather than just trying to feel it, is you can do a playing balance test. While the mouthpiece is in your mouth tip the instrument to the side so that your embouchure is closing off one side of the reed and play. Effectively you will be playing on just one side of the reed because you are closing off the other side with your mouth. Tip the instrument to the other side and you can compare which side of the reed feels more resistant and take off more from there.
I bought a Reed Geek several months ago (online) and had to wait quite a while for delivery. I have only been using step one and find this video extremely helpful. Thanks for this and all your videos!
Good clear video. I have a Geek and try to use it. I just fixed an old reed that I threw away. One idea for balancing the wings is that you can hold the reed with your fingers onto the MPC which is attached to the neck, blow on one side then the other listening to which side has a bigger sound. Then go back and work on the weaker side.
Man, I heard this or another video on this some time last year, and bought a reed geek off the back of it.... see what I did there? I was nervous about it at first, but quickly found what a blessing this tool is, and could not be more thankful for this video.... and my reed geek.... and the top-drawer tutorial. ⭐
@@bettersax I was skeptical, but I've ordered a Geeklet from you and am eagerly awaiting its arrival. I have a pile of reeds on my desk that don't work for me, and it's either try to fix them with the Geeklet or use them for kindling. As expensive as reeds are, if I can only get half of them to work, I've more than paid for the Geeklet.
That’s was so funny when he said, “you might have some old reeds in a box somewhere”. I could build a coliseum with my old bad reeds. Lol I use the ReedGeek and it does work. Love the way I save money.
I’ve had the reed geek for a number of years now but always just used it on the back to flatten. Only in desperate moments have I adjusted the top side for fear of overdoing it. This vid has opened my eyes and mind and greatly improved my investment in this tool. Thank you so much for the in depth look into how to use this tool.
I LOVE my Black Diamond Reed Geek! I totally agree that it we can make reeds which are initially unplayable or as I sometimes call them "kindling", good enough to practice on, and I get many more good to very good reeds per box. Between geeking my reeds and rotating them, they now last me months rather than days or weeks. A Reed Geek is a valuable investment! Although I have heard it in another of his recordings which I am not quickly finding, I am interested in learning how to improve my reeds which become stuffy in the high end (particularly above top line G) on my bari. Thanks again for sharing so much valuable info as well as your talents with us. Hugs from cold 36 degree NW Michigan.
Thanks Jay, another great video with great info. I was apprehensive in buying the Reed Geek due to the cost but I did buy it. It's amazing! Just yesterday I took a reek that was extremely stuffy - almost unplayable and now it's becoming my favorite of the reeds I'm playing on currently. Great stuff! Please keep the videos coming! Thanks again -
Just bought the G4 less than 2 weeks ago, and it's a great tool ! I have almost 2/3 of my reeds that are difficult to play, as a complete beginner it's really hard to go over that and it cost me a lot. I already saved 6 reeds that was hard to play and now they are pretty good ! Already saved money since the first day :D (I work only on the back of the reed for now and it's already good for me :))
Great video! Thanx! I have the reed geek but was a bit shy working on the top. The use of a tool to determine where the facing starts is new to me and I am excited to check this out!
I use both cane and Legere reeds depending on how lazy I feel. You can use the Reed Geek on both, as the rails on the new Legere will cut into your lower lip after just half and hour of playing. And I have fun trying different scraping and honing techniques. Maybe Jay will do another video on the different Reed Geek techniques, like the American Cut, which I prefer.
Thanks, Jay, for this great video about the Reed Geek. Each of the three techniques works as well as both of you describe! Thanks for this and all your videos!
I find that as a new player this helps a ton, because it's easy to do and I'm always nervous if my reed is bad or I'm just having a super off day or forgot something.
Great video, thanks! I hadn't had much success with the G4 until I recently simply got more agressive - working the nose and the spine, and what a difference. 3 Rigotti Gold's barely playable suddenly play beautifully. Mauro is correct - there is plenty of material to work with on many reeds.
Anyone (who can do this) can be a hero. Just find some time to help young students with this. Learning basic reed adjustments can help kids avoid bad habits (e.g. overblowing, clamping down on the reed, etc.) plus it does so much for their confidence and enjoyment of playing. A school band director just isn't going to have the time to do this, but they can facilitate pre- or post-rehearsal workshops where volunteers can help just a few kids at-a-time (esp. if they do weekend rehearsals). This isn't a subtle change to playing. Even modest reed prep and adjustment skills can yield noticeable improvement and the kids will really benefit from (and appreciate) your help.
I have a Reed Geek, but the process / tool I use is the ATG Reed Finishing system by Tom Ridenour. The Geek is good to flatten the back, but IMHO it is a clumsy tool to use for adjusting the reed vamp. The ATG system is much better, more precise and easier to use. About the same price as a Black Diamond Reed Geek 🙂. One major point, and this is true no matter how you work on reeds, is that shining light thru the reed or flexing it with your finger will not tell you anything. Instead, test by playing - twist the mouthpiece down on one side, then the other, and work on the side (“wing”) that is heavier, or duller or less responsive. I really think you ought to check out the ATG system; like you, I have no affiliation with the manufacturer, I’m just a very happy customer! FWIW, I use virtually every reed in a box...
Ridenour's ATG system is good, and as described here, and by Tom Ridenour, tooting one side of the reed then the other by turning the mouthpiece can clue you into which "ear" of the reed is more resistant and needs taking down. Ridenour includes a sanding block and advises sanding somewhat diagonally from the ears towards the vamp. I used the ATG system for some years, and it paid for itself in helping me turning many bum reeds into good players. But I finally bought a PerfectaReed gauge, which I found worked even better for me at finding and removing reed asymmetries. Especially when reeds are asymmetric at and near the base of the vamp, they must be evened out and some kind of gauge setup really does the job. And it's quite rewarding when those bum playing reeds become champs. Many of the reeds I failed at with the ATG method are yielding good service.
