Aloe Vera to revitalize reeds?

[Zannad]

I started experimenting with faulty reeds....instead of chucking them, I'm applying onto them all sort of stuff, including olive oil and aloe vera.
The Aloe Vera in particular seems to be working in keeping the reed moist...the sounds seems ok too, yet, such reeds were already defective, so any judment on the sound quality isn't going to be useful and I'm not yet prepared to experiment with the new ones.

Any ideas? Can aloe vera be an alternative to certain expensive Revitalizers?

[hakukani]

Aloe vera tastes bad.

Olive oil is yummy. What if you added a little balsamic vinegar?

[DavyRay]

What about just sticking an olive on the end of the offending reed?
Good incentive to practice?

[Spongebob Saxpants]

Any ideas? Can aloe vera be an alternative to certain expensive Revitalizers?

How expensive are these supposed Revitalizers? If they are more expensive than getting new reeds, then it isn't worth it at all. If they're cheaper, then how well do they work? Either way, it seems like it would be easier to not make a fuss about it and just get new reeds.

[Zannad]

How expensive are these supposed Revitalizers? If they are more expensive than getting new reeds, then it isn't worth it at all. If they're cheaper, then how well do they work? Either way, it seems like it would be easier to not make a fuss about it and just get new reeds.

Isn't better to experiment a bit? After all these are faulty reeds...nothing to lose really. 8-)
What if Aloe Vera works better than the revitalizer? I'm testing them both right now.
Yet, oils seems to dampen the sound a bit...but aloe vera isn't oily as such...I just smear a bit of it after playing and put the reed in the holder, much easier than using those revitalizers bags!

[Spongebob Saxpants]

Isn't better to experiment a bit? After all these are faulty reeds...nothing to lose really. 8-)
What if Aloe Vera works better than the revitalizer? I'm testing them both right now.
Yet, oils seems to dampen the sound a bit...but aloe vera isn't oily as such...I just smear a bit of it after playing and put the reed in the holder, much easier than using those revitalizers bags!

That's true. I guess since I've never experimented much with reeds that I don't give it much thought sometimes. One thing that I've noticed is that if you leave a reed unused for a while (after it has "died"), that you can usually come back and play it for a while. It will "die" again, but there is almost always a little life left in them.:)

[Zannad]

That's true. I guess since I've never experimented much with reeds that I don't give it much thought sometimes. One thing that I've noticed is that if you leave a reed unused for a while (after it has "died"), that you can usually come back and play it for a while. It will "die" again, but there is almost always a little life left in them.:)


Well you are talking about "dead" reeds...I'm very upset about losing a couple of great sounding reeds just because they got dry (as I was busy with other reeds). They become more vulnerable after not being used for few days.
I've learned the lesson...next time I plan to store some good reeds, I'll make sure they are kept moist...revitalizers or Aloe Vera or whatever...I've got plenty of chipped, splitted reeds to experiment with.

Don't just chuck them away....think GREEN!:D

[hakukani]

Are you using aloe directly from the plant, or some sort of commercial gel?

[Zannad]

Are you using aloe directly from the plant, or some sort of commercial gel?

Commercial GEL from health stores...
At the moment, I've just treated one reed which kept warping and sounded a bit naff.
A little test on the mouthpiece seems encouraging, as I can play 1 octave + a 3rd without any problem. Tomorrow I'll try the real thing on the sax...yet, any judgement is going to be skewed by the fact that the reed was "bad" in the first place.

[gary]

When my reeds get dry I soak them in water.

[MartinMusicMan]

Here's a recipe for a revitalizer: in a chilled glass, pour 1 oz. very good gin, add a dash of dry vermouth and an olive. Soak the reed in this mixture for about a minute. Throw the reed away. Drink the dry martini. You'll feel revitalized.

[Zannad]

When my reeds get dry I soak them in water.

That's pretty obvious, I do that myself...yet, Rico is selling this Revitalizers bags to keep humidity at a certain level, so apparently reeds treated this way last longer...

[Zannad]

When my reeds get dry I soak them in water.

That's pretty obvious, I do that myself...yet, Rico is selling this Revitalizers bags to keep humidity at a certain level, so apparently reeds treated this way last longer...
I'm not betting on Aloe Vera...but probably it works somehow, after all it is used as a moisturizer and it isn't greasy...

[SuperAction80]

If I have a faulty reed, I will sand them and/or drill them. If neither method works, I chuck them. In any event, I get about 90% of my bought reeds playable. OTOH, I'm cheap...so the less than perfect reeds go to those polka shows.;)

[gary]

That's pretty obvious, I do that myself...yet, Rico is selling this Revitalizers bags to keep humidity at a certain level, so apparently reeds treated this way last longer.

Or "apparently" Rico is, like all too many companies, looking for something - anything - new and different to sell, whether it's that functional or not. ;)

[SuperAction80]

Or "apparently" Rico is, like all too many companies, looking for something - anything - new and different to sell, whether it's that functional or not. ;)


:director:GRUMPS, YOU'RE NEEDED IN THIS THREAD!!!:D

[Zannad]

If I have a faulty reed, I will sand them and/or drill them. If neither method works, I chuck them. In any event, I get about 90% of my bought reeds playable. OTOH, I'm cheap...so the less than perfect reeds go to those polka shows.;)

Drill them? You mean trim?
Anyhow, the point of the discussion is not to transform faulty reeds into good ones (if at all possible), but to preserve good reeds as long as possible.
(faulty reeds should be useful sometimes to try out new solutions - e.g. Aloe Vera....).

