Reed Blowing

[Bryan Kendall]

What do you think of this technique?


After the usual reed soaking take the butt end of the reed and blow on it. This will get much or most of the water out of the reed. Then wipe off the excess water, put on your horn and play.

I saw this technique in this forum.

I think the term "preposterous" would about cover it!

[Vortex]

The word "pointless" would probably handle that description nicely too. If you read that thread again, that was an idea for testing to see if reeds were good, not for soaking them. It wouldn't really do anything.

Here's a better idea. After soaking your reed, put it right onto the mouthpiece, put your mouth onto the rig, and take a deep inhalation from it (without the hashish) to suck out any moisture still on the reed. Has the same effect, and clears the chamber too

[Toni Linder]

You can use this technique to test whether the surface of a reed is effectively sealed in, i. e. by stroking it with a small item like a spool, when it's wet.

As long there are any bubbles coming out of the reed when you blow in the butt, the reed is not sealed enogh.

By the way, this is a technique recommended by Dave Liebman in his book about saxophone sound - and not just a stupid idea as someone suggests!

[MS]

If there is any sap left in the cane, this will help remove it. Not necessary for good cane that is cured properly or chemically cured reeds.