Extracted from the G-Reeds website:
We created G-REEDS to be durable. When using a product that is expected to have a long service life, it is necessary to take certain precautions, and cleaning is one of them. G-REEDS can be cleaned with neutral detergent or sanitising soaps. They can also be cleaned with alcohol, but prolonged exposure could alter their characteristics. We recommend cleaning them periodically to prevent the formation of mould. This advice applies to any reed, and even more so to synthetic reeds if we expect to use them for a long time.
The position of the reed in the mouthpiece has a huge impact on the tone of the sound and the response we get from it. These differences can even occur when moving the reed just a few tenths of a millimetre. Ideally, the tip of the reed should coincide with the outer lip of the mouthpiece tip.
G-REEDS, like most synthetic reeds, are very responsive. If the G-REED you are using sounds excessively bright, you can achieve a warmer sound with a darker model or a harder reed without sacrificing response.
Some mouthpieces and/or some instrumentalists tend to facilitate excessive condensation inside the mouthpiece. The condensed liquid can stick to the reed and generate drops that end up making the sound seem ‘dirty’ or like it is being played from a well-used vinyl record. We can prevent this by rubbing the flat part of the reed 2 or 3 times with 400-grit sandpaper or coarser. The goal is to scratch the surface without removing any material. This significantly reduces the amount of liquid that sticks to the reed.
The tip of G-REEDS is very fragile due to its thin thickness. We recommend handling them with great care. One of the practices that contributes to the reeds breaking is the habit of placing the reed on the mouthpiece and then the ligature. Therefore, we recommend placing the ligature first and then the reed, from front to back.
