I always polish reeds on a sheet of A4 paper. It's surprising how more smoother it feels. It doesn't take material off, instead works like a strop or a knife steel. I'd defo do this first because it's quick.
Yeeessir! Stylin... lookin' clean and mean, Gene. I think the multis may be the trick. Just polish table and butt on a piece of paper. I do oxidize the green gradoo off with H2O2. Obviously, it will break down the fiber if you don;t kinda watch it.
When I was a boy, my teacher told me to do the same, with one addition; after polishing seal the heel of the reed with nail polish as well. Can be colored, or clear of course :-) I've been doing that for years, and I at least believe it makes my reed last much longer.
Whenever you need to seal/treat a fence post or something you usually use an oil/diesel mixture. Assume ethanol and cooking oil could achieve this too, but then you have the problem of keeping the reed from warping AND going bad lol. Might play for a long time though? I don't play cane reeds, but have a bunch sitting around I could mess with.
I really think people over think breaking in reeds. When I’m breaking in a reed, I soak it in my mouth for a few minutes then I take the flat part onto a regular piece of paper and just sand it back-and-forth until it feels smooth. Paper itself is just enough grit to get it done. Then I soak it a little more. Then I do the same thing again if it needs it, and it usually does. Make the bottom smooth against the table is the goal. Then I just put it on my mouthpiece and play the saxophone. The rest of it takes care of itself.
I found the original one too stiff and I mean WAAAYY TOO STIFF. I'm not spending my money on a new one. I wish more TH-cam reviews were transparent about this
I went shopping for a three pack of #2 cane reeds at the local music stores. I was told they no longer sell reed strengths under #2.5 because that is what the local teachers are starting their students on at school. They then reached for a box and I could see that all the boxes were VENN. Imagine starting to learn sax with #2.5 synthetic reeds!
I was wondering about sealing the reed to really eliminate or significantly reduce the moisture entering the reed. The question is, what product could be used to seal it. Obviously you can’t use anything that might have toxic chemicals like auto or furniture wax, but I was thinking about something like vegetable oil or other type of food product. That might cause a bacteria build up over time, but it might be interesting for a short term test. Candle wax or even cork grease might work.
You don't have to wet synthetic reeds for them to play, they just play straight away. Interesting idea, but because of the inconsistency of natural cane, this is one reason I haven't liked Rico Plasticovers. Sure they play a bit more like synthetic reeds but as they are cane reeds coated in plastic to seal them, you can't really adjust them without taking off some of the plastic coating. In your tests I thought the alto reeds sounded a bit stuffy. The tenor did also but to a lesser extent.
In my opinion, there is a sweet spot with the moisture that synthetic reeds cannot achieve. I have tried many synthetics and I don't like the way they play. I think they lack the flexibility of cane. Like you, I work reeds to get the longest use out of them, including switching my setup once a reed get to a certain point.
Some excellent reeds sit right in between the synthetic and cane reeds. Try → Forestone Black Bamboo reeds ←; They soak in a little moisture, but at a slower pace than a regular cane reed. They improve tonal stability and playing in tune throughout all registers. And they sound warm, very cane-like.
Sirvalor Sax just watched an old video where you were playing at cedar point! I played sax in a few shows during the 20-21 seasons.. how long were you there for?
With some reeds i tried to seal them with shellac. I soked them and let them dry several times. After that the reeds did not soke any moisture, but i was not so much satisfied with the result. Maybe i will try this again….
Right; synthetic reeds are NON-porous. That’s one reason they last so long. The other is that the fiber/material doesn’t get affected by moisture and the expansion and contraction cycles that cane undergoes.
"Just like a synthetic"... I'll stick with my synthetic. As I soon enter my 7th decade, I'm too lazy to deal with cane reeds anymore. I thank scientific advancement for creating better and better synthetics to save me more time to enjoy life.
I always polish reeds on a sheet of A4 paper. It's surprising how more smoother it feels. It doesn't take material off, instead works like a strop or a knife steel. I'd defo do this first because it's quick.
Yeeessir! Stylin... lookin' clean and mean, Gene. I think the multis may be the trick. Just polish table and butt on a piece of paper. I do oxidize the green gradoo off with H2O2. Obviously, it will break down the fiber if you don;t kinda watch it.
