Music Voices

Saxophone Reeds

In this article we explorer various methods for choosing saxophone reeds. This article is written for the novice player, but experts might find the information useful as well. Let us get started.
As most players know, saxophone reeds are not cheap. Furthermore, they can be quite inconsistent in quality unless a synthetic reed is purchased. Saxophone reeds are made from natural products that cause large quality differences. These differences are present between sax reeds of identical brands and styles. Most manufactures do not implement strict quality control practices to ensure consistent production. However, in defense, we can not expect each reed to be inspected or played before shipping. This can cause issues for players of all skill levels. What do we do about this? Let us consider a few scenarios.
Some stores will not permit a detailed search of the sax reeds to find the best. In this situation, you buy a few of them, and hope it works out. In other situations, the store will allow a thorough inspection to find a good reed. Most high end shops will permit this type of action. Here is how we proceed:
First, take a good look at it. Hold the saxophone reed up to a bright light and examine it for any chips, cracks, or holes. Do not choose any with those defects. Be alert for discoloration in the wood grain. If you see discoloration with a non-uniform wood grain, then discard that reed. Ensure that the wood grain is not coarse and has a consistent width. The reed should look as uniform as possible. Inspect for flatness, and watch for imperfections. A slight curvature is acceptable, but it should be limited.
Now, lets check for stiffness. If the store allows, gently flex the reed. Be careful not to break it! A nice reed should be slightly stiff. If the reed feels loose (you will get better at this with experience), then choose another. A loose reed can indicate that it is out of balance, and it is important to eliminate this potential problem.
If you perform the steps above, you will definitely increase your chance of finding quality saxophone reeds. Now keep in mind, it is not always possible to eliminate bad reeds. Since it is not possible to play the reed before purchase, I recommend buying multiple reeds at one time in case of problems. I hope this article increases your chance of selecting quality saxophone reeds

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