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Re: Reed Problem

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2010-09-30 17:28

There are two general answers to your question: (a) experiment with different brands (and different models of the same brand) at different strengths until you find one that you're comfortable with as the reeds (or most of them) come out of the box; or (b) learn to adjust the ones whose sound you generally like to get the resistance to where you want it.

Ken's and Ed's ideas about adjusting the reeds you've already mentioned (b) are excellent - whether you want to try to increase the resistance of the 3.5s or lighten up the 3.75s is up to you. Jack's suggestion to try other brands (a) is also reasonable. Both can be expensive up front as you either (a) go through a lot of reeds you don't like before you find the ones that feel best to you or (b) ruin a lot of reeds while you learn how to make the adjustments successfully. I've gone in both directions at various times of my playing life. I do find that adjustments are a lot easier and the result more satisfying when I start with a reed that's close to what I'm looking for to begin with.

There is a third alternative, if you like the sound of synthetics - either Legere or Forestone have their strong proponents and, if you like one of them, you don't have to deal with the kinds of problems you ask about.

One suggestion I'd add about learning to choose and adjust reeds is that you take a lesson or two with a player of recognized quality who is accomplished at reed adjustment - sometimes learning to do it is easier by seeing it done first-hand than by reading verbal descriptions and looking at static diagrams.

One other thing that strikes me about both your and Ed's posts: I've read countless times that players find their reeds feel softer after a few sessions. I've always found that my reeds feel progressively *stiffer* as I use them so that I nearly always need to re-adjust the tip after a few days, sometimes more than once. I don't know if we're all interpreting the same sensations in different ways or if I just have a high level of some kind of glue in my saliva that makes my reeds act differently from everyone else's. ??

Karl

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