Love the haircut.
When I was a boy, my teacher told me to do the same, with one addition; after polishing seal the heel of the reed with nail polish as well. Can be colored, or clear of course :-) I've been doing that for years, and I at least believe it makes my reed last much longer.
Whenever you need to seal/treat a fence post or something you usually use an oil/diesel mixture. Assume ethanol and cooking oil could achieve this too, but then you have the problem of keeping the reed from warping AND going bad lol. Might play for a long time though? I don't play cane reeds, but have a bunch sitting around I could mess with.
did not expect those images at the start .. LOL
He's definetely a man of culture.
Okay your adds are very tastefully done
Good hair cut!!!!!! I seal the butt of the seed with nail polish.
I really think people over think breaking in reeds. When I’m breaking in a reed, I soak it in my mouth for a few minutes then I take the flat part onto a regular piece of paper and just sand it back-and-forth until it feels smooth. Paper itself is just enough grit to get it done. Then I soak it a little more. Then I do the same thing again if it needs it, and it usually does. Make the bottom smooth against the table is the goal. Then I just put it on my mouthpiece and play the saxophone. The rest of it takes care of itself.
Nice look man
very interesting!
Could taking a thinner reed and putting a thin thin sticker film on it work? Provided it's on there without any air bubbles?
I love the new haircut. As far as reeds are concerned, I tried the new Ven reeds and found them to be way too hard and stiff.
I found the original one too stiff and I mean WAAAYY TOO STIFF. I'm not spending my money on a new one. I wish more TH-cam reviews were transparent about this
I went shopping for a three pack of #2 cane reeds at the local music stores. I was told they no longer sell reed strengths under #2.5 because that is what the local teachers are starting their students on at school. They then reached for a box and I could see that all the boxes were VENN. Imagine starting to learn sax with #2.5 synthetic reeds!
I was wondering about sealing the reed to really eliminate or significantly reduce the moisture entering the reed. The question is, what product could be used to seal it. Obviously you can’t use anything that might have toxic chemicals like auto or furniture wax, but I was thinking about something like vegetable oil or other type of food product. That might cause a bacteria build up over time, but it might be interesting for a short term test. Candle wax or even cork grease might work.
You don't have to wet synthetic reeds for them to play, they just play straight away. Interesting idea, but because of the inconsistency of natural cane, this is one reason I haven't liked Rico Plasticovers. Sure they play a bit more like synthetic reeds but as they are cane reeds coated in plastic to seal them, you can't really adjust them without taking off some of the plastic coating. In your tests I thought the alto reeds sounded a bit stuffy. The tenor did also but to a lesser extent.
In my opinion, there is a sweet spot with the moisture that synthetic reeds cannot achieve. I have tried many synthetics and I don't like the way they play. I think they lack the flexibility of cane. Like you, I work reeds to get the longest use out of them, including switching my setup once a reed get to a certain point.
Some excellent reeds sit right in between the synthetic and cane reeds. Try → Forestone Black Bamboo reeds ←; They soak in a little moisture, but at a slower pace than a regular cane reed. They improve tonal stability and playing in tune throughout all registers. And they sound warm, very cane-like.
@@zvonimirtosic6171 Thanks. I'll check that out. My issue with synthetic reeds is I usually choose too soft or too hard.
Sirvalor Sax just watched an old video where you were playing at cedar point! I played sax in a few shows during the 20-21 seasons.. how long were you there for?
WOW, I did the '97 and '98 summer season and came back in 2004-2006.
Can you do a review of the new Venn reed?
With some reeds i tried to seal them with shellac. I soked them and let them dry several times.
After that the reeds did not soke any moisture, but i was not so much satisfied with the result.
Maybe i will try this again….
Right; synthetic reeds are NON-porous. That’s one reason they last so long. The other is that the fiber/material doesn’t get affected by moisture and the expansion and contraction cycles that cane undergoes.
"Just like a synthetic"... I'll stick with my synthetic. As I soon enter my 7th decade, I'm too lazy to deal with cane reeds anymore. I thank scientific advancement for creating better and better synthetics to save me more time to enjoy life.
Nooooooooooo! Say it isn't so! You sold out to the hair fascists! Lol
LOL
Synthetic reeds are not for me. Cane is King.