Play an open C# and turn the mouthpiece on the cork to see which side/rail plays more clearly. Take material off the less responsive side until the two sides are equally responsive. The Geek is probably better than the ATG system for flattening the table or taking down the spine. I am using both systems.
@@stevekeller4814 I just bought the geek Reed. First thing I found out was that none of my reeds worked properly. I got a big improvement just by flattening them but some of them squeak a lot on the upper registry... Any ideas of how to fix that?
I just got mine few days ago. I was skeptical, because none of those reed voodoo's used to work for me, but this thing, is magic. I'm in love. Just this table flattening can really make a HUGE difference. I had a ton of "dead" reeds that I was able to do some tuning and get them playable. I'm sure this will pay itself in one year.
Thanks a lot, Jay, for another great video! I use a tool by some other quite well known company, but your and your friends explanations on how to fix reeds are really, really helpful.
Jay, Nice video! Adjusting reeds is great, and everyone should do it, but you shouldn't do it on the mouthpiece. You should hold it up to the light so you can see to balance it - preferably also using a flat, stable surface to smooth the bottom like the vandoren reed resurfacer. I also close up the end and the sides of the rails by sanding them. I use a reed knife and the reed rush as well as a variety of files. I've never had a problem carrying a reed knife on an airplane because I put them in the bell of my horn! Thanks for the video! I'll add the reed geek to my reed tools!
Jay, I bought the Reed Geek G4 Black Diamond and did what you said. I love it. Along with all of the other tips I got from better sax, I am a better saxophonist
Back in yhe nineties a box of ten would typically have three green (stuffy) three dry (bright, but don't last) and two of the remaining four with uneven grain. This is the only adjust the manufacturers have made with which I'm sure you would agree. The other thing is that I would agree with your comment about the Reed Geek being "must have" equipment. Well done.!!
I have a Reed Geek that lives in my tenor case, and it is somewhat useful. My main horn is bari, and in that case I have a bassoon reed scraper (beveled reed knife) that I bought from Forrest's music in Berkeley in 1984. I sharpen it once every 5 years with a water stone and it works better than anything I have ever tried for adjusting saxophone reeds. It is easier to gouge the reed with the scraper than the Reed Geek, but in general the scraper is much more usable.
As an Old-school player, I also use a light source to see if the shave is even. You should be able to see the up-side-down "V" when viewing it. You can then adjust accordingly. You should also use this technique prior to buying your reeds. It's a great way to pick the best of the bunch.
"Too busy sawing....." That sounds like a quote from Steven Covey's book "Habits of Highly Effective People". :-) I'm using the Reed Geek, where has it been all my life?! A great tool, really works. Good how-to video.
I have it. It saves my time, money, and energy. Reeds are quite expensive. If I calculate how many bad reeds=good money I had discarted over 20 years. BUY IT, IT WORKS
Funny, I do things so differently. I keep my reeds wet in a jar with 1/4" of Listerine. Mostly I use synthetic reeds which are not adjustable. My reeds last for months and I have no complaints.
It blows my mind that I've never heard of adjusting my reed in the past 30 years and I've always wondered why I have such a hard time blowing certain notes. Now that I've adjusted my reeds it has made it so much easier to play and sounds so much better without so much effort. I think this should be one of the first thing a saxophone teacher should be teaching their students. Everything is easier when your reed is right.
I have a ReedGeek, and am very pleased with it. It is very easy to use, is extremely precise, and, best of all (?!), it's completely safe (unlike a knife, where there's always a risk of cutting myself... or cutting into and damaging the reed, for that matter). Before getting the ReedGeek, I used ultra fine sand paper, with decent results... but the Geek is better. I often think of an experience I had years ago, as a pianist accompanying a high school clarinetist. She had a really stuffy tone, and it seemed that playing really came hard for her. So I finally asked to try her clarinet, to see what was going on. When I did, I was shocked, and called out "that's not a clarinet reed, that's a popsicle stick!! How do you play this thing?!" "I don't know...!" she answered sheepishly. So I offered to bring my sandpaper etc to our next rehearsal, which I did, and got the reed at least functional. How I wish I had had the ReedGeek back then! But that experience really got me to wondering: how many young players have struggled against bad reeds, and are too naïve to recognize the problem... and their teachers are too oblivious to notice and try to help them?
Another great video Jay! I've had the black diamond for a while now but only used it a few times with varying results. This video is what I needed to get motivated to begin sharpening my saw. I will bookmark this one to come back to. THANKS!
I've solved reed 'problems' by going carbon fibre. I love the onyx. These are super responsive, great with the many overtones series, have been as consistent as imaginable from one to another, and these last like crazy. I also love that they do not benefit from soaking in water. I've never found any need to do any adjustments. That said, it'd be interesting to see what effect the techniques shown in this video have on an onyx.
I love my ReedGeek SO much, what an incredibly useful tool to perfect such an expensive aspect of our woodwind world. So my question is this: Does Mauro really suggest marking your reed with a lead pencil?
Hi Jay. I would like to thank you for your book on pentatonic patterns, I play it everyday. I am actually playing a Fibracell #3, I just cannot get a fair sound out of my instrument with normal ones, I gave up. I play with a Jody Jazz HR 6* and I just love it, maybe a little high pitched on high notes, but it can also be me, I have been playing for only 5 years now... I also tried other good mouthpieces like the Ottolink Tonemaster #8 but the sound was thin, maybe if I had stuck with it it could have worked but the Jody Jazz is so much easy and powerful that I didn´t gave it a chance. I asked a couple of teachers I had how could it be that I cannot get a good sound with a setup any different from what I have now but all answers seemed to be vage and biased. None of them liked the sound of fiber reeds and It is funny because they never took the time to really give them a try since it takes sometime to adjust. I have heard that coltrane had a bag full of mouthpieces and Brandford Marsallis sais that no matter what equipment you use, you may find a slight difference at the beggining but you will end up returning to YOUR sound wich by the way was true for Charlie Parker even when he played with pastic saxophones... If you have any clues on why this is happening , please let me know, I have been playing for over two hours for the past three years and everytime time I go back to nomal reeds, carefully picked up and sometimes even sanded, I get a lot of frustration. Please also take into consideration giving a test to Fibracells and sticking to them for a couple of weeks, I would really appreciate your feedback since they are becoming increasingly more popular. Thank you also for your reviews, I can´t live without the sax deflector now! ;-))
Mario, the reedgeek is the thing that got me back into cane reeds. It makes a world of difference. It can also be used to adjust the synthetic reeds. I recommend practicing on lots of old cane reeds first though. I'll try to get some fibracells to try as well.
