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Reeds - importortant

Author: nes
Date: 2007-03-28 00:13

As you may well know, reeds play an extremely important part in making the best sound.

Please tell me how you break in your reeds?

What size reeds you use and your method of dealing with them.

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Re: Reeds - importortant

Author: kuteclar
Date: 2007-03-28 04:29

For me, it sadly depends a bit on time. I have heard so many ways to break in reeds.

But, bascially, play on them for a little bit each day for a couple weeks. Never let them get water-logged or so they look see-through.

I had friends that swore by starting them for 5 minutes a day for about 2 weeks, increasing the time slightly each day. Who can really keep track of that time?

In the words of the master, Burt, it is a changing process. I'll use his reference again because he always sounds fantastic! I believe he used to break them in for about 2 weeks, but mentioned in studio that he was finding that a whole month works better. He said that he was experimenting with playing the reeds for about 30 seconds - just doing a few runs and then packing them away. Do this for a bunch of weeks until they're strong. Of course, I try to do this, but I always need my reeds sooner than that.

Also, how you pack them up makes a difference. Some people like to dry them out faster - but they could warp and some people keep them in folded or closed ziplock bags to let them dry slowly and evenly. Use a reed case with grooves underneath so that they dry more evenly.

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