Firstly... I have been playing for 2 years plus and it seems that most of the times after I break into my new reed thta`s when my reed sounds the best, and like after one or two weeks later my tone starts to get really bad. Is it me - or is it time to change the reed? Could someone provide some suggestions?

(btw this happens with both my size 3 reed and size 3.5 reed)

And secondly, it seems that when I play tuning c, it sounds as if there`s some vibrato (the note isnt a nice straight note). I recently developed this problem only and again I dont know if this is a problem of the reed. On my previous reeds I did not face this problem but on my two most recent reeds (one 3, and 3.5) this problem seems apparent (more obvious on size 3 reed, that was why I changed to 3.5). Does this have to do with the reed size I am using?! (I have been using size 3 for one year before my switch to 3.5) And although there seems to be some vibration in tuning C the higher C seems to sound rather nice in fact. Thus I am at a lost of where the problem is..

I`m hoping someone could provide some enlightenment on this for me! Thank You!

(I`m playing a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Vandoren reeds)

Yes, reeds will not perform the same after they are used for a period. Play several reeds in a rotation if you want to make them last longer

Reeds only have a life span of 1 1/2 weeks to two weeks max.

That is why when you start a new reed you are to start 4 at a time and rotate between them....helps keep those problems out of the way.

Actually the life of a reed will vary depending on break-in method, brand, saliva, and use. Mine last anywhere from two to three weeks but I`ve had reeds that perform well for several months on end - albeit with some minor adjustments now and then and prevention of overuse.

When I used to play clarinet, I kind of do still, my reed lasted nearly 1 and 1/2 years! Sure, it did chip off the side, but I still played very very well, in fact, when I asked for a new reed and received it, it was a bit harder reed so I couldn`t play well on it, so I decided to keep on playing on the old one.

It might sound discusting, but I`ve had a set of reeds that still work fine after about 3-4 years. I have new ones, but I still keep them as backup in case...
And if you`re real ghetto, and the top of the reed chips, slide it up and you got a harder reed =P Of course that isn`t that great a solution, but...

lol... i`ve had a strength 2 rico royal reed (..ick) from 2003 and i still use it... (mind you i didn`t play during 2003-2004) i really need to move up a strength, but i gotta finish this darn reed box... ARGH... and i don`t have the time to chip them (LOL) because a girl is borrowing the clarinet i`m using for school so i`m on bassoon for the next few weeks again...

so i`m guessing i can still use it b/c it`s not so much age but the usage. and i`ve always used the same reeds because i don`t chip reeds anymore... bassoon reeds are so expensive that they make you so nervous around reeds. HAHA...

OMG jay! I have the exact same Rico Royal 2 reed that`s old and I still use! What a coincidence! It`s also like 2 years old! It has a chip on the side but I don`t notice any difference in my playing!

Chiped reeds still sounding good? In my experience even the slightest chip makes my clarinet hiss and squek, it`s really quite awful. Maybe it depends on how concerned about the sound you are. I am very careful when I place my reed on the mouthpiece since even a mm makes the sound different. Not everyone can hear it but I can and am just so annoyed when a read isn`t performing perfectly.
As for new or old reeds being the best…
I prefer playing on reeds I know I can trust. I never, ever play a new reed for a concert since new reeds have a tendency of playing nicely for days and then just crack.

yea, i was never one to care about sound... i mean, i put my ligature on AFTER i put the reed... lol. but then again, i was never one to chip reeds, i might chip a reed like four times a year now... although once i chipped a reed twice in a day b/c i accidentally grazed a music stand... TWICE... hahaha...

Has anyone tried any reeds that were stored for a long time? I was at a store that dug out sealed boxes of reeds that were sitting around for at about 15-20 years. I even saw some Rico brown box reeds. I wanted to try some, but they were all 4 & 5 strength reeds

I even saw some 5 1/2 German clarinet reeds. I don`t even want to think about trying those.

Hmmm...I love using new reeds on most instruments. I remember having to use some older one after I hadn`t played for a few months to get my chops back, but after that I was fine. I tend to play on Medium reeds, or 3.5s. SOmetimes I`ll use Medium-Soft.

About that tuning note problem, it proabably is vibrato, not the reed. Of couse, vibrato isn`t a bad thing, unless you can`t tune it at all.

ummm.... are we talking about clarinet reeds?

^Me thinks he`s talking about synthetic reeds.. Here`s a tip... Just before putting your reeds away in the case wipe them down and slightly compress it against the surfact it`s being wiped upon

^ =O another jay! i can`t be replaced! =( lol...

so synthetic reeds go in `soft/soft medium/medium etc` like bassooon reeds? cool.

i need to figure out how to sell this box of reeds... holy crap they`re so shiitty... no one wants them lol... number 2 ricos... why on earth did i end up with them...

as for bassoon reeds, i have 1 LaVoz, which was good until my teacher brought me down a strength and now i can`t play it. (OMG i`m not kidding lol) then i have 2 ricos. 1 doesn`t work and the other is the one i`m using right now.