reed bending

[bluesax]

For me reed bending is more of an issue then reed warping. Is reed bending normal or is it a consequence of too much pressure from the embouchure?
The main problem if a reed bends is that the tip opening gets too small.

[Bill Mecca]

reeds will conform to the facing of the mouthpiece it's used on. That is one of the main reason you should use a new reed when play testing a different mouthpiece.

[Rex]

Bill -- is the reed conformance to the facing different for synth vs. cane reeds? I have never "used up" a synth reed to know how it breaks down (or how long it takes) over time. I'm also wondering if keeping your reeds flat in a Reedgard or on glass reverses any of the reed-to-facing conformance? I think some SOTWers have written that they do not switch broken-in reeds to different mouthpieces because of this conformance.

[Bill Mecca]

rex that isa good question about the synth reeds. I have and do use them and swap them between mpcs with no apparent ill effects. as for the reedguard, I think( I don't know, but I think) it might help somewhat in returning the reed to a flat state, but being a natural material it will have been weakened a bit so may return to the conformed state much easier, it's been 'broken-in" so to speak.

Just my opinion.