Forestone Traditional Alto Saxophone Reed XS

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

Fabrication
Forestone reeds are made by proprietary injection molding developed in Japan. This results in reeds with smooth vamps that are uniform and consistent, reed to reed.

Construction and Profile
Forestone reeds are perfectly balanced side to side and front to back. The more or less standard profile tapers down to 0.1 mm thickness across the tip. Held up to the light, the reeds display the classic upside-down “U-shape” associated with cane reeds.

Performance
Forestone reeds tend to maintain their strength and resistance over time. They vibrate well and hold the center of the sound in a manner similar to that of a good quality cane reed. The basic timber is robust, clear and strong, with enough “buzz” to ensure projection and carrying power. Intonation is stable and the reeds articulate well throughout the range of the saxophone.

Feel
The difference in feel between Forestone and cane is minimal. Players should take some time to get comfortable with Forestone reeds, in the same way as he or she would take time to get comfortable with a new mouthpiece, ligature, barrel or instrument.

Adjustment
Blowing resistance can be adjusted with Forestone reeds by slightly raising or lowering the reed on the mouthpiece table (lower placement = less resistance, higher placement = more resistance). Although other types of adjustment are usually not necessary, the material is sufficient hard that one can still do so using blades, files, sandpaper, reed rush or whatever other tool or implement is desired. One can also clip Forestone reeds successfully.

Longevity
The useful life of a Forestone reed will vary from player to player since everyone’s embouchure address stresses the reed differently. Forestone reeds will far outlast good quality cane as the composite material is impervious to water-logging 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 signals the time has come to retire the reed in favor of a newer one.