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Reeds In Bearbeitung

What is a saxophone? Is it a woodwind or brass? What does a bagpipe and a Saxophone have in common?

First of all, actually a saxophone is made of sheet metal, but it's a woodwind.

People will ask themselves " Why,but it's made of sheet metal? " The whole body and the keys...........

That's right, but it's a fact that a saxophone is made of brass, sort of alloy with brass, with copper or silver.But it's definitely a woodwind and now we are at that common point between a bagpipe and a saxophone.

To be able to give sound both need a reed. This reed is called ARUNDO DONAX  and also named "POST REED" ( Phahlrohr ) or "SPANISH REED" ( spanisches Rohr ). It's quite tall and able to grow up to about 9m and looks like bamboo.

Arundo can hardly resist in winter, that's why mainly it will be cultivated in the southern regions  around the globe. Most of the plants come from the south of France, Espania and Italy. Each area owns plantations where reeds are cultivated and finally manufactured. The plant is hollow inside and has a diameter of approximately 5 cm at the lower end and tapers themselves for about 2 cm at the upper end.This is the reason why it can be used completely, the entire lenghts for the reed production. 

The fibrous structure of the "wood" is equipped with an ideal behave of oscillation, which is very important for the final reed.After the crop of the Arundo Donax two or three years will past. So the plant has a chance to ripe and dry, before it can be used for production.

Mechanically the reeds are cut into rectangular pieces and at the lower end they are cut absolutly plain. At one side the reed becomes very flat and the tip really thin, less than 1 mm. 

This flattening of the tip takes place in a curve. In order with the characteristics of the material  the different strenghts of the reeds arise.

According to the manufacturer the reeds are then divided into different strenghts. And as to be espected  each manufacturer uses his own marking, like their also do with the mouthpieces. 

Vandoren is using numbers between  1 - 5,

Rico has a variety of brands, according to the brand Rico uses a mixture with numbers and letters or just numbers,

La Voz uses terms like SOFT,MEDIUM and HARD, but also in between sizes like MEDIUM SOFT ánd MEDIUM HARD.

Lets make it really complicated.....even the strenghts of the brands from each manufacturer are classified. For example....a Vandoren V16 with the strenght of 2,0 is not the same like the Vandoren Traditional 2,0.Compared to the Vandoren V16 the Tradional has only the strenght of 1,5.  

Let's have a look on this chart........it will give you an idea about the differences between brands and strenghts of the current reeds.

At the beginning you take a soft reed, for example 1,5 - 2,5 or also soft- medium soft. Advanced players should take reeds with the strenght of 3 or medium hard. 

Each reed should be choosed very carefully, it also depends on the ability of the saxophonplayer. It's important not to get any green reeds, which need to be dryed in the window or on a different suitable place. If this case occurs, the reeds should be put on a windowsill for further drying or an other suitable place, intil they have an even gold brown color.The fibre of the sharpend part of the reed, particularly its pointedly approaching part, should have a parallel run with a regularly color. The heard oft the reed needs to be even and both sides should have the same lenghts. If you want to find out, just hold the reed against the light.

At the beginning the reed needs a warm up and  should be damp, otherwise it is not able to swing properly. Most of the saxophonplayers put the reed into warm water for about 2-3 minutes , before they start playing it. After they play it very carefully approximately 10 minutes a day. Mostly for a couple of days, but it depends on the reed.

After about 2 to 5 days the reed is playable completely and also used to playing. Some of the player leave the reed in their mouth instead of putting it into the water, but the whole procedere is the same. Be shure to have some reeds in stock before you have none left. 

Some player like to work on their reeds, both sides are cut and even the heard will be changed. The undersurface of the reed will be cut as long as possible until it is absolutely plain. I am not working on reeds so if you might have some experiences, please contact me.

For the storing of reeds you can get boxes with a special preparation to keep them in a perfect climate. They are made of plastic in a very simple style and  mostly you get them together with the reeds but they are really unsuitable.You can get reedguards made of metal, simple wood or high - grade wood with a glasstop or not. Sometimes you have space for a cartridge to produce a friendly climate for at least 2 or 4 reeds. But they have different sizes so look whether you need it for an alto or tenor, otherwise it won't fit into a reedguard. If you want to prevent the tearing of the reed and the processing of waves on the top of the reed keep them in reedguards.