I have a Rico No.2 reed which I bought 6 months ago. It's chipped, split and broken at the side. It also has had a half cm clipped off the top. And ... it still plays perfectly!! I don't use it any more, though, I'm on to Vandoran No2's now. But this old Rico can still be used. I'm amazed. Can someone tell me how to upload the photo so you can see it?

OOps .. I meant half a mm.

i had a reed like that but it wasn't qite that old, a 1 1/2 rico roal that was realy chipped, part of it was missing.