Reed Drilling AND Reed Soaking?

**Roger Aldridge** · 04-05-2003, 09:21 PM

Reed Drillers:

Do any of you soak your drilled reeds for a few minutes before playing?

I fully expect that I'M doing something wrong in using my primitive drilling tools instead of the good equipment that Bootman and others are using. Never the less, there's the deal....

The reeds I drilled sound really great at first. However, within a fairly short period of time (ie, a week) the reeds begin to sound the worst. Before playing I'll soak a reed around 3 minutes. I'm wondering if the wood surrounding the drilled hole might be becoming negatively affected in some way by soaking. I don't have this problem in soaking undrilled reeds. This is really messing up my mind! Again, this may have more to do with my primitive methods than with reed drilling itself.

Anyway, I'm curious if any of the guys who are having good results with reed drilling also soak their reeds.

Thanks for your help!!!

**Bootman** · 04-05-2003, 10:04 PM

I never soak my reeds, I wet the just before playing them, drilled or not. I have not noticed this problem. I would also make certain that I am not doing anything wrong with my embouchure after playing for a period of time. Basic rules are check yourself out first before the reed, if everything in the embouchure area is correct then move onto reed.

**Roger Aldridge** · 04-06-2003, 03:57 PM

Bootman,

Yes, this is certainly good advice.

I don't think that I was having something going on with my embouchure. Rather, I must have messed up the reeds. I suspect that it was a combination of the way that I drilled the reeds along with soaking them prior to playing. I can't help but think that this did a number on the condition of the cane in the heart of the reed. After getting frustrated with the reeds I broke in a new box of Classiques (undrilled) yesterday and they sounded absolutely fine. Then, last night I played with a friend's blues band. There wasn't any problem at all with my sound using one of the new Classique reeds.

Well, it's by experimenting in this way that we learn about things.

Mike Cesati · 04-06-2003, 09:32 PM

RA,if it ain't broke don't fix it.

You have been one of the biggest proponents of the Classiques here. They mostly all work for you. It sounds like you don't need the drill techique. I'm not disputing the Bootman Drll thing . I tried it and you get results . I really don't drill my reeds but I do like to soak them . I actually like them well soaked especially as they break in. I ocassionally use a pocket knife and shave or sometimes stab the vamp at the point Bootman drills . This will free up the reed somewhat. I think Alexander cane is great but I like ol' Orange Rico's. I get plenty of good players and out of 25 if I get 4-5 duds that I can't get to play I toss them. I think whatever you finally get to work as player just stay with it. I was a advocate of the Tupperware container for a while but I just decided to go back to my old tried and true methods. I play 4 reeds for a feww minutes each the first couple of sessions. After that the best one goes on my mpc and stays there till its DEAD. I do take it of to rinse it but keep it strapped to the mpc and I use a cap with no air holes. I play everyday and the reed is always ready to go when I get home. Of course until it starts to die,then I sart auditioning my next playing reed. after playing the sax so long I just want to play and not fret over reeds anymore. It can be frustrating but I try to ignore my frustrations ,pick the best reed I got at the time and just BLOW.

Steve J. · 04-07-2003, 12:04 AM

Roger -
I don't perceive reed immersion for a mere 3 minutes to be any different than Bootman's "wetting". My personal reed break in routine involves immersion for anywhere between 10 to 40 minute soaks a minimum of three different occasions.
I have been pre-drilling for several months and have noticed no ill effects - I don't use classiques - Its been Java & Zondas.

I theorize that a higher speed drilling seals pores in the boot hole. Bootman, I believe you mentioned to me once you actually seal or polish the hole with sandpaper or reed rush.

I would guess the ill effect regarding longevity can be avoided when the area seals up better - either insured by further sealing action or repeated drill revolutions. I seem to have no downside with my drilled reeds and I subject them to greater soaking.