I've already mentioned about losing a couple of very good reeds just after storing them for a couple of weeks...it seems that they become much more liable to splitting if they get dry - the solution would be to avoid extreme transitions from Dry-Wet-Dry...IMHO, once they get wet and properly "sounded" they shouldn't be allowed to lose their moisture completely.

[Spongebob Saxpants]

Drill them? You mean trim?


No, I think he means drill. I have heard that some people drill holes through the "butt end" (the thick part) of the reed. It is supposed to help them to play better.

[DavyRay]

You're talking about Bootman's reed improvement process.

http://www.geocities.com/reed_drilling/

[Spongebob Saxpants]

You're talking about Bootman's reed improvement process.

http://www.geocities.com/reed_drilling/

Ah, yes. That is exactly what I was thinking of. I've never tried it, but many people swear by it.

[Zannad]

You're talking about Bootman's reed improvement process.

http://www.geocities.com/reed_drilling/

I see now....yet, there ins't any explanation why these holes should work, there is much more than just playing a sax these days...
Just a thought, why manufacturers don't drill reeds in the first place?

[Zannad]

update:
A simple test on a couple of Rico grade 3 suggests there is no real difference in sound. It is to be seen whether the one treated with Aloe Vera will outlast the untreated one.
Yet, I'm a bit concerned about certain additives present in the gel format.

Beside:
What about to simply keep used reeds soaked permanently under water? It may not be too practical in certain situations but in most instances it would just a case of changing the water every few days (I guess).

[hakukani]

update:
A simple test on a couple of Rico grade 3 suggests there is no real difference in sound. It is to be seen whether the one treated with Aloe Vera will outlast the untreated one.
Yet, I'm a bit concerned about certain additives present in the gel format.

Beside:
What about to simply keep used reeds soaked permanently under water? It may not be too practical in certain situations but in most instances it would just a case of changing the water every few days (I guess).

Keeping reeds in water makes them waterlogged.

You could get an aloe vera plant, then there would be no additives, just squeeze the gel from the leaf.

[Spongebob Saxpants]

You could get an aloe vera plant, then there would be no additives, just squeeze the gel from the leaf.

Just curious, but where exactly do you get an aloe vera plant?

[bobsax]

It makes a difference where you live.
a gentle reminder to those that don't have a location under there avatar.
As I recall in Boston my reeds never really dried up completely.
Out here in Nor-Cal they wrinkle up a bit. I just run water on the holder a few min before I play and they are all ready if I need a new one during a gig.
I like these http://www.wwbw.com/Vito-Reed-Guards-(Closeout)-i81393.music
They're small and if you have several you can have a different one for reeds of similar characteristics. {They also work for Legere}
For me I find that bad reeds turn into good ones.
Just play them a bit and put them in a holder for bad reeds and then periodically check them out to see if they've gotten better.
They always do for me :)

[hakukani]

Just curious, but where exactly do you get an aloe vera plant?


You can get them at many plant stores.

...or my yard, whichever is closer.

[hakukani]

It makes a difference where you live.
a gentle reminder to those that don't have a location under there avatar.
As I recall in Boston my reeds never really dried up completely.
Out here in Nor-Cal they wrinkle up a bit. I just run water on the holder a few min before I play and they are all ready if I need a new one during a gig.
I like these http://www.wwbw.com/Vito-Reed-Guards-(Closeout)-i81393.music (http://www.wwbw.com/Vito-Reed-Guards-%28Closeout%29-i81393.music)
They're small and if you have several you can have a different one for reeds of similar characteristics. {They also work for Legere}
For me I find that bad reeds turn into good ones.
Just play them a bit and put them in a holder for bad reeds and then periodically check them out to see if they've gotten better.
They always do for me :)

I have Van Doren 'blue box'(the box was purple then) from the late 70s/ early 80s. The ones that were playable played. The ones that weren't still aren't any good. Maybe if I keep them another 20 years...;)

[SuperAction80]

update:
A simple test on a couple of Rico grade 3 suggests there is no real difference in sound.

The only time I really use the method is when I have a "stuffy" reed. I'm really not sure why it helps, but I'm assuming that it has something to do with loosening up the fibers in the reed, allowing the reed to vibrate more freely. Sanding is just one of those things that you just have to do with most reeds.

This is the first time I've ever heard of using Aloe Vera. Interesting. Next time I pick up one of the plants, I'll give it a try. They're also very good for burns and cuts.

[Dog Pants]

I see now....yet, there ins't any explanation why these holes should work, there is much more than just playing a sax these days...
Just a thought, why manufacturers don't drill reeds in the first place?


If you look through old advertisements for reeds,you'll see that, reed drilling is nothing new and some manufacturers did indeed drill the reeds in the first place.

[Durand]

Here's a recipe for a revitalizer: in a chilled glass, pour 1 oz. very good gin, add a dash of dry vermouth and an olive. Soak the reed in this mixture for about a minute. Throw the reed away. Drink the dry martini. You'll feel revitalized.

Cheers!

:D

[Sasquatch]

Keeping reeds in water makes them waterlogged.

Store reeds in water and they get waterlogged, why not just store the reeds in gin?

[BYOB]

I suppose I'll be presenting a conflicting view to many of you, but I've found that using that humidifier packs (namely the ones that come with the Rico Reserves) trashes my reeds more than revitalizes them.

Personally I've never been happier with using just plain old water.

[al9672]

anyone tried using green tea ?

[konex]

Here's a recipe for a revitalizer: in a chilled glass, pour 1 oz. very good gin, add a dash of dry vermouth and an olive. Soak the reed in this mixture for about a minute. Throw the reed away. Drink the dry martini. You'll feel revitalized.

Great idea!, i´ll drink a few Dry Martinis tonight, maybe tomorrow my reeds sound better.


Cheers!