as far as your sound is concerned, you need to be comfortable with your setup. Sometimes changing reed strength or brand of reed when you go to another mouthpiece will make a big difference.
I don't play a sax, never watched a sax video and never searched for anything sax related and got this recommended. And I enjoyed it haha. Maybe they show some random things they think you will like every once in a while.
Wow I definitely need one of those ReedGeek! It's amazing every video I watch I learn something new ! By the way I love your neck strap where did you get it?
I also changed to synthetic just because they are really easy to play. I like Fibracell better though, Legere's seem to bend slightly over time since they are made out of plastic. Fibracell's don't, they last forever and the sound is similar or better... It takes some time to get used, you may find the sound different at the beginning but it will be the same you had if you give it some time, maybe a couple of weeks
Thierry, Mauro also showed me how to adjust the Legere reeds with the ReedGeek. I'll be sharing that footage when I make my Legere video. They sent me a bunch of reeds I'll be playing on in the meantime.
@@jazzman_10 I use Legere Signature reeds too, mine have never bent but I found with 2 of the ones I used, after a month of playing with them, they started to split vertically down from the tip one side, so far my current one hasn't but I think it might. May be the strength I am using as I normally play on a 2 1/4 and I have 2, 2 1/2 reeds and the 2 1/2 are a little harder and don't feel as thin at the tip as the 2 1/4 and I haven't had the splitting issues with those. Might try some Fibracell reeds as I have wanted to try a different type of synthetic reed.
Hmm....I think the most interesting and original part of this is the actual tool. The concepts of flattening/smoothing the back, balancing the rails/tip and smoothing/thinning the spine for better low tone response is something that is dealt with an a chapter of the Larry Teal book "The Art of Saxophone Playing" first published in 1963 and still in print. I've been using his suggestions since the mid-1970s. I use a piece of plate glass and wet or dry sandpaper in 400 and 600 grit. The plate glass allows for a perfectly flat surface. You sand the back of the reed with first the 400, then the 600 grit. I go one more step and let the reed dry slightly, then burnish it on a piece of plain computer paper. It seals and flattens the fibers so well that the back of the reed actually has a bit of a sheen to it. Following Dr. Teal's suggestion of putting the back of the slightly damp reed on the plate glass, I can look through the glass at the underneath side of the reed and see if the reed is perfectly flat. If it isn't flat, you'll see relatively large air bubbles, so you need to do some more sanding. For work on the top side I use dutch rush. This is literally rush, like grows in a swamp. It has very abrasive spines that allow you to take very fine amounts of wood fiber off the reed rails (available on Amazon or WWBW.com). I also use this or a sharp pocket knife to gently scrape the spine right where the vamp starts to improve low end response. The tool demonstrated in the video looks very interesting, but I've always had really good luck with Dr. Teal's methods. I rarely even attempt to play a reed right out of the box without at least going through the sanding process first.
@@paulfer57 Actually, I did. I bought one for my soprano and one for my alto. I absolutely love it on the soprano (never thought I'd say that about a plastic reed) but not so much on the alto. I've tried it on five different mouthpieces and found it unusable.
@@johnwhitehead3685 what reed are you using on the Alto Id love to try it. Maybe it wasn't a signature series and while I don't know personally I've heard that there is a difference.
John , Agree this process is not a new idea..I been using this concept since 1965. I feel the woodwind teachers of today, don't take the time to show young players this art.
I'm using vandoren Reed hydro case and do not travel. I've used the Reed geek for days and it's awesome. Question do I really need to do back of Reed each time I play?
In Winstrup Olesen's Saxophon skole you can see his drawing of the perfect reed. And if you shape your reeds this way you'll get the best reed you can have.
Great important info, thanks a lot. But Jay, I want to know, what if you don't have a reed geek and you want to play your saxophone, what other ways can I adjust the flexibility of my reeds?
Actually, razor blades are not completely flat and too light to effectively flatten the reed properly. Not only being a bit dangerous, but the razor blade will skip and chatter through the stroke often making the reed table problem worse.
Can you make a reed make a little bit softer than the original one? So let's say if you are balancing between a 3 and 3,5, you buy a 3,5 which might be a little bit too hard but will become perfectly playable with the adjustments of the reedgeek?
I have a Reed Geek and now I know how to properly use it. I gave your recommendations a try and yes a reed which would not cooperate on a mpc which is reed fussy now works great. Thanks. A side note, I noticed that you have a Klangbogen on your Alto. Does it noticeably improve your sound? I bought one for Tenor and honestly could tell no difference. But then put it on my Alto (both MVI) and there was to me a noticeable improvement in LH Octave notes. Was it me or was it the product, I don't know? But I like it, it looks cool and other sax guys saw it and had to have one.
Just got the Universal RG for Xmas. Already improved one old crappy reed! Question: is it better to work on the reed while it’s dry? Or go ahead and wet it first, then make your adjustments? I’m guessing wet it first so that the fibers are swelled with moisture, which is how you’re gonna be playing it anyway? Thanks Jay!
