Plasticover

[dirty]

I bought a box of plasticover bari sax reeds (#4) the other day, and they played great right out of the box. After a few minutes though, the reeds started to feel dead, cracked on the high notes and jumped an octave on the low notes. What's going on? this seems like they're getting a little TOO soft to just be regular break-in. Does anyone else have this problem?

I really like the sound for the first 10 or 15 minutes though, its exactly what I want to sound like on bari.

[zorroperro]

Plasticovers are very good reeds but they kind a get soft fast, but once they get like that, they stay without chaging too much.

Thery are good reeds and can help with with altissimo. They respond quickly.

[dirty]

wwbw doesn't sell them any harder than 4. Does rico make 4.5 or 5 plasticovers?

[Bill Mecca]

Sam Butera played #5 plasticovers on a 130/0 Berg, so they must make em.

check discountreed.com

One thought I had was maybe you're unconciously biting to make the tip opening in effect smaller to accomodate the stiff reed, and are over-stressing the reed? I play 2, 2.5, 3 Plasticovers and have asome 3.5 and they seem to last forever for me.

Just a thought/

[dirty]

I don't think I'm biting, because the intonationstays pretty good throughout the range of the horn and the tone doesn't thin out up top. Those are symptoms of biting right? Those were the problems I had when I first started tenor after years of clarinet playing.

[super20dan]

only reed to use -none better

[Alto Giant]

Yes they get quickly too soft.I play Plasticover 2,5 on bari and after a certain time it's harder to play with them with good sound..the sound gets very thin..

I bought a plasticover 3 for soprano...and they are soooo soft that i threw the box away..I usually play Hemke 3 on it

AG

[dirty]

I bought a box of #5's, so we'll see how that goes.

[chipmorrison]

I've been using Plasticover #3s on my bari for several months now. They usually play pretty good out of the box, though with a fresh one I tend to have trouble getting low B and Bflat. Some possibility it's more because I'm not warmed up, as I almost always start a new reed at the beginning of a practice session. Anyway, I'm always amazed at how good a new one sounds (especially the volume), which raises an interesting question: Do these things play best at the beginning, then gradually go down hill, or do they need break-in first, then peak, then deteriorate?

I noticed a tenor player (pro) at one of the clubs I hang out at was putting on a new plasticover right in the middle of the gig. Further evidence that you can play them right out of the box.

I've noticed the plastic wears off in a characteristic way for me, starting with whitish flakes at the center after an hour or two, gradually becoming a sort of oval white patch, which then broadens out toward the sides after a few sessions. I've come to think that when the worn part reaches the sides, it tends to be cooked (has started losing volume) and I chuck it. I figure I get maybe 10-20 good hours out of one reed.

[saxmanglen]

My experience with Plasticovers is I need a 1/2 strength stonger than a straight cane reed. They're a little stiff to start but work well after broken in.

[vito]

Read my experience here...

http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=297793&postcount=32

Vito