when is it time to change your reed?

[@Ravenwings1234]

I changed over to Legere Signature reeds on tenor last year,and I have been very impressed by the amount of time they last,also they are not effected by temperature,humidity and each one plays straight out of the box.

[@perioax6506]

I’m ashamed a little bit but I’ve been playing on my synthetic forestone reed for 1.5 years now. It still works fine just a little sharp and that’s about it

[@andrewpetralis4669]

What is your opinion on synthetic reeds?

[@DynamixWarePro]

I play on Legere Signature reeds and a Yanagisawa AWO2 alto sax with a Yany BooStar heavy mass neck screw that adds resistance. I have noticed on soft reeds, the low notes don't always come out or warble if they do and high notes tend to sound thin and if I am playing on a Legere reed and its starting to go a bit soft, I can physically feel the reed is softer in my mouth, before I get a sound. If the reed is too hard, I get an airy sound and struggle to make a sound and if the reed is just slightly harder than I can play, I do get a sound but it tends to go muffled and has a dull buzz after a few minutes and I can feel the resistance in my embouchure. What I have noticed recently is that I bought a Selmer S80 E and I tried a brand new Legere Signature 2 reed on it with a Wood Stone solid silver ligature and when I played it, I immediately felt no resistance at all and got a over buzzy sound and it was too soft. I noticed with the 2 reed, for the first time playing an octave A it split and I have never had that happen before on the higher notes. Its the first time that has happened to me on that size of tip opening as a few months ago I tried a Soloist E and a 2 reed and found it a bit too resistant but I guess playing every day for several hours a day really helped my chops and stamina. I then tried a 2.25 and I got better control, especially on the low and higher notes, but it was a bit airy but I would have preferred a similar resistance but without the air so may have to try different reeds to see what works with the mouthpiece. I have found that Wood Stone solid silver ligature is more free blowing than I am used to also.

[@dominiquemendozahurtado9823]

What app do you use when tuning? Also, love your editing skills when you put the reeds in the water!

[@mrdavidurquhart]

Sorry to ask a really basic question, but how much damage to the end of the reed is ok? If there’s a half mm missing off one side of the end of the reed is it to be discarded?

[@DanForshaw]

It really depends where it is and how much difference you notice. To me, I'd discard it, but I've had students playing reeds that I can't understand how they are able to make a sound out of it!

[@mrdavidurquhart]

Dan Forshaw thanks Dan :)