It is curious what happened to you.... Could it simply be a lame box of reeds? I wouldn't give up on drilling just yet..... I like it and I really soak compared to you. I also polish up all my performance quality reeds. This definitely promotes longevity and response.

I would suggest another go with another box and add a polish before too many repeated wettings --- if my theory makes any sense to you.

MS · 04-07-2003, 12:15 AM

Roger
I'm wondering if you need to start with a slightly more resistant reed for the drilling effect to be max and the reeds last a long time? Jsut curious.

mr00420 · 04-07-2003, 01:01 PM

I'm about to try this drilling technique just for the hell of it, but I do have some thoughts about the process vs. reed life length.

Soaking a drilled reed aside, I think that drilling a reed would have to increase the rate of the decay of the reed. Reeds become weak more b/c the vamp of the reed, its core, becomes weakened, rather then the break down of the tip of the reed. Drilling essentially weakens the vamp by removing core fibers. I think this would have to increase the decay of a drilled reed vs. an undrilled one. Now the question is how much faster a drilled reed will decay, and if it's significantly quicker than the rate w/ which an undrilled reed will decay or at least become undesirable to play.

Reeds seem to decay pretty quickly anyway if you're playing a lot, and a lot of people toss their reeds as soon as they get a little soft. I know I sometimes have a favorite reed that I will continue to play after it's turned brownish and has some chips in it. So depending on how long you keep playing a reed, an increased rate of reed decay may not even matter to you.

**Bootman** · 04-07-2003, 01:48 PM

mr00420,
Use a reed one size harder than you normally use and you will experience a very long lasting reed usually. There are exceptions. Certain brands of reeds don't last as long as other brands, most of these brands of reeds are well known to eash of us.

Roger,
Try various brands of reeds and see if you're results change. I also polish my reeds with the back of the sand paper. This seals the reed and increases reed life for me. Ihave been having success with drilled Plasticovers of late too.

**Roger Aldridge** · 04-07-2003, 02:43 PM

Bootman -- What I think happened is that the hand crank drill I used didn't leave a smooth, sealed, hole. Rather, it was pretty ragged. I used some reed rush to help smooth it out. But, the results were FAR LESS than ideal. Because the hole wasn't smooth and sealed I can't help but think that soaking must screwed up the condition of the wood. Anyway, this is my theory.

MS and Steve -- The reeds I drilled were all truly excellent reeds. They had a range of resistance. As I mentioned before, they played like a dream for several days after drilling. Absolutely great sound!!! However, when I soaked and went through them in preparation for a gig that night every one of them all of a sudden sounded raspy and terrible. Happily, I've been stocking up on boxes of Classiques. So, I got a box out, broke in the reeds, and everything was fine for the gig.

I think that I'll try one more experiment. As I mentioned before, I don't have a good space in our house for reed drilling equipment. This is why I tried a hand crank drill. I'm now wondering if a reed burning tool might work better for me. At least it will seal the hole. I'll give it a try and see how it works. Chalk it up to curiosity! As Mike C mentioned, I'm already getting excellent results with Classique reeds. So, if the reed burning experiment doesn't work I can go back to using Classiques as is and be quite happy.

**spiderjames** · 04-08-2003, 01:52 AM

I'm very new to reed drilling but I'll throw my 2 cents worth in. I recently switched to a metal mouthpiece from a HR and was experiencing some trouble in the low register. Bootman responded suggesting I drill my reeds which I did with good results. Here's what I did ahead of time just out of habit. I generally soak my reeds for several minutes and then seal the pores with my thumb against a peice of plexiglass and let them dry in my reed guard or on the glass. Nothing new here.

Then I played on each one and, using the if it ain't broke don't fix it mentality, drilled only the ones that were having trouble in the low end. It always seems to improve the reed and ocassionally I get one that plays better than the others. I guess my point is I soaked the reeds and let them dry before drilling and then when playing I only wet them in my mouth. Maybe it makes a difference? I too am using a hand drill and regular ol' drill bits. maybe give it a try?