Hi Jay, I got a Reedgeek - Black Diamond. Watching videos and learning how to use it. So far, all my reeds are now playable. All I really have one is flatten the back. I did try to do more on one, and think I've ruined it, but it still plays somewhat. I have a question. I have both 2.5 and 3 Java reeds, and can play them all now. But, I'm finding the 3's play a bit sharp, same solid embouchure. Do harder reeds play sharper? Is pulling the mp out a bit, the right thing to do? It seems to work.
BEFORE I START REMOVING material from top of reed, I look at reed over a light to see which side has more material. I do not suggest using anything, whether it is this Reed Geek, or sand paper, or knifes, on a reed while mounted on the mouthpiece. You may slip and damage the MP rails or tip. Take the reed out and put it on a plaque, or get a 1/4 or 3/16 narrow (width of reed) glass and do it there. It is better that the reed is against something solid instead of holding it in the hand. My reason is that your hand can't hold the reed horizontally straight, sot that instead of removing reed material flatly you may remove it with a concave motion. Use a plaque or suggested piece of narrow flat glass.
Hey so two big questions: 1. How helpful and how hard is it to adjust synthetic Reeds? I play on both so I'm curious as to how different they are. 2. How long can I expect 1 black diamond reed geek to last? I see no warranty on website, maybe I'm not looking in the right spots but I'd like to know how long I can expect the tool to last since I'll use it on both clarinet and saxophone
Hey I’ve had my first reed geek for over 5 years now and it’s still like day 1. I’ve never heard anyone say it went dull or rusted etc. I don’t play synthetic enough to give a good answer to your first question.
Know how many sax players it takes to change a light bulb? Just one, but he has to go through a whole box of bulbs...
😂
Lmao 😆
Not anymore?
Allright: wow! I never imagined such easy adjustments would make such a difference! No more bad reeds!
I had lessons 30 yrs. ago and never heard of adjusting reeds. After more than two decades of doing other things than playing alto sax I came along this video and counted all my reeds. almost fifty hidden in a shoe box. Gonna get me this tool, work on reeds and restart playing after all these yrs - thanks!
Reed Geek arrived a few days ago. I’ve only been studying clarinet for two years. I started with cane and it was a nightmare. So I changed to Legere. I loved Legere but my teachers didn’t especially in the upper register above middle G. So they have requested (strongly) that I change back to cane. I didn’t want to but why take lessons if you don’t pay attention to your teachers. I feared opening a box of cane reeds and testing them and only having one or two I could use. After watching this video (4x) and using the Reed Geek I have many good cane reeds I can play on. I’m still learning and I have some stuffy reeds that need more work and two that I’m challenged with. But having the RG and being able to make cane reeds play well across all registers is indeed a blessing!!! Thanks for making this video and for the Reed Geek!
The clarinet and saxophone section at my marching have a reed hole. It’s the hole left over from an old sign that was removed, and whenever one of us has a broken reed we put it into the reed hole and we burn it at the end of the year
What school
My school’s saxophone and partly clarinet section have unofficial reed funeral holes that we put good reeds that no longer work in.
@AJ Hauter This is a creepy statement
Great tool! I am going to buy one tonight. I have been doing this to my reeds with three different blades for 25 years... you should have seen me going through several airports with "knives" in my sax case. Thanks for sharing
haha, this passes through security no problem.
I've been doing this for 60 years with a scalpel blade. Who needs a Reedgeek?
You could get a lathe tool bit for like 10 bucks that does exactly what the reedgeek does
You won't ever risk cutting yourself with a ReedGeek... and you can get it past airport security with no problems!
I still use my the smallest Victorinox swiss knife, been using it for many years and I own a Reed Geek, just knowing what to do with the reed is the most important thing.
Me too, a Stanley knife blade works for me.
I use a single edge razor blade. But _not_ with the reed on the mouthpiece! You can also flatten a reed with sandpaper on flat glass. Easy does it.
A really great way to test the balance rather than just trying to feel it, is you can do a playing balance test. While the mouthpiece is in your mouth tip the instrument to the side so that your embouchure is closing off one side of the reed and play. Effectively you will be playing on just one side of the reed because you are closing off the other side with your mouth. Tip the instrument to the other side and you can compare which side of the reed feels more resistant and take off more from there.
Wish I was taught this back in school. Always felt like I was fighting my reeds, especially for lower notes.
I bought a Reed Geek several months ago (online) and had to wait quite a while for delivery. I have only been using step one and find this video extremely helpful. Thanks for this and all your videos!
Good clear video. I have a Geek and try to use it. I just fixed an old reed that I threw away. One idea for balancing the wings is that you can hold the reed with your fingers onto the MPC which is attached to the neck, blow on one side then the other listening to which side has a bigger sound. Then go back and work on the weaker side.
I’m sure dropping them doesn’t help much
That was an attention grabber
Arthur McKelvie it’s a joke
@@perropan1249 I know that thank you
lol
Well just came across this little device. Returning Alto Sax player and I just love this little tool. Don't have one... get one... period nuff said.
Man, I heard this or another video on this some time last year, and bought a reed geek off the back of it.... see what I did there? I was nervous about it at first, but quickly found what a blessing this tool is, and could not be more thankful for this video.... and my reed geek.... and the top-drawer tutorial. ⭐
Yeah no one has ever been disappointed with it to my knowledge despite almost universal skepticism.
@@bettersax I was skeptical, but I've ordered a Geeklet from you and am eagerly awaiting its arrival. I have a pile of reeds on my desk that don't work for me, and it's either try to fix them with the Geeklet or use them for kindling. As expensive as reeds are, if I can only get half of them to work, I've more than paid for the Geeklet.
That’s was so funny when he said, “you might have some old reeds in a box somewhere”. I could build a coliseum with my old bad reeds. Lol I use the ReedGeek and it does work. Love the way I save money.
