Even experienced reed makers have a moment of panic once in a while. Here are some of the likely scenarios and possible solutions.

Dull Knife: Nothing ruins reeds like a dull knife. Make sure your knife is very sharp. If not, hone it and re-establish the edge.

Leaky Instrument: A leaky instrument can fool you to think something is wrong with you or your reeds. Even if it’s been adjusted recently, it’s worth a quick check. Also, when the season changes (see below), your instrument can go out of adjustment in a hurry.

Change in Weather: Change of seasons could have a dramatic effect on your reeds. Here on the east coast, the moment heat comes on, all my warm-weather reeds could be rendered useless overnight. The changes from cold to warm happens more gradually. But, often in May, I find a reed case full of reeds that are way too open. Also, when the barometric pressure goes down (stormy weather), your reeds become less responsive.

Changes in Routine: Did you make any changes to your set up recently? New cane? New staples? New gouging machine? New instrument? New sharpening stone? Have you moved? Any little change could make a big difference in how reeds play.

Gouging Trouble: If you gouge your own cane, check to see if the batch of cane you are working on is up to specs. Some times, gouging machine could “move” unexpectedly. Make sure it is set properly.