Sand sythetic reeds?

[lutemann]

Can you sand a synthetic reed? I jusct bought one and find it a little too stiff.

[littlewailer]

Can you sand a synthetic reed? I jusct bought one and find it a little too stiff.

I tried sanding a fibracell and ended up getting a bunch of the little strands coming off the piece at a really alarming rate.

Legere is fine.

I don't know about any others.

[lutemann]

I think mine is a Legere. Thanks. Lat year I sanded a plastic reed it ended sounding very "dirty". Everything I played sounded a bit like David Sandborn.

[Danny Troy]

I've routinely sanded Fibracells, and used them for years, and also other synthetics, without a problem. Just finish it off with a very fine grit. I like to use the flexible sanding pads, and they are available in all grits....to super-fine, in any good hardware store.

One thing about using a reed clipper....I've found the Fibracells very hard to clip, even with a good reed clipper. I would imagine that's due to the Kevlar content.

[seattlebari]

Agreed with the posts on careful sanding. Early on, I had the same problem sanding the Fibracell Baris getting very "rough." Proper choice of slowing down, with fine to very fine grit paper solved that. They have held up quite well after exercising caution. Hahns and Hartmanns are similar, but overall for me, seem to benefit easily from LIGHT sanding.
Baris and Bari stars, the same. Hope it will help. Just go slow and easy, if you try this.

[Bill Mecca]

Miri told me you can do some sanding on the top of the Fibracell, but stay away from the coating on the bottom (side that lays on the table).

[Ivan Meyer Brasil]

I already use the Fibracell 19 years ago. I am in love with fibracell. Read this commentary is interesting because it speaks of fibracell and its compatibility with the mouthpiece.
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=117827

Thanks
Ivan Meyer

[eddierich]

Here's something I learned from a friend of mine who is a Legere endorser. You can actually dip Legeres in a cup of very hot water (close to boiling) to soften it.
Get your cup with water ready. When the reed makes contact with the hot water say the word "one." As soon as that "one" is out of your mouth, pull the reed out. Basically, it's one smooth, continuous down and up motion. If you hold it in too long, it will get too soft and be unplayable.

[max]

Here's something I learned from a friend of mine who is a Legere endorser. You can actually dip Legeres in a cup of very hot water (close to boiling) to soften it.
Get your cup with water ready. When the reed makes contact with the hot water say the word "one." As soon as that "one" is out of your mouth, pull the reed out. Basically, it's one smooth, continuous down and up motion. If you hold it in too long, it will get too soft and be unplayable.
It goes back to its original strength once it cools down, doesn't it?