I've been playing saxophone since I was 11. I studied classical saxophone in college. I STILL PLAY SAXOPHONE in a semi-professional group...AND I DIDN'T KNOW MOST OF THIS! (30 years...y'all...30 years...) Haha! What was funny is that I was watching this as I was preparing reeds, and doing almost everything wrong...from soaking them too long, do those damn humidity packs. 🙃🙃🙃 Thank you!
Really interesting tips I'm going to try. I have a few questions, though. What reed holder do you use? Do you flatten the table? Don't your reeds warp when you let them dry completely? Thank you.
Keep your reeds is alcohol, vodka is best...keep it for it's lifetime ...take it out and directly play...more hygienic..enzymes in your saliva will not harm the reed material, ie: bamboo fibers...no mould formation...no cycling of dry to wet and back (always wet...).....my personal experience is really encouraging...
I found the vodka worked for me if I only play one saxophone. I always double on multiple instruments, so I found out the vodka method doesn't work for me because the reed dries out quickly if I'm not constantly playing it and if you don't soak the reed in vodka again before playing it, the reed quickly wears out when the vodka dries. I found a more intense method of breaking in reeds (similar to Wonki Lee's method, except I do more break-in sessions) that make all of my reeds last at least a year.
Really fantastic video! I’ve been thinking about not using humidity pack too. Do you completely not use humidity pack all the time, or just for the first three days while you soak the reed then use the pack? And also do you soak the reed in water just for the first three days or you soak it every time before you use them even if the reed is months old?
I never use the humidity pack. To my experience, the humidity pack works really well in a short time period but it also shortens the life of reeds. And I soak my reed in water every time I play. Make sure you always dry those reeds after the practice. I sometime leave my reed case opened.
@@wonkisaxlee Thank you so much for letting me know! Really helpful! I'm using 3.0+ too and I always find it only lasts a short period of time, maybe it is the reason why! Thanks!
Great video - thanks. Do you do the balancing of the reed everytime you play?? I presume not from what you say. Some videos seem to imply that they at least smoothen the table of the reed before each playing session...feels excessive to me. Once it is balanced, it should hold, no? Thank you 🙏
For D'addario Reserve reeds, I have to say I don't do much of adjustments lately - they have been very consistent in quality. Only adjustments (if necessary) is balancing both sides of a reed. Once it's balanced you should be good to go for a long time.
There is a better solution for reeds that are too soft. If you are comfortable using a mouthpiece that has a tip opening one size larger than your usual mouthpiece, you can use that mouthpiece for your soft reeds. I have a very similar break-in method and my reeds (soprano, alto, tenor, and bari) last at least a year. I use a more intense method, because I love to play the sax at extreme dynamics (all kinds of styles) and I have found a method that works for me. I will put my soprano and alto reeds through 28 of the break-in sessions where I only play between 30 seconds and a minute (not loudly or you will wear out the reed). It doesn't matter how many times I do the sessions every day, as long as the reed completely dries between sessions... I do this by laying the reed on the bark side on the table (not in a reed guard) so the reed completely dries more evenly. Sometimes, I will miss days of these sessions, and that doesn't matter... the total number of sessions is what matters. I will break in my tenor reeds with 35 sessions and my bari reeds with 40 sessions. On the first session, I will only dip the reed in the water. As I do more sessions, I will gradually soak the reeds longer in the water each time... you will find what works best for your humidity where you live. At first, try soaking the reed in water 15 seconds longer for each session. If your reeds dry out while you are playing the first ones, just dip them in water to keep them moist. I wait until the 3rd or 4th session, before I adjust a reed and I make sure to warm up the reed a minute before adjusting it.... sometimes a reed will play poorly if it is not warmed up or doesn't have the right amount of moisture. Before you do the side by side test of the reed, make sure you warm up the reed sufficiently, so that both sides are equally moist. One additional recommendation about the reed geek... one cause of low notes not responding correctly, is when the back of the reed is not flat. If your low notes are not responding, try using the long edge of the reed geek (or fine sand paper) to scrape the back of the reed, until it is flat.... don't scrape the part of the reed that is near the tip (the part that breaks away from the mouthpiece).
Wow this is just a commercial for reed geek, the overpriced Square Tool Bit! Don't be fooled by this guy, you can do the same with any sandpaper file or pocketknife.
I've been playing saxophone since I was 11. I studied classical saxophone in college. I STILL PLAY SAXOPHONE in a semi-professional group...AND I DIDN'T KNOW MOST OF THIS! (30 years...y'all...30 years...) Haha! What was funny is that I was watching this as I was preparing reeds, and doing almost everything wrong...from soaking them too long, do those damn humidity packs. 🙃🙃🙃 Thank you!
Great video! I have been wondering how you condition your reeds because you sound very consistent recording to recording. Very informative, thank you!
Yess, thank you for uploading this!
