10 Ways to Make Saxophone Reeds Last Longer 

Use code "ELITE15" for 15% OFF Nexus Elite Reeds and the Nexus Signature Reed Case this week only at: www.nexussaxophones.com ✭✭✭✭✭ "Am on my third box of Nexus Tenor Sax 2.5 reeds. Best cane ever, allowing me to blow hard & screaming... or gentle & nuanced with vocal-like inflections. Easy break-in, gig-worthy from day one... also durable & strong, NOT prone to warping. After a few years of relying on synthetic reeds for fuss-free convenience, these Nexus reeds have convinced me to return to cane! They sound great, play like a dream, & stand up to hard use in the woodshed or on the bandstand." Lev L. ✭✭✭✭✭ "Love these Nexus Elite Reeds. Going back to cane reeds after playing synthetic reeds for many years. I tried many Vandoren cuts, Rico Selects, Rico Royal, Gonzales...none gave me the response & timbre I was looking for… but Nexus are spot on. And so far every reed out of the box has played well for me. I'm very happy with them. Also recommending them to all of my students." Arthur H. Equipment: Nexus Select Saxophone Nexus Edge Mouthpiece Nexus Oracle Ligature Nexus Elite Reeds Download Chad's latest digital improvisation resources at: www.jazzlessonvideos.com/downloads Get live coaching from Chad and our team of Jazz Gym Trainers: www.jazzlessonvideos.com/thejazzgym Sign up for the waitlist to study with Chad through the Chad LB Text Lessons Studio! www.jazzlessonvideos.com/text-lessons Tour dates: www.chadlb.com/shows

One additional helpful hint: Don't judge your reed too quickly when you start to play it the first few minutes. I don't soak my softer reeds too much before I put it on the mouthpiece.... maybe 30 seconds at the most... but I realize I have to warm up the reed for at least a few minutes before it starts playing it's best... this happens with my best reeds. The softer reeds may seem too soft when you first start playing it, but they become a little more resistant once they get saturated with more water. If it's still too soft after playing for 5 minutes, then try placing it higher on the mouthpiece. That definitely works because you are getting the thicker part of the reed up to the part of the mouthpiece where the reed vibrates.

Great stuff Chad! I would just slap on and play! Will try your techniques!

I have been using the same ~15 reeds for years in rotation. I experimented with multiple options-different boxes, cases and different humidity packages. I dropped the humidity packages as the reeds grew mould and had to throw my precious reeds away. Keeping my reeds in a glass jar filled with a bit of palinka works best for me. Only the tip of the reeds is in the liquid less than a centimetre. This keeps your reeds germ free, and the palinka gives a solid fruity flavour as a perk. After each session, I wash my reed thoroughly with water. I store the reeds in single plastic reed cases (like the old Rico cases). No wrapping, fresh tastes, and the mildly wet reeds are ready to go when you take them out from the jar. With this approach, my reeds keep their shape and last extremely long.

I’m so happy for at last being able to the “night mare reed”, the cane Reed. Légère does the job.

Very helpful, thanks!

6:44 I've used Gin and Tonic. Reeds worked over 40 years later.

Good tips. I have a Vandoren reed case for 4 reeds. I put a small sponge soaked in 96% alcohol (grain alcohol, not rubbing alcohol -- but this is not available in many countries) to keep the reeds moist and reasonably sterile. I also use a tool similar to a Reed-Geek, but 10 x cheaper: a square steel lathe blade, to keep the reeds flat so they seal well.

Nice tips, thank you chad

Great tips, thanks a lot Chad 👍

Some nice tips, especially on reed position. I did not know about moving the reed up higher when it gets softer. Really enjoy your work. Thank you, sir! 🎷

I found a very clever way to make reeds play. No sanding or scraping tools needed.

I use 2.5 Reeds. After playing them the first time I seal them with bee wax, rubbing it on the surface and soak it in with a hairdryer. Especially the thick end and the surface which touches the lips. When the Reed gets bad after a period of playing, I use a Reed trimmer to cut a little off. So it will be good for another while.

I like to polish my reeds using a lapping/polishing cloth. It removes any leftover dangling fibers from the reed manufacturing process and seems to greatly reduce water logging. If anything, it makes a new reed feel real nice....

Very good video. Thank you! 😎🙏 I usually rotate 2 reeds and they last longer.

Thanks Chad! Its so helpfull. But sometimes in my country this tips was not helpfull than change the reed with the new one 😂 but they are always complaining bout their new reeds too. However, i always do it. And the result i use my best reed for 5-6 month. 😂😂😂

Best thing I got last year was Reedjuvinate, reeds last months when rotating them and are always ready to play.

Great advice. One thing I've always done is to rub the flat side of a fresh reed on some paper, before any kind of break in process.

Try this on some reeds that have 'blown out'. Soak overnight in a dilute (milk like) solution of PVA (wood glue)and water. Wipe off excess and dry them off. It can restore a bit of springiness into the reed. I would dearly love to know what the old Plasticover coating was.

Dang chad bro I just order my nexus reeds I could use the discount lol

Hydrogen Peroxide all the way (3%) A tip i picked up from Sirvalor Sax. He immerses the reed in it until it stops bubbling (about 10 - 15min). I used to do it about once a week and it makes the reed last forever! - The problem though, for some dubious reason nobody has been able to get hold of Hydrogen Peroxide in the UK for about a year now?

Please let there be a nexus bari sax dude I’m begging you

If you learn to work on your reeds they will work better and LAST!!! I use the reed geek, the Ridenour system as well as a file (Rasp) that I bought from Bob Ackerman 40 years ago and a reed clipper . For Tenor I use Vandoren's Java Green box. The reeds are inconsistent in strength. Usually 2 are to soft, 2 are to hard and one is just right. So, if the reed is soft, I clip it and I use the file to file down the backs, trying to take the imprinted and raised Vandoren logo off the reed so there is no air pockets. 2 the reed geek to balance the rails, 3 the Ridenour system to burnish the reed with 400-600 sandpaper. I only wet reeds with saliva, no water!!! Water kills the fibers and makes the reed water logged and kills the life of the reed. Of course if you're in an arid part of the world like Las Vegas or Colorado in the summer, you'll probably have to do something different. I've lived in both those regions and had to use a little water just to keep the reeds wet. So, conclusion, my reeds last for weeks and at the cost of reeds I just make them all work. This works well for me.

I usually soak my reeds in the blood of my vanquished foes. No wait, I mean…not that. Actually a light wipe of 400+ sandpaper after playing to get rid of any crud/dead skin cells works well for me.

Привет! многие американцы меркантильны ( не в обиду) вместо того чтоб сделать бескорыстное видео и поделиться дружескими сооветами от души, они везде стараются заработать, будучи сребролюбцами

I don't have hair 😎