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Why are saxophone reeds so expensive?
So yes, reeds are expensive to buy. But clearly, they’re also very expensive to produce. The process takes years, AND it requires large amounts of land located in a very expensive part of the world. It’s labor intensive and Employees in France actually cost a fortune.
How long do saxophone reeds last?
Reeds don’t last long Expect a reed to last for around a week to two weeks. When you change from a reed you’ve been using for some time to a new reed, the sound of your instrument will change with it.
How long do unused saxophone reeds last?
Reeds which you are actively using will likely last anywhere from 1-4 weeks provided you are playing regularly and taking good care of the reed. Whether or not a reed can expire depends also on how it is being stored as well as the extent to which the reed has had previous usage.
Which saxophone reed is best?
The best reed for beginner saxophone is a size 2 or size 2.5 reed. Most beginners start with Rico, Rico Royal, or Vandoren Brand Saxophone Reeds. Your teacher will usually recommend one of these types of reeds to start with. Reed sizes vary in half measures from 1.5 to 4.
Should you soak saxophone reeds?
You should soak your reeds for about one minute with saliva. This ensures that the reed is moist enough to play well without being so wet that it becomes waterlogged. If the reed is brand new, you may want to soak it more thoroughly with water for about twenty minutes before working with it.
Are plastic sax reeds good?
Durability. At the end of the day, synthetic reeds are more durable than cane. Since synthetic reeds are manufactured with durability in mind, they won’t get warped or dry out when you aren’t playing your saxophone or clarinet.
How can you tell if a reed is bad?
Old reeds that play mushy you should throw out. New reeds that play mushy, Clip. New reeds that play stiff, sand a little to soften. New reeds that play right out of the box.
Do plastic reeds wear out?
The reeds will eventually fatigue and become permanently softer, losing their tone quality. We strongly recommend that you keep two or three reeds in rotation and retire reeds periodically as they wear out. As a precaution, we advise against sharing reeds or using reeds that have been played by others.
How do you break in a saxophone reed fast?
We suggest that you break the reeds in by first soaking them for about 2-4 minutes in lukewarm to warm water, and making sure that the whole vamp, and not just the tip alone, gets wet (a reed that is too dry or only wet at the very tip might tend to squeak).
How many times can you use a reed?
A good rule of thumb is you should replace your reed every 2-4 weeks, no matter how often you’re playing your instrument. You may want to replace your reeds more frequently if you’re practicing several hours each day. Some reeds also may not last as long as others, every reed plays slightly differently.
Can you use a chipped reed?
You can play on a chipped reed if it’s not chipped too bad. But, the damage to the reed will affect the sound. It is not advisable to use chipped reeds because in some cases, it will destroy the sound of your reed instrument or it will be completely unplayable.
How do you know when to change a saxophone reed?
If you’re noticing that the tip of your saxophone reed is chipped, it may be time for a replacement. In some cases, chipped tips won’t affect playing, while in other instances chipped reed tips will make the reed completely unplayable. To verify the extent of the damage, observe where the tip is chipped.
What size sax reed is for me?
The normal range for reeds is 2 to 5: the lower the number, the thinner the reed, and the higher the number, the thicker the reed. The thickness of the reed will affect the tone and how easy or difficult the instrument is to play. In general, a thinner reed, say 2 or 2.5, will have a brighter tone.
Are plastic reeds good?
Plastic reeds are excellent in that they can produce a sound which rivals that of good cane reeds while being more consistent and playing right out of the box. However, even the best plastic reeds will be surpassed by the best cane reeds in both quality of sound and responsiveness.
What reed does Chris Potter use?
“I’ve been using D’Addario Select Jazz reeds for many years now. They work consistently for me and allow me the freedom to express myself musically without feeling limited in any way by the reed.” “I’ve been using D’Addario Select Jazz reeds for many years now.
Can a sax reed be too wet?
Can I make my reed too wet ? The short answer here is no – you can’t really make a reed too wet. However, in the same breath, there is no need to drown it in saliva or water either.
How do you keep a saxophone reed wet?
Fill a plastic jar with warm water and soak the reeds in the jar for 2 hours. Put the reeds back in their plastic covers. Dump the water out of the jar, but leave just a little bit at the bottom to keep in some moisture. Put the reed covers (with the reeds inside them) in the of the plastic jar and seal the jar.
