About six(6) years ago, I was at a wedding, where I was an usher and got an opportunity to spend some time
with a gentleman named Keith M. Zimmerman. A concert saxophonist. During our conversation the topic of reed care came up.
And here is the product of that conversation. I would like to add that Keith has studied under Eugene Rousseau for
a number of years also.
- Day 1
Open new box of reeds and dunk each reed once into a small glass of water, and place table up,
on a small piece of glass (4" x 6"). Let air dry.
- Day 2
Sand table of reeds using very fine grit sandpaper (320 - 600). Avoid sanding tip of reeds.
Again dunk each reed once into a small glass of water, and place, table up, on the piece of glass. Let air dry.
- Day 3
Seal face of reeds using finger nail or small rounded object (always moving from the shoulder toward the tip of the reed).
Buff table of reeds on a clean sheet of copy paper using a circular motion. Again dunk each reed once into a small glass of water, and place, table
up, on the piece of glass. Let air dry.
- Day 4
Dunk and play each reed three(3) minutes. No extremes (High notes and Low notes) Play in middle range only. Again place table up on the glass.
Let air dry.
- Day 5
Dunk and play reeds five(5) - ten(10) minutes each. Dry and begin to grade (best to worst). Make appropriate adjustments.
- Reeds should be ready to play now.
- Store reeds in some type of reed holder, keeping the reed table on a flat surface.
Good reed holders are : Vandoren, Reedmate, and Reed savers from LaVoz or any other reed holder of your choice.
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