Forestone Black Bamboo Baritone Saxophone Reed (Soft)

The Forestone material is a mixture of polypropylene resin and cellulose wood fibre. More than 50 percent of the wood fiber used is bamboo. The material is brownish in colour, tasteless, odourless and non-toxic. The exceptional sound, resilience and flexibility of a Forestone reeds is due to this special material.

Japanese craftsmanship

Forestone reeds are made with a proprietary injection moulding technique developed in Japan. This results in reeds with optimally smooth vamps that are exceptionally uniform and consistent, reed to reed.

Forestone reeds tend to maintain their strength and resistance over time. They vibrate well and hold the centre of the sound in a similar manner to that of a good quality cane reed. The basic timbre is robust, clear and strong, with just enough “buzz” to ensure projection and carrying power. Intonation is stable and the reeds articulate well throughout the range of the clarinet and saxophone. The difference in feel between a Forestone and cane is minimal. That said, it is wise to take some time to get comfortable with a Forestone reed, in the same way that it would take a while to get comfortable with a new mouthpiece, ligature or instrument.

Blowing resistance can be adjusted with Forestone reeds by slightly raising or lowering the reed on the mouthpiece table (slightly lower placement = slightly less resistance, slightly higher placement = slightly more resistance). Although other types of adjustment are usually not necessary, the material is hard enough for it to be altered with blades, files, sandpaper, a reed rush or whatever other tool or implement is desired. One can also clip Forestone reeds successfully. 

« Forestone reeds will by far outlast good quality cane as its composite material is impervious to water and breakdown by saliva, and will not warp due to changes in humidity or altitude. After a certain number of hours, however, the reeds will begin to feel less lively and responsive. The loss in vitality, be it subtle or more pronounced, would signal the time has come to retire the reed in favour of a newer one.