Are synthetic saxophone reeds good?

Are synthetic saxophone reeds good?

Since synthetic reeds are manufactured with durability in mind, they won’t get warped or dry out when you aren’t playing your saxophone or clarinet. Plus, they won’t sound bad when you step off a plane and enter an environment where the humidity levels are different than your hometown.

Are synthetic reeds good?

Plastic (synthetic) reeds are not better than wood reeds. Although some people may prefer a synthetic reed because it is consistent and long-lasting, most players prefer natural cane reeds because of the warmer sound and feel. It’s is all about what each player prefers.

How long do saxophone synthetic reeds last?

between two and six months

The use of a synthetic material ensures the Légère reeds last much longer than their natural counterparts. Players can get anywhere between two and six months of use out of them, depending on intensity of use. With proper care, they could last even longer!

Which are the best saxophone reeds?

What is best synthetic alto sax reed?

5 Outstanding Alto Saxophone Reeds to Upgrade the Sound

• Editor’s Choice: Vandoren SR613.
• Best for Jazz: D’Addario Rico Select Jazz.
• Best Synthetic: Legere Signature ASSS3.25.
• Best Value: D’Addario Hemke Alto Sax Reeds.
• Best for Students: D’Addario RJA1030.

Why are synthetic reeds so expensive?

So yes, reeds are expensive to buy. But clearly, they’re also very expensive to produce. The process takes years, AND it requires large amounts of land located in a very expensive part of the world. It’s labor intensive and Employees in France actually cost a fortune.

What are the best synthetic reeds?

Legere reed is the leading company in producing the best synthetic clarinet reed, its reeds are being played by many world’s famous clarinetists. Legere reed “Uses polypropylene to make both single and double reeds.

Do you need to wet a synthetic reed?

Because synthetic reeds aren’t made from cane, they don’t need to get wet before playing. The fact that they don’t go through the wetting and drying process makes them last much longer. The best way to make your synthetic reed last even longer is to have multiple reeds that you rotate.

How can you tell if a reed is bad?

A “bad” reed is too soft or too hard for you, or dead sounding. This can often only be obvious after a while, maybe 30 minutes, maybe an hour of playing. Sometimes a good reed turns bad suddenly, sometimes bad reeds get better.

What reeds do professional saxophone players use?

There are numerous reed manufacturers currently marketing saxophone reeds. However, two major companies, D’Addario (Rico) and Vandoren, offer the most variety. Rico currently produces the following reeds: Rico, Rico Reserve Classic, Hemke, Grand Concert Select, Rico Plasticover, Rico Royal, Rico Jazz Select and La Voz.

Do you need to break in synthetic reeds?

First, it is important to break in new reeds over several days. Reeds absorb the most moisture the first time they are played, which makes it easy to waterlog a new reed. Encourage your students play a new reed for no more than 5-10 minutes during its first use.

How do you break in a synthetic reed?

Breaking in Legere Reeds – Danny Boylan – YouTube

Can you leave a reed on a mouthpiece?

It is best to remove the Légère reed from the mouthpiece when done playing. Leaving it on the mouthpiece can make it easier to be damaged by accidental brushing against it and chipping or cracking it.

Should you soak reeds in water?

Reeds play better when wet. A reed that has been soaked for a minute or two before playing will have more flexibility than a reed straight out of the box. Dry reeds are more likely to crack. A reed plays best when it is wet and pliant.

How do you break in a saxophone reed fast?

5 Steps to Break-In Your Reeds:

1. Take the reed out of its packaging.
2. Dip in water and massage the cane to seal and close the pores.
3. Do this for 3 days.
4. On the 4th day, play for only a few minutes.
5. Gradually increase the time playing the reed by a few minutes each day until a week has passed.

What reed did John Coltrane use?

Rico reeds
John Coltrane
He experimented with various Otto Link Tonemasters, which are noted for their projection and durability, usually with a relatively narrow 5 or 6 facing, in tandem with fairly hard Rico reeds.

What strength saxophone reed should I use?

The thickness of the reed will affect the tone and how easy or difficult the instrument is to play. In general, a thinner reed, say 2 or 2.5, will have a brighter tone. Thinner reeds vibrate more easily, so they are good for beginners.

Should you soak sax reeds?

You should soak your reeds for about one minute with saliva. This ensures that the reed is moist enough to play well without being so wet that it becomes waterlogged. If the reed is brand new, you may want to soak it more thoroughly with water for about twenty minutes before working with it.

Should I soak new reeds?

Breaking In A New Reed
We suggest that you break the reeds in by first soaking them for about 2-4 minutes in lukewarm to warm water, and making sure that the whole vamp, and not just the tip alone, gets wet (a reed that is too dry or only wet at the very tip might tend to squeak).

How do you break in a reed fast?

How long should I soak my saxophone reed?

We suggest that you break the reeds in by first soaking them for about 2-4 minutes in lukewarm to warm water, and making sure that the whole vamp, and not just the tip alone, gets wet (a reed that is too dry or only wet at the very tip might tend to squeak).

How do you prepare a new saxophone reed?

The key takeaway there is that you want to make sure your whole reed is wet. Instead of simply wetting your reeds with saliva, soak them in clean, fresh water, fully-submerged for a few minutes, and then take them out and let them sit for a good 5-15 minutes to soak up water before proceeding.

What reeds did Michael Brecker use?

Michael Brecker
He used Medium strength La Voz reeds, which would have been fairly free- blowing.

How do I know if my reed is too hard?

Some markers of when your reed is too hard:

1. Your tone is very breathy/airy, and you have to push really hard to get a good sound.
2. You get lightheaded when playing a long note or phrase.

Can a saxophone reed be too wet?

The short answer here is no – you can’t really make a reed too wet. However, in the same breath, there is no need to drown it in saliva or water either. Perhaps the better phrasing might be that you need to “moisten your saxophone reed” or that you need to “moisten your saxophone reed” before playing.