Conditioning Your Reeds

[@Saxologic]

You would not believe how many bad saxophone tutorials on KZbin. This KZbin channel stops that streak; your videos are a miracle! Thank you!!

[@robertyoungsax]

ProjectIdiot 👌 thank you!

[@MariMari-to3pm]

Saxologic videos are also good learning videos!

[@TedMaciag]

Soaked all my reeds in Gin & Tonic on the gig. And used the Getz selection method of throwing the bad ones in the floor. Life to short to spend this much time on reeds. Good luck to all.

[@onimaru1894]

I'm so happy I found this channel. And I love the background music. Didn't find it distracting.

[@raider_airsoft3097]

Hi Dr. Young, your videos are so helpful. I'm actually in 7th grade and in my 2nd year of playing and your videos are really helping me so much. You really have the best tone imaginable.

[@robertyoungsax]

blazeplayslife06 thank you for the kind words!! Keep up the good work in the practice room!!

[@isaiahdoyle8819]

me: *puts reed in case* “that should be fine” rob: “ so daily, i record the statuses of each of my marked reeds i keep it humidity-controlled bags into a notepad, and continue tracking its progress throughout my career.”

[@zeaphonflame1602]

Daniel DeVito D"Dario cases and humidity bags from bogeda is usually the way to go

[@sqo8ops]

Thank you so Much Dr. Young. God Bless you

[@robertyoungsax]

Thank you for watching!

[@jopeco84]

great video but background music is too loud :o

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

Video is instructionally great. Doc., glad that I've discovered same. Thank you!

[@robertyoungsax]

Thank you! Im glad some of these tips were helpful to you!

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

Robert Young: - with gratitude!

[@MariMari-to3pm]

Thank you for your Video. I will imitate your process with the new reeds! Can you please recommend us a learning book (or E-book) for intermedia classical altosaxophone? Greetings from Hamburg!

[@th3past92]

How do you know when a reed is dead?

[@apistosig4173]

Hey Robert - great advice and insight. My advice is to keep your reeds in a humidifier to A: keep 'em sanitized and B: to also keep 'em moist so the reeds don't have to undergo the stresses of moistening / drying out / moistening / drying out /. Easy to make one for yourself with an "appropriate" sanitiser or buy a Reedjuvinate if you couldn't be bothered.

[@coffinman5007]

I used to fight (Jupiter 789) with my altissimo (up to D4), on La Voz, and then V16s (not so bad). One day I decided to spend the money and try a Legere signature, now the sax plays better than ever, so much, that if you said I could have a pro horn but have to use cane reeds, I'd keep what I have. And zero maintenance and the reed will play straight every time I blow it, no warm up or anything.

[@PrinceSwaggy]

How are you able to afford a Bari Sax?

[@roanmccormick2297]

Thanks bro!

[@jd2k16]

Hope you're doing well, Dr. Young! I have been using this conditioning method since I first saw this video, and it works very well! However, sometimes, the reeds seem to either barely change or get worse. Is there anything I can do to guarantee that my reeds get better after breaking them in?

[@spontaneousgroovincombusti2902]

Doc, I'm interested in that you don't espouse paper sanding the reed fibers. Many players who follow a similar routine to yours also add polishing the reed back, heel, and top. I've adopted this and feel that it really closes the open fibers. Any comments are appreciated!

[@robertyoungsax]

Hi SGC. This video only talks about "breaking in" my reeds. These days when I use sand paper I am only removing minimal cane and it usually comes after my reeds are broken in (after 1-2weeks). I would be interested to know more about your experiences with htis.

[@spontaneousgroovincombusti2902]

Hi again Robert. There's a good amount of consensus from solid players who 'paper sand' the reeds before initially wetting them. It certainly makes them feel much smoother, and I think this is evidence that the cane tubes are being sealed. I do the back, heel, and top. This video is a fairly good one- kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpuTc2qdgpeEgas Thanks Doc!

[@robertyoungsax]

Hello. I see what you are saying now. I thought you were referring to using sandpaper. I do actually rub my reeds on paper daily. I actually try to do it after each time I play on it.

[@Eastsussexbiker]

What about conditioning synthetic reeds any tips ?

[@itslucasrug]

Grant Melton you don't have to you can't alter synthetic reeds. They come set the way they are and will play the same for at least 3 months unless you split, chip, or break the reed

[@jtbsax]

Great video! I'm trying it out right now. At what point, if any, in the process do you make adjustments to the reed if needed?

[@robertyoungsax]

That video will hopefully be coming soon. I do light work on the reed once it is broken in. I find that my reeds don't warp as much because I don't play it for too long in one sitting. But when I need to work on a reed, I usually wait until it is broken in (2 weeks or so). I hope this helps!

[@saxdrop]

Thanks for this: love your tips and your sound. But the solo performance audio in this video is REALLY distracting and makes it very difficult to focus on your explanation. I get the intuition to have music to add interest and fill the gaps, but maybe attenuate the level after the intro?

[@robertyoungsax]

noted

[@JonaSaxify]

Hello Dr. Young! What is your opinion on plastic reeds? Have you tried them before?

[@robertyoungsax]

JonaSaxify I have tried them. They have their benefits (i.e. Longevity). However, they are not for me. Though cane is a much more temperamental, it provides me with the control, flexibility, and core that I am looking for more so than synthetic or plastic reeds. I do know some saxophonists that sound incredible on that kind of setup. But I haven't found success there in my own playing. Try it out...

[@josefviramontes1143]

What's the song that plays in the beginning?

[@robertyoungsax]

Gradient - Baljinder Sekhon

[@sakonhon]

Hi Robert, what kind of neck-strap/harness are you using? Thanks! Michael

[@robertyoungsax]

Hello Michael. It is called the Breathtaking strap. There are few companies that distribute them in the USA. It be found here: www.meridianwinds.com/product/breathtaking-premium-saxophone-strap/ Hope this helps!

[@sakonhon]

Hi Robert, Thanks so much. Cheers, Michael

[@DanielRorke]

Hi Robert, am I right in thinking that is some pantyhose as per "the pantyhose trick" around your neck? I also do this, but on my old SBA tenor - to reduce the sound of the air from the pip on the octave key pad. I always thought it was a problem with an old horn like mine and possibly an incorrectly sized or positioned octave pip, so I am surprised to see it around you modern Selmer. Do you do this to reduce this same noise? Nice video by the way. Reedspect. :p

[@sablezubshruz9811]

Thank you Robert. Very useful + Devil = In Details))))

[@espr7564]

Background music disturbes

[@robertyoungsax]

agreed...

[@marselmusic]

luv de muzik maet

[@fbales]

Very informative video, but the background music is too loud. It shouldn’t compete with what you are saying.

[@PacmanRocks100]

Are there holes in that ziplock?

[@robertyoungsax]

Actually there are a couple! ha! It's doesn't really effect anything because I have the humidity pack in there...and everything is in a sealed environment (tupperware case). I also have one loose humidity pack in the tupperware case (not inside a ziplock bag). If I didn't store my ziplock bag in the tupperware case, it would completely warp the reeds!

[@Manuel-rs4lv]

I don't pay that much attention to my health

[@darrenhill714]

Cut the background stuff .. for me to be interested I need maximum uninterrupted attention

[@danielfittipaldi3705]

Pretty much impracticable unless youre a professional musician