I’m so glad I watched this video. I have had a reed geek for two years and only flattened the table
This is very insightful
I’ve had the reed geek for a number of years now but always just used it on the back to flatten. Only in desperate moments have I adjusted the top side for fear of overdoing it. This vid has opened my eyes and mind and greatly improved my investment in this tool. Thank you so much for the in depth look into how to use this tool.
Side note: I may have to change my username now!
That's a great workflow! I've been adjusting reeds for a long time but always rather randomly. This should speed up the process.
I LOVE my Black Diamond Reed Geek! I totally agree that it we can make reeds which are initially unplayable or as I sometimes call them "kindling", good enough to practice on, and I get many more good to very good reeds per box. Between geeking my reeds and rotating them, they now last me months rather than days or weeks. A Reed Geek is a valuable investment! Although I have heard it in another of his recordings which I am not quickly finding, I am interested in learning how to improve my reeds which become stuffy in the high end (particularly above top line G) on my bari. Thanks again for sharing so much valuable info as well as your talents with us. Hugs from cold 36 degree NW Michigan.
I’m going to do more videos with the ReedGeek soon.
Thanks Jay, another great video with great info. I was apprehensive in buying the Reed Geek due to the cost but I did buy it. It's amazing! Just yesterday I took a reek that was extremely stuffy - almost unplayable and now it's becoming my favorite of the reeds I'm playing on currently. Great stuff! Please keep the videos coming! Thanks again -
Just bought the G4 less than 2 weeks ago, and it's a great tool ! I have almost 2/3 of my reeds that are difficult to play, as a complete beginner it's really hard to go over that and it cost me a lot. I already saved 6 reeds that was hard to play and now they are pretty good ! Already saved money since the first day :D (I work only on the back of the reed for now and it's already good for me :))
great to hear. You'll save money for life with that thing and have more fun playing sax.
Great video! Thanx! I have the reed geek but was a bit shy working on the top. The use of a tool to determine where the facing starts is new to me and I am excited to check this out!
yeah, I've been having fun with my reeds the last couple weeks...
I use both cane and Legere reeds depending on how lazy I feel. You can use the Reed Geek on both, as the rails on the new Legere will cut into your lower lip after just half and hour of playing. And I have fun trying different scraping and honing techniques. Maybe Jay will do another video on the different Reed Geek techniques, like the American Cut, which I prefer.
Thanks, Jay, for this great video about the Reed Geek. Each of the three techniques works as well as both of you describe! Thanks for this and all your videos!
Thank you so much Colin! Nothing makes me happier than players tackling those reeds and achieving better reed performance!!
It works! Thanks for posting this Jay - total beginner here and this has helped a lot
Omg im ordering this! Ive used sandpaper to waterproof and shape reeds but this looks so much easier! Thanks for the vid!
I use reed rush and the chart in Larry Teal's book "The Art of Saxophone Playing", and I can make most any reed play well.
Me too! Great resources!
I find that as a new player this helps a ton, because it's easy to do and I'm always nervous if my reed is bad or I'm just having a super off day or forgot something.
I've used a high quality razor blade to flatten the reed table for years and the ATG system to adjust the reed itself.
Did, did I voluntarily watch a ad?
if you want to watch more volentary ads watch "Vat19"
Great video, thanks! I hadn't had much success with the G4 until I recently simply got more agressive - working the nose and the spine, and what a difference. 3 Rigotti Gold's barely playable suddenly play beautifully. Mauro is correct - there is plenty of material to work with on many reeds.
Anyone (who can do this) can be a hero. Just find some time to help young students with this. Learning basic reed adjustments can help kids avoid bad habits (e.g. overblowing, clamping down on the reed, etc.) plus it does so much for their confidence and enjoyment of playing. A school band director just isn't going to have the time to do this, but they can facilitate pre- or post-rehearsal workshops where volunteers can help just a few kids at-a-time (esp. if they do weekend rehearsals). This isn't a subtle change to playing. Even modest reed prep and adjustment skills can yield noticeable improvement and the kids will really benefit from (and appreciate) your help.
I have a Reed Geek, but the process / tool I use is the ATG Reed Finishing system by Tom Ridenour. The Geek is good to flatten the back, but IMHO it is a clumsy tool to use for adjusting the reed vamp. The ATG system is much better, more precise and easier to use. About the same price as a Black Diamond Reed Geek 🙂. One major point, and this is true no matter how you work on reeds, is that shining light thru the reed or flexing it with your finger will not tell you anything. Instead, test by playing - twist the mouthpiece down on one side, then the other, and work on the side (“wing”) that is heavier, or duller or less responsive.
I really think you ought to check out the ATG system; like you, I have no affiliation with the manufacturer, I’m just a very happy customer! FWIW, I use virtually every reed in a box...
Thanks Steve, good to know I'll try to check that out.
Ridenour's ATG system is good, and as described here, and by Tom Ridenour, tooting one side of the reed then the other by turning the mouthpiece can clue you into which "ear" of the reed is more resistant and needs taking down. Ridenour includes a sanding block and advises sanding somewhat diagonally from the ears towards the vamp. I used the ATG system for some years, and it paid for itself in helping me turning many bum reeds into good players.
But I finally bought a PerfectaReed gauge, which I found worked even better for me at finding and removing reed asymmetries. Especially when reeds are asymmetric at and near the base of the vamp, they must be evened out and some kind of gauge setup really does the job. And it's quite rewarding when those bum playing reeds become champs. Many of the reeds I failed at with the ATG method are yielding good service.
Play an open C# and turn the mouthpiece on the cork to see which side/rail plays more clearly. Take material off the less responsive side until the two sides are equally responsive. The Geek is probably better than the ATG system for flattening the table or taking down the spine. I am using both systems.
Jay Lozier For saxophone, except soprano, you can do this with just the mouthpiece and neck. Same is true of bass clarinet.
@@stevekeller4814 I just bought the geek Reed. First thing I found out was that none of my reeds worked properly. I got a big improvement just by flattening them but some of them squeak a lot on the upper registry... Any ideas of how to fix that?