Really interesting tips I'm going to try. I have a few questions, though. What reed holder do you use? Do you flatten the table? Don't your reeds warp when you let them dry completely? Thank you.
I use currently use Vandoren & Protec reed cases. Yes reeds warp when they are dry, but put them into a cup of water for 5min and warps go away.
Keep your reeds is alcohol, vodka is best...keep it for it's lifetime ...take it out and directly play...more hygienic..enzymes in your saliva will not harm the reed material, ie: bamboo fibers...no mould formation...no cycling of dry to wet and back (always wet...).....my personal experience is really encouraging...
Listerine is better and it’s non alchoholic. Make sure you get the name bland plain yellow stuff
I found the vodka worked for me if I only play one saxophone. I always double on multiple instruments, so I found out the vodka method doesn't work for me because the reed dries out quickly if I'm not constantly playing it and if you don't soak the reed in vodka again before playing it, the reed quickly wears out when the vodka dries. I found a more intense method of breaking in reeds (similar to Wonki Lee's method, except I do more break-in sessions) that make all of my reeds last at least a year.
Thank you for getting back to me. Do you use the Reed Geek to flatten the reed table?
Yes sometimes!
Thank you.@@wonkisaxlee
Really fantastic video! I’ve been thinking about not using humidity pack too. Do you completely not use humidity pack all the time, or just for the first three days while you soak the reed then use the pack? And also do you soak the reed in water just for the first three days or you soak it every time before you use them even if the reed is months old?
I never use the humidity pack. To my experience, the humidity pack works really well in a short time period but it also shortens the life of reeds. And I soak my reed in water every time I play. Make sure you always dry those reeds after the practice. I sometime leave my reed case opened.
@@wonkisaxlee Thank you so much for letting me know! Really helpful! I'm using 3.0+ too and I always find it only lasts a short period of time, maybe it is the reason why! Thanks!
Great video - thanks.
Do you do the balancing of the reed everytime you play?? I presume not from what you say. Some videos seem to imply that they at least smoothen the table of the reed before each playing session...feels excessive to me. Once it is balanced, it should hold, no?
Thank you 🙏
For D'addario Reserve reeds, I have to say I don't do much of adjustments lately - they have been very consistent in quality. Only adjustments (if necessary) is balancing both sides of a reed. Once it's balanced you should be good to go for a long time.
Hey Wonki do you do meetings online to go over this
There is a better solution for reeds that are too soft. If you are comfortable using a mouthpiece that has a tip opening one size larger than your usual mouthpiece, you can use that mouthpiece for your soft reeds. I have a very similar break-in method and my reeds (soprano, alto, tenor, and bari) last at least a year. I use a more intense method, because I love to play the sax at extreme dynamics (all kinds of styles) and I have found a method that works for me. I will put my soprano and alto reeds through 28 of the break-in sessions where I only play between 30 seconds and a minute (not loudly or you will wear out the reed). It doesn't matter how many times I do the sessions every day, as long as the reed completely dries between sessions... I do this by laying the reed on the bark side on the table (not in a reed guard) so the reed completely dries more evenly. Sometimes, I will miss days of these sessions, and that doesn't matter... the total number of sessions is what matters. I will break in my tenor reeds with 35 sessions and my bari reeds with 40 sessions. On the first session, I will only dip the reed in the water. As I do more sessions, I will gradually soak the reeds longer in the water each time... you will find what works best for your humidity where you live. At first, try soaking the reed in water 15 seconds longer for each session. If your reeds dry out while you are playing the first ones, just dip them in water to keep them moist. I wait until the 3rd or 4th session, before I adjust a reed and I make sure to warm up the reed a minute before adjusting it.... sometimes a reed will play poorly if it is not warmed up or doesn't have the right amount of moisture. Before you do the side by side test of the reed, make sure you warm up the reed sufficiently, so that both sides are equally moist. One additional recommendation about the reed geek... one cause of low notes not responding correctly, is when the back of the reed is not flat. If your low notes are not responding, try using the long edge of the reed geek (or fine sand paper) to scrape the back of the reed, until it is flat.... don't scrape the part of the reed that is near the tip (the part that breaks away from the mouthpiece).
Hello! Do you use your lighter reeds for group rehearsals for a performance or your regular reeds?
It depends on music. Generally I prefer using a lighter reed for chamber / ensemble settings.
Better use ReadyReed
How long do you let them soak?
About 5 min
The 6 reeds last an entire year? How do you know when to move on to a different cycle?
I move on to a new cycle when reeds stop absorbing water (they stop responding).
OMG can I respectfully say how annoying that background shote is!
shote?
@@thelookingcat shite
Shite
Wow this is just a commercial for reed geek, the overpriced Square Tool Bit!
Don't be fooled by this guy, you can do the same with any sandpaper file or pocketknife.
Or just use Legérè.