ReedJuvinate: Another option for extending your reed longevity?

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ReedJuvinate

reedjuvinate-003

Introduction

I have struggled like many saxophonists to find a good reed. I would say most to all players have bought a box of 5 or 10 reeds and have only found one or two reeds that play well right out of the box. Some methods I have used to improve the overall reed’s responsiveness are as follows: ReedGeek, soaking in water, soaking in apple cider vinegar, soaking in vodka, and the list goes on. When we are lucky enough to find a good reed or work on a reed to where its playing to our standards, the first thing I can assume many of us think to ourselves is “how do I keep this reed alive and playing for as long as possible?”.

My current method to keep my reeds from warping or drying out has been to find an old spice jar or any small plastic or glass bottle, clean it thoroughly and then pour a small amount of vodka at the bottom. I have found this to increase the life of my reeds, sterilize my reeds, and keep them from warping.

I recently received a ReedJuvinate which reminds me very much of what I am currently doing but uses a different liquid (original Listerine) and storage device. I am going to give you an overview of the ReedJuvinate, my results from using the ReedJuvinate, and end with my overall conclusion and recommendations.

Overview

From the manufacturer: “The ReedJuvinate is the woodwind reed storage and conditioning system that keeps your saxophone and clarinet reeds ready to play and free from destructive effects of bacteria, mold and salivary chemicals. The ReedJuvinate preserves your favorite reeds, saving you the cost and hassle of replacing them. It works for all sizes and kinds of reeds.”

Benefits

1.) Reeds last longer; so you save money.

2.) Reeds stay clean and sterile.

3.) Reeds don’t warp and are readily playable.

My Results

I have used the ReedJuvinate over the past couple of weeks and am happy with the overall results. The reeds stayed flat and I did not see any signs of the reed warping. In addition, the reeds absorbed enough of the listerine to keep them clean and playable right away. The ReedJuvinate comes with 2 methods you can use to keep your reeds, whether you want your reeds to be saturated more or less in the Listerine. I have included the 2 step process for you to review:

Steps (2 methods)

A.) Humidify (reeds have lowest water content)

1.) Soak the triangular sponge with full strength Listerine (original formula- yellow in color). Pour off any extra fluid.

2.) Insert your best three reeds into the ReedJuvinate, with the tip down and flat side toward the center of the cylinder. Leave 1 cm of base of the reed exposed you can easily pull it out again. Don’t let the sponge touch the reeds.

3.) Screw the cap on.

4.) Every four weeks, remove the reeds, soak sponge with Fresh Listerine, and replace your reeds.

B.) Soak Humidify (reeds have higher water content)

1.) Insert your best three reeds into the ReedJuvinate, with the tip down and flat side toward the center of the cylinder. Leave 1 cm of base of the reed exposed you can easily pull it out again. Don’t let the sponge touch the reeds.

2.) Fill ReedJuvinate with full strength Listerine (original formula- yellow in color) Screw cap on.

3.) Soak reeds for 10 minutes pour off Listerine leaving the triangle sponge wet. Screw the cap on.

4.) Every four weeks, remove the reeds, soak sponge with Fresh Listerine, and replace your reeds.

Conclusion

I have tried various reed soaking methods whether it be with water, apple cider vinegar, different mouthwashes, and now vodka. I have also tried other products from various manufacturers to keep the reed flat and in an environment that would prevent it from warping or growing any sort of mold or unwanted bacteria. I will say that the results I see when using my old spice jar and vodka method is similar to the results of the ReedJuvinate. I thought that the ReedJuvinate is a much better system for regulating the amount of substance you put in the container which will prevent an instance where the reeds become waterlogged or over saturated. I can say if you currently do not have a method in place to preserve and extend the life of your reeds, I would highly recommend checking out the ReedJuvinate because if you follow the instructions, you will see that your reeds will last longer. If you want your reeds to last longer as well as play to your preference, purchasing a ReedGeek in combination with the ReedJuvinate is one of the best options for getting the playability and consistency out of your reeds.

Please do leave a comment with your reed preparation and preservation methods, as well as any experiences using the ReedJuvinate.

Company Webiste

http://ReedJuvinate.com/

How to use ReedJuvinate