Fab video Jay. I, like you have been scared to do too much and only flatten the back. This has solved the mystery about what to do with the rest.
Geoffrey, I'm glad I wasn't the only one. haha.
Hi Jay, I have one also but didn’t know how to do the top part of reed. Thank for sharing the other part for reed adjusting!🎶🎶🎷
yeah it's not as tricky as I thought. Hope this video helps you out.
Jay like to see and hear your video on the Klangbogen ! Heard so much about! I see you 👀 have one 🎶🎷
I just got mine few days ago. I was skeptical, because none of those reed voodoo's used to work for me, but this thing, is magic. I'm in love. Just this table flattening can really make a HUGE difference. I had a ton of "dead" reeds that I was able to do some tuning and get them playable. I'm sure this will pay itself in one year.
excellent tips and information that many professionals hesitate to pass on. once again congratulations on sharing
Thanks a lot, Jay, for another great video! I use a tool by some other quite well known company, but your and your friends explanations on how to fix reeds are really, really helpful.
Thanks! Which tool are you using?
Jay, Nice video! Adjusting reeds is great, and everyone should do it, but you shouldn't do it on the mouthpiece. You should hold it up to the light so you can see to balance it - preferably also using a flat, stable surface to smooth the bottom like the vandoren reed resurfacer. I also close up the end and the sides of the rails by sanding them. I use a reed knife and the reed rush as well as a variety of files. I've never had a problem carrying a reed knife on an airplane because I put them in the bell of my horn! Thanks for the video! I'll add the reed geek to my reed tools!
Jay, I bought the Reed Geek G4 Black Diamond and did what you said. I love it. Along with all of the other tips I got from better sax, I am a better saxophonist
Back in yhe nineties a box of ten would typically have three green (stuffy)
three dry (bright, but don't last)
and two of the remaining four with uneven grain.
This is the only adjust the manufacturers have made with which I'm sure you would agree.
The other thing is that I would agree with your comment about the Reed Geek being "must have" equipment. Well done.!!
Cool ! Back in the day we used Dutch rush (or reed rush) to adjust reeds
This has got to be a must for my clarinets, bass clarinet and tenor sax. Nice one, Jay!
I have a Reed Geek that lives in my tenor case, and it is somewhat useful. My main horn is bari, and in that case I have a bassoon reed scraper (beveled reed knife) that I bought from Forrest's music in Berkeley in 1984. I sharpen it once every 5 years with a water stone and it works better than anything I have ever tried for adjusting saxophone reeds. It is easier to gouge the reed with the scraper than the Reed Geek, but in general the scraper is much more usable.
As an Old-school player, I also use a light source to see if the shave is even. You should be able to see the up-side-down "V" when viewing it. You can then adjust accordingly. You should also use this technique prior to buying your reeds. It's a great way to pick the best of the bunch.
Outstanding advice. Love my Reed Geek! Thanks J.
Thank you David.
I've been using this for a few years. It is a fab tool..
Yeah, I hope you learned something new from this video...
Imagine how many customers you just brought to this guy lol.
"Too busy sawing....." That sounds like a quote from Steven Covey's book "Habits of Highly Effective People". :-) I'm using the Reed Geek, where has it been all my life?! A great tool, really works. Good how-to video.
Really helpful video! Although I don’t have a reed geek, I have been using these methods with my sandpaper, and it works great!
Cheaper too
sandpaper better than knife?
Hi jay. I,m doing your Pentatonic Foundation Course. I really recomend it. Congrats!!
Thanks Luis, glad it helps!
All these sax gadget videos remind me that i should practice more.
I have it. It saves my time, money, and energy. Reeds are quite expensive. If I calculate how many bad reeds=good money I had discarted over 20 years. BUY IT, IT WORKS
Thanks for the detailed instructions and the very helpful interview!
Funny, I do things so differently. I keep my reeds wet in a jar with 1/4" of Listerine. Mostly I use synthetic reeds which are not adjustable. My reeds last for months and I have no complaints.
It blows my mind that I've never heard of adjusting my reed in the past 30 years and I've always wondered why I have such a hard time blowing certain notes. Now that I've adjusted my reeds it has made it so much easier to play and sounds so much better without so much effort. I think this should be one of the first thing a saxophone teacher should be teaching their students. Everything is easier when your reed is right.
Turn your 2 1/2 into a 1/2 in no time with the reed geek :-)
Lol
yep
Accurate! XD
I bet if most reed players would go down 1/2 in size most of these problems would disappear
Great video. Very clear instructions on how to use it. I have a Reed Geek but I bought to plaque and gage set.
Cool, that helps especially if you have a bunch of mouthpieces for different horns etc...
Great video and very informative. Thanks Jay and Mauro
Thank you Nigel!...I hope this video helps players achieve better reed performance and take a bit of the mystique out!!
I have a ReedGeek, and am very pleased with it. It is very easy to use, is extremely precise, and, best of all (?!), it's completely safe (unlike a knife, where there's always a risk of cutting myself... or cutting into and damaging the reed, for that matter). Before getting the ReedGeek, I used ultra fine sand paper, with decent results... but the Geek is better. I often think of an experience I had years ago, as a pianist accompanying a high school clarinetist. She had a really stuffy tone, and it seemed that playing really came hard for her. So I finally asked to try her clarinet, to see what was going on. When I did, I was shocked, and called out "that's not a clarinet reed, that's a popsicle stick!! How do you play this thing?!" "I don't know...!" she answered sheepishly. So I offered to bring my sandpaper etc to our next rehearsal, which I did, and got the reed at least functional. How I wish I had had the ReedGeek back then! But that experience really got me to wondering: how many young players have struggled against bad reeds, and are too naïve to recognize the problem... and their teachers are too oblivious to notice and try to help them?
Very helpful information! I used two tamper with my reeds rasping them on the off chance with a nail file
Another great video Jay!
