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Re: Airy Sound

Author: kdk
Date: 2018-07-04 22:21

The problem is most likely a new reed the day after a long-extended session. Are you following any kind of break-in routine? In general, most players don't play for extended time on a new reed. Try limiting your play time on a new reed to 5 minutes or so the first time you play it, maybe 10 minutes the next time and then, to be sure, one more shortened time - 15 or 20 minutes - before you try to use it for longer stretches. Use an older, more seasoned reed for the rest of your sessions while breaking the new one in.

If this is happening with older reeds, it's still probably an issue resulting from soaking and drying the reed, only now it's because older reeds' fibers are more closed and it takes longer for water to soak into them. You may just need to wet it longer before you try to play on it. Or you could try storing your reeds with a humidifier like a Boveda humidity pack or a Rico Reed Saver (same thing, costs more) to keep them from drying out completely.

Another practice, which I have been doing but won't swear is of any benefit, that I once read about in conjunction with breaking new reeds in is to massage the vamp (the tapered part) front and back firmly toward the tip against a flat surface. This seems to squeeze some of the excess water out of the cane and flattens down any fibers that were raised as the reed became wet over time.

Karl

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