Rotating (and logging) reeds

[chipmorrison]

How many of you log the reeds you rotate?

I have a plastic reed case that holds ten reeds, five on a side. I use one side for active reeds, and the other for ones that I've broken in and are ready to go into the rotation.

I play the active reeds in strict rotation, each day selecting the one from the bottom slot, moving the rest down, and then putting the one I just used back when I'm finished at the top (after letting it dry out on a piece of glass).

Also, recently I've gotten into the habit of keeping a log. I have all my reeds numbered (with fine-tip marker on the back side). After I finish playing, I add an entry to the log, giving the date, ID number of the reed, manufacturer, strength, how long I played it, and a comment, e.g., "Bit dull...some squeaking at C#3."

The data that accumulates in the log helps me make decisions, like when it's time to chuck a reed, or which reed I want to take to a jam. (Unless a reed is clearly messed up, I don't chuck a reed that plays badly unless I can establish that it's behaved badly before.)

I think I might have learned this from reading the Larry Teal book. Anyway, the system has really worked for me, and I feel I'm really getting a handle on the reed situation for the first time in seven years of playing.

(I would have added this to the "reed rotation" thread, but that conversation got really weird, which is too bad because the topic is pretty interesting.)

[Mike Cesati]

Glad it's working for you. Seems like alot of science. I would rather play an extra 5 minutes than log in my reeds performance.

My reeds are in 3 different spots.

1. on the mpc ( the one I'm using till it dies)

2 still in the reed guard (The ones that I've tried once and play ok but may need adjusting)

3. in the wastebasket (not worth playing or working on)

[Frank D]

You might want to go to a search engine and do a search on "OCD". :wink:

[JayLaczSax]

chipmorrison,


I pretty much do what you do with your reeds. After a six day breaking in period, I then put the reeds into my eight (soprano) or twelve (alto) reed rotations.

I write down, when I start the reed, whether I feel it's a "practice" or "performance" reed and any comments I have about the playability/response etc. of the reed. In the course of a year I change my comments about the reed, if it sounds different or becomes fuzzy or anything. I've never thought to comment after EVERY session. I however, feel thats a great idea! It seems like you would really have a handle on your reeds and really know what ones to use for performances and what not! I think tomorrow I will start doing this method.

I love talking about reeds with other woodwind peoples. My only complaint is that there is so much "vodoo" concerning reeds. I guess to each his own!

[chipmorrison]

I'm going to ignore the "OCD" comment, except to say that the previous thread on reed rotation went south because it got personal. I hope this thread can be for those of us who are truly interested in the topic.

It also seems clear to me that there's no need to log reeds if you don't rotate. Logging only makes sense if you're rotating several reeds, and especially if you're rotating reeds, as I do, for more than one horn. That can get confusing, especially if your memory ain't all that great.

One thing I'd like to add is that I enter a comment first, then go back and read previous comments on that particular reed, so the previous comments don't influence me. For example, I logged an alto reed this morning that seemed a bit dull and stiff. After making the note, I looked back and found that I had only recently broken the reed in, and hadn't played more than 30 minutes on it total. So I thought, okay, that makes sense. I'll give you another chance, you pretty little thing.

As for how long it takes to log a reed, it's less than a minute. Not a bad investment, especially when you consider the purpose, which is to get a nice sound. What other obsession matters?

[Mike Cesati]

Well I'm still glad it works for you. For me I notice unless I just keep playing the reed that is on my mpc it will change after the dry out session.I like to keep it moist and ligatured to the mpc. I do have a reedguard with other reeds that I know will perform. I may mark the butt end with a marker to let me know it's a really good one.Thats about it. Once I take a reed off the mpc (except to clean it) I am usually done with it and it is dying out.

[mr_syms]

i write the date that i bought/started playing the reeds on the back.
i find this helps

before i started that i just had them all floating around in my case (about 30 all up) this was a little dodgy, like a crappy lottery : )