I've had the black diamond for a while now but only used it a few times with varying results. This video is what I needed to get motivated to begin sharpening my saw. I will bookmark this one to come back to. THANKS!
I've solved reed 'problems' by going carbon fibre. I love the onyx. These are super responsive, great with the many overtones series, have been as consistent as imaginable from one to another, and these last like crazy. I also love that they do not benefit from soaking in water. I've never found any need to do any adjustments. That said, it'd be interesting to see what effect the techniques shown in this video have on an onyx.
Cool tips here for reed conditioning. I have always tried to buy highly patterned reeds for best tone, but this method will be fun to experiment.
Really needed this, thank you.
Yeah so did I. Getting much more out of this tool now.
I love my ReedGeek SO much, what an incredibly useful tool to perfect such an expensive aspect of our woodwind world. So my question is this: Does Mauro really suggest marking your reed with a lead pencil?
There isn’t lead in pencils.
Sandpaper is a pretty cool tool!
Great video. I ordered a Geek
You'll be glad you did.
Hi Jay. I would like to thank you for your book on pentatonic patterns, I play it everyday. I am actually playing a Fibracell #3, I just cannot get a fair sound out of my instrument with normal ones, I gave up. I play with a Jody Jazz HR 6* and I just love it, maybe a little high pitched on high notes, but it can also be me, I have been playing for only 5 years now... I also tried other good mouthpieces like the Ottolink Tonemaster #8 but the sound was thin, maybe if I had stuck with it it could have worked but the Jody Jazz is so much easy and powerful that I didn´t gave it a chance. I asked a couple of teachers I had how could it be that I cannot get a good sound with a setup any different from what I have now but all answers seemed to be vage and biased. None of them liked the sound of fiber reeds and It is funny because they never took the time to really give them a try since it takes sometime to adjust. I have heard that coltrane had a bag full of mouthpieces and Brandford Marsallis sais that no matter what equipment you use, you may find a slight difference at the beggining but you will end up returning to YOUR sound wich by the way was true for Charlie Parker even when he played with pastic saxophones... If you have any clues on why this is happening , please let me know, I have been playing for over two hours for the past three years and everytime time I go back to nomal reeds, carefully picked up and sometimes even sanded, I get a lot of frustration. Please also take into consideration giving a test to Fibracells and sticking to them for a couple of weeks, I would really appreciate your feedback since they are becoming increasingly more popular.
Thank you also for your reviews, I can´t live without the sax deflector now! ;-))
Mario, the reedgeek is the thing that got me back into cane reeds. It makes a world of difference. It can also be used to adjust the synthetic reeds. I recommend practicing on lots of old cane reeds first though. I'll try to get some fibracells to try as well.
as far as your sound is concerned, you need to be comfortable with your setup. Sometimes changing reed strength or brand of reed when you go to another mouthpiece will make a big difference.
@@bettersax I just bought it. Thanks!
Wtf am I doing here I'm a brass player
You're doing the same as me. You're watching a video about saxophones because you have a desire to play the saxophone deep inside of you.
You know you want to play a saxophone
sir waffle I’m a flute player😂
@@gi3386 Put a sax mouthpiece on the end of your flute. You won't be disappointed!
Same I’m a tuba
I have never watched a sax video on TH-cam before how did I they know I played one???
^^
Google is listening. Look it up.
youtube is owned by google, you've probably made sax related searches
I don't play a sax, never watched a sax video and never searched for anything sax related and got this recommended. And I enjoyed it haha. Maybe they show some random things they think you will like every once in a while.
I never had a sax never wanted one never searched for any sax videos and now I play one professionally in an English band thanks to this guy
Hey Jay, Any thoughts on pickling the reeds in Vodka🎷🎷
Wow I definitely need one of those ReedGeek! It's amazing every video I watch I learn something new ! By the way I love your neck strap where did you get it?
ReedGeek is great and essential. The new strap from the last few videos is not available to purchase yet. It's the gig strap by Jupiter
Something I desperately need.
Thanks for your great videos! Excellent information presented very well!
This is GREAT information!! Thanks Jay!!
Having shifted to Legere Signature I’ll wait for your next video. But this one was another great teaching video 👍🏼😉
I also changed to synthetic just because they are really easy to play. I like Fibracell better though, Legere's seem to bend slightly over time since they are made out of plastic. Fibracell's don't, they last forever and the sound is similar or better... It takes some time to get used, you may find the sound different at the beginning but it will be the same you had if you give it some time, maybe a couple of weeks
Thierry, Mauro also showed me how to adjust the Legere reeds with the ReedGeek. I'll be sharing that footage when I make my Legere video. They sent me a bunch of reeds I'll be playing on in the meantime.
Interesting Mario. I'll have to try some more Fibracells. I was never too crazy about them.
Thanks! @@bettersax
@@jazzman_10 I use Legere Signature reeds too, mine have never bent but I found with 2 of the ones I used, after a month of playing with them, they started to split vertically down from the tip one side, so far my current one hasn't but I think it might. May be the strength I am using as I normally play on a 2 1/4 and I have 2, 2 1/2 reeds and the 2 1/2 are a little harder and don't feel as thin at the tip as the 2 1/4 and I haven't had the splitting issues with those. Might try some Fibracell reeds as I have wanted to try a different type of synthetic reed.
Top notch, I love the term effortless!
