Who balances reeds well?

[Saxaholic]

Calling out to all you players who balance your own reeds. I'm looking for someone who is very good at balancing reeds...I'm buying stock of Rico Orange Box reeds and was looking to send them to someone who can balance and drill the reeds for me. Of course I'd pay for the services. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

Saxaholic

[Dweekie]

Getting somebody else to balance your reeds sounds a bit unsanitary. Also, if it's played on a different mouthpiece, it won't end up balanced on your particular mouthpiece. Of course it seems like I'm using a different definition of reed balancing. I think of it as a way to even out the resistance felt on each rail of the mouthpiece by sanding the reed on the side with greater resistance. Are you referring to the exact physical dimensions of the reed? Either way, it won't help the reeds to get somebody else to do it. You'll have to match it to your mouthpiece in a way that matches the way you play since you might naturally put more pressure on one side of the mouthpiece than the other without knowing it. I'm sure others will give much better descriptions/advice than me. Good luck on your reed issues.

[Sigmund451]

You really need to learn to do that yourself. Its an important part of getting the sound you want. If you dont have a drill press to drill the reeds find someone in town that does or buy one on the cheap (I got a cheap table top version for 35 bucks). Then just buy a 1/4 inch plunge router bit with a FLAT/Squared bottom. Make a little jig outa scrap wood and glue or screws and your set. As for finishing and sanding look up "reed adjustment chart" on the net. There are a few brief guides to get you started. It really isnt all that hard to make subtle changes that help a lot. To be really good Im sure takes time and practice. As mentioned above, you have to play them to adjust them.

[Saxaholic]

I realize I need to do this myself, and I am in the process of learning. Time has been really strapped for things like that though, mostly I would just like them to be drilled because I haven't personally done that yet...but balancing them would be nice. I just mean having a decent reed that is evened out, they dont even have to play test the reed or anything. Just drill them and maybe balance a little.

I'm learning, slowly but surely. But if I was going to buy 50 Rico reeds I don't think I'd have the time or patience to drill and balance them. So I figured I'd cut myself a break :lol:

Us saxophone players ARE lazy. Yikes. 8)

Saxaholic

[Anonymous]

I used to balance reeds with sandpaper, scrapers, "dutch rush" and I only had marginal success. Then I bought this little gadget called "The Reed Wizard" and it is pretty overpriced for what it is BUT it has paid for itself by being able to balance the most critical part of the reeds -- or at least the part that I never could do correctly by myself. So I guess it isn't overpriced (at $200) since it has made more positive difference for me than a $200 mouthpiece would make (because I balance my bari, tenor, alto and soprano reeds with it - and clarinets if I had any)

Basically here is my routine:
I buy a box of 25 orange box Rico reeds (cheap), I play a reed and if it plays great (a couple do right out of the box) then I play it. If it is too stiff (I usually buy them a little stronger anyway because they soften up when you balance or drill them) or lifeless then I run the flat side over a flat file and play them again. Still too stiff? I run them through the reed wizard and balance the left and right sides towards the tip. Still too stiff or dull sounding? I file away the bark (french file). Still too stiff or dull? I drill it but I've found drilling drops the stiffness A LOT so I usually only drill a reed if it is really too stiff or has been clipped back.

I forgot to mention that reeds soften up and liven up a lot over the first 15-20 minutes of playing and if I do all that adjusting on a new reed it is usually way too soft after I break it in -- so I try to force myself to play on a reed for awhile before I adjust it unless it just really won't play at all.

Then ... when my bari reeds get too soft to be clipped back any more, I turn it into a tenor reed and use the reed wizard to get the thickness down where it belongs. This takes some creative filing of the sides but I can usually turn a bari into a tenor (or tenor into alto, alto into sop) in about 5 minutes and often they end up being the best reed I've got.

[Mike Cesati]

I was looking at the Ridneour reed finishing system at the Woodwind and Brasswind. I've been using orange Rico also and do my own thing. It's very little time once you get good at it. I use a pocket knife. I'm going to buy the Ridneour system. The Wizard seems a bit pricey. The Ridneour book and video is about 60 dollars.I want to improve on adjusting reeds because I have tons here that are so so and could be good players.