Vandoren Alto

Vandoren Alto

The universal reed, Vandoren Traditional Saxophone Reeds are widely used amidst masters in all genres. This reed is designed to construct a quality of exceedingly pure sound due to a very thin reed tip (the area of reed with greatest or most complete or best possible vibration) and a solid vertebral column (more cane in the area which climbs gradually to the heel). These reeds are recognizable by a straight line to delineate the limit of the area of bark. The favored reed of recognized saxophonists like Stan Getz, Lee Konitz and Marcel Mule, Vandoren Traditional Reeds have always been applied with equivalent success by a great deal of players.

Reeds are fundamentally a piece of cane (wood) that is cut down to be very thin on one side and thicker on the other. The reed works by blowing air all over it and then it starts to vibrate and make a high “squeally” sound.

First, if you spend any time at a music store, you will observe a lot of brands and styles of reeds. Let’s talk with regards to some options. It is for less to buy reeds in a box rather than individually. Always buy reeds for your type of saxophone i.e. alto buys alto reeds, tenor buys tenor reeds etc. You will likewise see that reeds are sized in numbers 1-5, and in another system that goes soft to hard. Most reeds are using the number system. More highpriced does not mean better. I would start out out with a Rico Royal size 2.5. If you go with a Vandoren reed (a little more expensive) go with a size 2. The Vandoren reeds and the Rico Royals come in a assortment of dissimilar cuts. On Vandorens choose the one in the blue box. They also make Java, V-12 etc. but just choose the regular old blue box reed. On Rico Royals, just pick the Rico Royal brand.

Not the Jazz cut and not Rico. Rico is not the same quality as the Rico Royal. The size of reed you choose has to do with a couple of factors. The greatest element is probably the size of your mouthpiece. Another element is embouchure strength. After a couple of months of steady practice, you may want to move up a 1/2 size.

In standard reeds need to be soaked before you may play them. A reed may be soaked in a cup of water, or in your mouth. All parts of the reed must be exclusively soaked before it will play it is best; this commonly means with regards to two minutes in the mouth. Don’t forget to soak the back! Take care that you don’t nick the tip of the reed with your teeth. If the tip appears to be “wavy” soak it longer. After three minutes you may set the reed on a flat surface and rub your thumb from the back of the reed to the tip and off the end. NEVER rub the reed from the tip back up, you may harm the tip and make the reed worthless. Once the reed is the right way soaked, take your mouthpiece and lick the table. Now take the reed and line up the tip of the mouthpiece with the tip of the reed. I prefer to line it up just a little short of the tip of the mouthpiece. If the reed is over the tip, it won’t play the same. You may never be too picky on the placement of your reed. ALWAYS make sure it is perfectly lined up.

Now, take your ligature and slide the huge end onto the tip of the mouthpiece. Be careful not to touch the tip of the reed with the ligature. The ligature will always be placed with the screws on the right side when the reed is facing you. Sometimes the screws are on the top and at times on the bottom, but always on the right. You’ll detect that the ligature is tapered (big and little ends). Your mouthpiece is also tapered. You will need to put the big end on primary so it slides down to the huge end of the mouthpiece. Put the ligature back far sufficient so that it is on the bark part of the reed. Fasten the screw(s) tight sufficient so that the reed will not move around on the mouthpiece.

A word on reed care. Reeds are costly and delicate. They will effortlessly break if you touch the tip of the reed with your finger. To move the reed around on your mouthpiece always use the sides and back of the reed to move it and NOT the tip! If you live in a arid climate, your reed could arid out while you are resting for a few minutes. Always keep your reed wet when it is on your mouthpiece. If you are in school and your teacher is talking to another section, you may put your mouthpiece cap on your mouthpiece to keep it wet. A good trick is to lick the reed first, then put the cap on. I prefer taking a lot of tape and covering the holes on the mouthpiece cap. If you live in a humid climate, you won’t have as a great deal of troubles with reeds drying out. Keep in mind that air conditioners and heaters take the moisture out of the air.

Another utile tip to support reeds last longer is to rub the reed with your thumb from back to front pushing very hard. This ought to be done on a flat surface. This will crush the fibers in the reed and make the reed “waterproof”. When you are done playing you must always remove your reed and place it in a reed guard. Several companies make reed guards. I’d probably get one that holds four reeds. You ought to always have four good reeds that you rotate on a each and everyday basis. When one is no longer usable, replace with a new one.

Wipe off your reed before you place it in the reed guard. The key to keeping a reed from warping is to let it arid out slowly. If a reed dries out quickly, the thin ends arid firstborn and the reed warps up. When it is warped, it will no longer lay flat on the table of the mouthpiece, and will need to be sanded down. This subject is a little complicated, and I won’t address it in this article. You may prevent reeds from drying quickly by putting them in the reed guard, placing the guard in a plastic bag and folding it once. You don’t want it to be air-tight. If it is air-tight, you will grow mold on your reeds. Wash it off, and don’t fold so tightly next time. If mold proceeds to be a problem, take a teaspoon of rock salt and wrap it in a heap of old pantyhose. This will keep the mold away.

The intermediate reed will last in regards to 20 to 30 playing hours. If you break the tip or take a good chunk out of it, it may last only 30 seconds! You will know when a reed is no longer usable, because it will be broken at the tip, or the reed will feel soft when you play. It will blow in truth easy, and close off when you play higher. If a reed is not sounding good, and it sounds like there is too much air in your sound, the reed may be too hard, or may not be on straight. If you do play on a reed too long, it may become water-logged. It will appear to have water inside of the reed and will look darker in sure spots. You want to stay clear from this by switching reeds daily. TAKE CARE OF YOU REEDS AND THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!

A note on synthetic reeds. I have played a lot of reeds in my day, and came upon that the plastic reeds in general don’t sound as good. The only exception to that is the Fibracell reed. I love these reeds. They sound splendid and may be played for up to a year. They will break, but are water proof, always flat on the back and will not warp. I’d start out out with a cane reed, and later if you want, undertake a fibracell with a similar size to the cane reed that you are playing. Just not long ago I’ve had good success with a brand called HAHN. It might be worth checking out!

Vandoren Alto Photo

Vandoren Alto Image

Vandoren Alto Picture

Vandoren Alto Photo

Most helpful client reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Only 1 good one per box
By Videospeile spieler
These are outstanding reeds with an amazing lifetime, but whenever i buy a box i only get like two good ones a box. that is to say, great sounding. If you are a beginning student this won’t matter. but in high school, if i have to compensate $26 for 2 reeds that i actually like…not so cool. These r outstanding for marching altho cause u may beat them up cause the bad ones do not sound good to start out with

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Not for a beginner player
By Arthur J. Campbell
I just started learning the alto sax and figured I undertake a #3 reed, but found out that the #2 or #2.5 is better for a beginner.

The product was fine it was actually me.

1 of 1 humans found the following review helpful.
Great Reeds
By C. McBryde
These are commended from the band director. They are much more costly at our local music store. This is a great product and a outstanding price on Amazon.

See all 8 client reviews…