your method for evaluating reeds after break-in

[7alphatango]

Please share how you evaluate reeds after they have been broken in. For example, do you number or initial "d" for dark, etc. what do you note on the back of your reeds?

[Dog Pants]

I number them 1-6. I don't write anything else on them. I just rotate them and then every week or so, I'll toss the worst one and a new reed goes into the mix.

[Hurling Frootmig]

Here's my routine since returning to cane on some horns:

1) Open Box
2) Remove Reed
3) Place bottom of reed on a piece of 800 grit sand paper which is on a flat surface and lightly sand bottom.
4) Take a small piece of 800 grit sand paper and sand lightly the vamp.
5) Place reed in a reed guard (reed hold)

I have two reed guard that hold four reeds each. Each slot is numbered 1 through 8. I play the reed in slot 1 if it is Sunday, slot 2 if it is Monday and so on. When a reed is played out I toss it and pull the extra reed from slot 8. I also keep a number of reeds prepared and stored in their individual holders. All prepared reeds are put in a plastic zip top bag and kept with my main horn within the saxophone family.

I also keep a supply of fibracells on hand for given situations such as having to double.

[hgiles]

If it's good enough to perform publicly on then I mark the end with a crayon. Otherwise I practice on them and play test them at home. I might occassionally sand one, but not so much anymore.

[CSharp]

Mine is as follows:

I place new reeds in cup with fresh water and one teaspoon of Mint Listerine. I leave them soaking overnight. The next day, I play test each.

Grading scale - I mark each one with a grade of "I", "II", "III" ("I" is best and "III" is worst). The III's generally aren't worth keeping, but I give them one more soak day then pitch them if they still don't play well.

I leave the I's soaking and I put the II's back in the box to test/play later. (411 - I keep my best reeds soaking all the time. When I transport them, I put them in a reed holder and then seal them in a ziplock bag to keep them moist. I used to think that would waterlog them but actually, this method works great for me. I change the water/listerine mix once a week or so.)

Each day, I play one of the I's (cycling through them one day at a time). Once I feel like I'm starting to burn out a reed, I start soaking the II's again and see if any play more to my liking than before. At that time, I also order a new box. :)

BTW, I like a free-blowing reed that plays well and responds well from bottom to top. I like a clear sound without a lot of edge. I generally use the same brand of reed so I don't do the dark/bright evaluation, just does sound good and perform well. However, if I evaluate new brands, I tend to judge them differently (bright, dark, edgy, resistant, etc.). On a whole, I tend to either like the different brand or I don't.

[Swingin' Cat]

1) Open box
2) Remove reed
3) Suck on reed for a minute or two
4) Place reed on mouthpiece and play
5) Remove reed from mouthpiece when finished playing
6) Wipe off reed with clean handerkerchief
7) Place reed in LaVoz Reed Guard
8) Place Reed Guard in saxophone case for storage

Repeat as needed until reed stops responding.

[kryz]

1) Soak in warm water for a few Minutes
2) test play a few minutes for 2-3 days
3) Flatting them with 1000 sandpaper and mirror
4) Keep the best for "performing"
5) Use the other ones too :) :P

Chris

[Nefertiti]

I'm with Swingin' Cat. Wet it, play it until it dies, get a new one and repeat.

[dirty]

1) Open box
2) Remove reed
3) Suck on reed for a minute or two
4) Place reed on mouthpiece and play
5) Remove reed from mouthpiece when finished playing
6) Wipe off reed with clean handerkerchief
7) Place reed in LaVoz Reed Guard
8) Place Reed Guard in saxophone case for storage

Repeat as needed until reed stops responding.
Word. This has worked great since I switched form Vandoren to Rico/LaVoz. They all play relatively similarly for me. I love it!

[jazzbluescat]

Please share how you evaluate reeds after they have been broken in. For example, do you number or initial "d" for dark, etc. what do you note on the back of your reeds?
No. I used to keep that in mind though. Now I try to make all reeds play the same and just adjust myself to the current reed that I'm using; for the sake of consistency.

[7alphatango]

interesting...i think we all appreciate the input. it makes a lot of sense not to rate a reed bright/dark if one is using the same reeds. But in a box of 20 ZZ's or java's it's not unusual to find a good many reeds that group into different categories. At least that has been the case for me the last couple of years playing those reeds.
i'm breaking in a box each of dc's 3, superials 2.5, and classiques 2.5 - at the first play(only 5mins, sofltly) they are remarkable consistant (the classiques vary some in firmness). jj hr 6, consoli ramplig, sx 90r black nickel rolled tone holes.