Hmm....I think the most interesting and original part of this is the actual tool. The concepts of flattening/smoothing the back, balancing the rails/tip and smoothing/thinning the spine for better low tone response is something that is dealt with an a chapter of the Larry Teal book "The Art of Saxophone Playing" first published in 1963 and still in print. I've been using his suggestions since the mid-1970s. I use a piece of plate glass and wet or dry sandpaper in 400 and 600 grit. The plate glass allows for a perfectly flat surface. You sand the back of the reed with first the 400, then the 600 grit. I go one more step and let the reed dry slightly, then burnish it on a piece of plain computer paper. It seals and flattens the fibers so well that the back of the reed actually has a bit of a sheen to it. Following Dr. Teal's suggestion of putting the back of the slightly damp reed on the plate glass, I can look through the glass at the underneath side of the reed and see if the reed is perfectly flat. If it isn't flat, you'll see relatively large air bubbles, so you need to do some more sanding. For work on the top side I use dutch rush. This is literally rush, like grows in a swamp. It has very abrasive spines that allow you to take very fine amounts of wood fiber off the reed rails (available on Amazon or WWBW.com). I also use this or a sharp pocket knife to gently scrape the spine right where the vamp starts to improve low end response. The tool demonstrated in the video looks very interesting, but I've always had really good luck with Dr. Teal's methods. I rarely even attempt to play a reed right out of the box without at least going through the sanding process first.
Just buy a legere lol
@@paulfer57 Actually, I did. I bought one for my soprano and one for my alto. I absolutely love it on the soprano (never thought I'd say that about a plastic reed) but not so much on the alto. I've tried it on five different mouthpieces and found it unusable.
@@johnwhitehead3685 what reed are you using on the Alto Id love to try it. Maybe it wasn't a signature series and while I don't know personally I've heard that there is a difference.
John , Agree this process is not a new idea..I been using this concept since 1965. I feel the woodwind teachers of today, don't take the time to show young players this art.
me: that looks cool, i might get one
*looks up reedgeek*
nevermind
I'm using vandoren Reed hydro case and do not travel. I've used the Reed geek for days and it's awesome.
Question do I really need to do back of Reed each time I play?
Yet another very interesting and informative vid Jay. What is that brass appliance fitted on your alto, just underneath the neck?
In Winstrup Olesen's Saxophon skole you can see his drawing of the perfect reed. And if you shape your reeds this way you'll get the best reed you can have.
Winstrup Olesen : Saxophone Skole. Wilhelm Hansen Musik Forlag Copenhagen.
Awesome dude have one but didn’t understand how to use
I use a a 45 degrees angled stroke to flatten the table.. it prevents mini "waves" from forming
You’re the only person I have found that also uses rigotti gold reeds haha
sometimes. I have been on the RSJ for a while now. Rigotti are very consistent though.
I know dozens of people who use them. Myself included.
Great important info, thanks a lot. But Jay, I want to know, what if you don't have a reed geek and you want to play your saxophone, what other ways can I adjust the flexibility of my reeds?
Keshawn, some people have mentioned that a razor blade works. Worth a try.
@@bettersax Ok, thanks much.
Actually, razor blades are not completely flat and too light to effectively flatten the reed properly. Not only being a bit dangerous, but the razor blade will skip and chatter through the stroke often making the reed table problem worse.
I use 24 grit disc on my air grinder for all my reed work.
😜👍
ReedGeek is a great tool. ❤
Can you make a reed make a little bit softer than the original one? So let's say if you are balancing between a 3 and 3,5, you buy a 3,5 which might be a little bit too hard but will become perfectly playable with the adjustments of the reedgeek?
I have a Reed Geek and now I know how to properly use it. I gave your recommendations a try and yes a reed which would not cooperate on a mpc which is reed fussy now works great. Thanks. A side note, I noticed that you have a Klangbogen on your Alto. Does it noticeably improve your sound? I bought one for Tenor and honestly could tell no difference. But then put it on my Alto (both MVI) and there was to me a noticeable improvement in LH Octave notes. Was it me or was it the product, I don't know? But I like it, it looks cool and other sax guys saw it and had to have one.
Just got the Universal RG for Xmas. Already improved one old crappy reed! Question: is it better to work on the reed while it’s dry? Or go ahead and wet it first, then make your adjustments? I’m guessing wet it first so that the fibers are swelled with moisture, which is how you’re gonna be playing it anyway? Thanks Jay!
Seems like a nice multitool for reeds.
Hi Jay, I got a Reedgeek - Black Diamond. Watching videos and learning how to use it. So far, all my reeds are now playable. All I really have one is flatten the back. I did try to do more on one, and think I've ruined it, but it still plays somewhat.
I have a question. I have both 2.5 and 3 Java reeds, and can play them all now. But, I'm finding the 3's play a bit sharp, same solid embouchure. Do harder reeds play sharper? Is pulling the mp out a bit, the right thing to do? It seems to work.
I’d say soft reeds play flat. Harder reeds play in tune. Congrats on the ReedGeek
@@bettersax Different perspective, but confirmed. So, I'll pull out my mp for the 3's. Thanks.
Thanks you so much from france... i bought it 😇😇😇
Scissors work just fine :)
Really helpful! Thanks!
BEFORE I START REMOVING material from top of reed, I look at reed over a light to see which side has more material. I do not suggest using anything, whether it is this Reed Geek, or sand paper, or knifes, on a reed while mounted on the mouthpiece. You may slip and damage the MP rails or tip. Take the reed out and put it on a plaque, or get a 1/4 or 3/16 narrow (width of reed) glass and do it there. It is better that the reed is against something solid instead of holding it in the hand. My reason is that your hand can't hold the reed horizontally straight, sot that instead of removing reed material flatly you may remove it with a concave motion. Use a plaque or suggested piece of narrow flat glass.
Hey so two big questions: 1. How helpful and how hard is it to adjust synthetic Reeds? I play on both so I'm curious as to how different they are. 2. How long can I expect 1 black diamond reed geek to last? I see no warranty on website, maybe I'm not looking in the right spots but I'd like to know how long I can expect the tool to last since I'll use it on both clarinet and saxophone
Hey I’ve had my first reed geek for over 5 years now and it’s still like day 1. I’ve never heard anyone say it went dull or rusted etc. I don’t play synthetic enough to give a good answer to your first question.
I did that with with a simple knife but ... this is perfect i will buy it because its more simple ;) thank you