Is it just me (Plasticover)

[Chimpoo]

I've recently bought Plasticover reeds for my alto sax and when I thump my tongue against the reed, some of the black plastic stuff comes off really easily
Is this normal?

[saxplayaJ]

dont play plastic reeds. you'll never find a good tone. cane reeds don't have stuff coming off of them

[geauxsax]

dont play plastic reeds. you'll never find a good tone. cane reeds don't have stuff coming off of them

Plasticovers are cane reeds, and many people do get a good tone with them, as well as with full synthetics.

For the original question, a little bit of the black plastic coming off is OK, but if more than a little, it could just be a bad batch.

[Pure Magic]

Plasticover reeds are ok but if you are playing somewhere humid then they are the best. When I have an outside gig they play great. Especially if you are switching horns alot. The read doesn't dry out but if you are just using them inside a house or in dry conditions I prefer regular reeds.

The black stuff does come off sometimes and they are too expensive in my opinion.

[saxplayaJ]

geauxsax,
yes plastic covers last longer but they are very limiting because through personal expierence i have found the sounds produced by plastccovers to be dead instead of dark and resonent.

[geauxsax]

geauxsax,
yes plastic covers last longer but they are very limiting because through personal expierence i have found the sounds produced by plastccovers to be dead instead of dark and resonent.

Different reeds for different folks. . . .

[saxplayaJ]

touche...

[Bossman]

geauxsax,
yes plastic covers last longer but they are very limiting because through personal expierence i have found the sounds produced by plastccovers to be dead instead of dark and resonent.

In your experience.

That's like saying "In my experience, conns suck." Go tell that to all the pros using them day in and day out.

Everything is subjective.

[saxplayaJ]

I'm pretty sure i said "touche" meaning i see your point(geauxsax's) and i'm done.
bossman, your comment was completely unnecessary...

[zorroperro]

Plasticovers are the very best reeds I have ever used. They produce a fabolous sound. Great, great reeds.

[zorroperro]

Yes, sometimes the plastic goes off...

[SoulMate]

Indeed, sometimes the coating doesn't hold up. This might have been the case in 2 or 3% of all plasticovers I played. And I played a lot of those 5 reed boxes :)
They're very nice bright reeds, lots of power and fairly consistent.

Now I'm on Fibracells for over a year. Now that's consistency ...;)
...and a whole lot cheaper. They seem to last a very long time and soundwise I like them even better than cane, average cane that is.

[area51recording]

I have problems sometimes w/the black stuff sticking to my lip if my lips are dry when I take the mouthpiece in my mouth. I've gotten in the habit of licking my lip just before inserting the mouthpiece and it solved the problem for me.

[bluesaxgirl]

dont play plastic reeds. you'll never find a good tone. cane reeds don't have stuff coming off of them
Not true. I interchange between synthetic cane reeds and Vandorens, I do admit the Vandorens have a richer sound, but synthetics are definately good for practice.

[cjpts]

I've only bought one box so far which is now too soft, but I find that a couple of reeds have lost some of the black coating too. I think one might have rubbed against a reed cap or something, but some has worn away on the back of the reed through playing.

I hope I don't find little black pieces stuck to my pads!

[michaelbaird]

Yes, the plastic comes off somewhat. I use them on instruments I keep on stands when I want to pick them up and play them fast; they don't warp as bad.

[Pete Thomas]

I've never known the black to come off until the reed is getting quite close to the end of its life. I find them to be lovely reeds.

[Bill Mecca]

I hope I don't find little black pieces stuck to my pads!

better than the other possibility, little pieces of your lip stuck to the reed. Discussed a while back.

I use #3 Plasticovers, on occasion a small bit of the covering comes off, even on a new reed, but it's still playin.

[Jeff C]

In the last year I have tried Vandoren Java's, V16's, ZZ's, Alexander Superials, DC's, NY's, Fibracells, Bari's, Legere, Jazz Select, and Plasticover. The Plasticover 2.5 gives me consistent full sound on every note on my horn, the best Altissimo, and is the only reed so far that I have found that I can put on my mpc. and LEAVE it there. I dont want to have to pamper my reeds and treat them like gold. I will be sticking w/ the Plasticover and most likely going to a #3 soon. The Alexander Superial would be my second choice, but they have to be stored in a reed case so they wont warp. So far, the Plasticovers left on my mpc. have not warped at all.

[Zannad]

Love them plasticovers...
Bought the 1.5 size because I wanted to practice with softer reeds which would last a bit longer than traditional reeds.
The sound produced has a different edge especially with a size 6 metal MP...the Mid-High register never sounded so "in the face" and grasping.

[michaelbaird]

I just went back to using plasticovers as a regular reed instead of just for practice. I'm getting to where I can control it; 3.5 on a Dukoff D8. Actually, I think I'm getting to like them. I'm playing in a rock-n-roll band, so the tone can be brighter to compete with the guitars.

[jrvinson45]

I've recently bought Plasticover reeds for my alto sax and when I thump my tongue against the reed, some of the black plastic stuff comes off really easily
Is this normal?

I don't think it's normal at all; however, I'm not sure that "thumping" one's tongue against the reed is all that "normal" either.

[saxphil]

Blow brutha blow
Don't be eatin' it :)

[nachoman]

I use plasticovers and, yes, I do find they occassionally shed their skin- though it doesn't have any significant effect on their sound, lifespan of playability (once in a while the black skin sticks to the table of my Berg, now that is annoying... but no really big deal)

[MM]

I have had problems with the plastic sticking to my bottom lip. I don't use them much anymore.

[Doghouse Riley]

Plasticover are fine if you are going to keep picking up your horn playing it for a short time several times in the day. They need little warm up. I find they tend to blow louder than the same strength cane reed.

It's best not to let them dry out on a metal mouthpiece before removing them. If dry out they can pull some of the plating off the table of a metal link. Best to soak them first.

I find fibrecells expensive and "buzzy."

[jrvinson45]

Plasticover are fine if you are going to keep picking up your horn playing it for a short time several times in the day. They need little warm up. I find they tend to blow louder than the same strength cane reed.

It's best not to let them dry out on a metal mouthpiece before removing them. If dry out they can pull some of the plating off the table of a metal link. Best to soak them first.

I find fibrecells expensive and "buzzy."

Great tip, Doghouse. I had forgotten about the effect trying to pry a dry plasticover off a plated metal mouthpiece... you're absolutely right. Thanks.:)

[cjmdsax]

I love Plasticovers, but I do find that once in a great while the tip of one will warp. With all that coating, it doesn't un-warp very easily. I have one like that right now. It plays beautifully, maybe best in the box, but warps after about a minute :cry:

I use them on a Link and fortunately have not had issues with plating coming off, and I have definitely had them dry out before removing them.