Saxophone and Clarinet Reed Maintenance – Keep It Moist
by Ron Goldenberg
I had several issues with my reeds which I am sure you have all experienced. First of all, the necessity to wet the reed before putting it on the mouthpiece was not one of my favourite rituals. Then the reeds took quite a while to “soften” and it was a struggle to play properly at the outset.
What I discovered was that a little moisture went a long way! My reeds are now stored in an old spice jar that has a sponge in it that was dipped in Listerine. I used an 8oz. plastic container ( about 5” high to fit my bari sax reeds) that had holes in the cap – this is good for moisture control. The sponge was a low-end Dollar Store purchase. The pack had six sponges. I cut one to size to fit the jar and allow room for the reeds to be stored in their original plastic holder. I usually have 4 reeds in the jar at once but I believe that more would work too. The sponge was soaked in Listerine and inserted in the jar. Any excess liquid not in the sponge was poured out. The original Listerine (yellow/gold) is recommended as it does not contain any sugar, which would allow mould to form. Please see the photo of Ron’s reed kit below.
A little experimentation will let you arrive at the best moisture level for your personal preference. The reed should be moist but not soaking wet. You will notice the difference when you start playing because the reed will be malleable from the start.
Remember to dry your reed with a rag after playing before placing it in the jar to help remove germs. The mouthwash will take care of the rest. Apparently vodka works well too but I have not tried it yet.
