The Geeklet literally changed everything for me when it comes to reeds. It is so easy to use and can make every reed play significantly better. Learning a few simple adjustments makes playing the saxophone so much easier and more enjoyable.
Here are the main ways to use the Geeklet to improve performance of your reeds:
- Flatten the table. In a matter of seconds you can make any reed table perfectly flat. Reeds are made of wood and there will always be some level of warpage each time they get wet then dry. When the reed table is warped, it won’t seal as well with the mouthpiece resulting in sub-optimal performance. We have all experienced what this feels like, and either you just play on a dead sounding reed or you chuck it and use a new one. This simple adjustment will extend the life of every single reed significantly, and greatly improve it’s performance. Flat reed table + flat mouthpiece table = optimal playing conditions.
- Balance the wings. The corners of each reed are often out of balance meaning one side is slightly more flexible than the other. When playing the saxophone the best results occur when the reed is vibrating equally and evenly on each side (in balance). It takes a mater of seconds to determine which wing of a reed is less flexible and needs adjustment. Flex each corner in your fingers and hold it up to the light to see if one side is darker than the other. With the Geeklet tool, you can easily balance the wings of any reed which has a major impact on how well it plays for you.
- Clear out congestion. Further back from the tip is the heart of the reed. In this area we can improve a reed that plays stuffy or overly dark by simply scraping away some reed fibers. This quick and easy adjustment helps those reeds speak more clearly and vibrate more freely resulting in a much better tone and response.
Get a Geeklet and take back control of your saxophone reeds.
Made in the USA by our partners at ReedGeek from the highest quality metal alloys. The Geeklet stays sharp for many years, is rust-resistant, and is travel safe. You can take it through airport carry-on security safely.
Hey Jay – Just wanted to say what a brilliant tool the Reedgeek is. I received mine few weeks ago from you (cheaper than buying in the UK) and it has come close to paying for itself already! I had a pile of unusable reeds and after reed geek most are now good reeds to use – thanks
Love hearing this!
Jay, as a music educator and the father of an aspiring music major, the Geeklet was a perfect Christmas present. We are going through reeds as they are starting to find the right setup, and this will give them an opportunity to not only prolong the life of their reeds but also give them more control over what the reeds can do. Thanks for all you do to make the are of playing the saxophone more accessible.
Very happy with the GEEKLET !!! I had reeds (Rico, Vandoren, etc.) in a box for years that were ready for the garbage. I “Geekleted” them and they are alive again; I am impressed. I feel like I am ” The Reed-Geeklet Whisperer” 🙂
A well made tool, feels solid in your hand. Will be experimenting over the next few weeks to optimize my results. Simply smoothing out the back side to improve contact with the mouthpiece face has already improved my reeds. Seems a worthwhile purchase.
Greetings form Hungary Jay! I just received my geeklet and it does a really lovely job. I think if you want to take your saxophone playing to another level, then this is a must have. Keep up the good work Jay, I absolutely love your videos!
It works really well, exactly as shown in the videos. You really can make reeds better with it.
I gotta say, I’m lovin’ the Geeklet. Reeds that I had put in a drawer because they seemed unplayable now sound great. The Geeklet will definitely be saving me money on reeds. Your Geeklet tutorial was quite helpful.
Just what I needed! Solved many problems right away, made playing on several reeds easier, and improved sound. Back “in the day” we were using “reed rush” to smooth out the surfaces. Glad to find this tool now.
The Geeklet works to level the table and even the wings. The unfilled reeds I’ve worked so far play stuffy; I was able to brighten and control the second reed somewhat, but still not enough. The vamps are thick.
This tool works well with all reeds! Glad I got this!
Only had if for about a month now so still experimenting with it. I did notice that flattening the table side of the reed really helps with the suction test. That will be my primary use for it. I will do more to reeds that don’t look uniform at the tips also. I have the Bettersax Jazz cut reads so they don’t need a lot of attention in that area
Works great. I was skeptical but works as advertised.
I am sure I was one of the many trepidatious reed players that feared ruining their reeds with any kind of work I might do to them. The Geeklet, as well as Jay’s videos on how it is to be used, could not have been any easier. Reeds I though to be simply “unplayable” out of the box have now entered my rotation…and reeds I thought had reached the end of their viability have had their lives extended thanks to this great tool.
I have been playing clarinet since the 60’s and saxophones since the 70’s;… always resigned to only hope that the next reed out of the box was playable. Watching Jay’s insightful Better Sax videos, and using the Better Sax Geeklet have been transformative and exciting for me. You really can teach an old dog new tricks.
Like a neck strap and mouth piece; the Better Sax Geeklet should be in every sax case. I am ordering another one, maybe two.
David B. Reedsville, PA USA
I liked the first one, so I bought two more….have one for each sax case…almost.
David, That’s the way to go. I have one in every sax case too. Don’t want to be without it ever!
Hey Jay, I’ve only been learning the sax for a couple of months but even I can tell that the geeklet really makes a difference to the sound. I was struggling with my tone. All my notes were a half tone flat, but since I’ve been using the geeklet I’ve been able to get much closer to the correct pitch. I recommend the geeklet to all sax players who want to improve their tone.
Hi, this is James. I just got a geeklet. The Better Sax website is easy to buy from and the supply chain is solid.
I received the geeklet in a few days, and decided to challenge it right away. I had a reed that was like trying to play with a 2×4 on the mouthpiece. I used the video guide as a reference, and it definitely improved a bit, but was still stiff and dull. Because this reed was in my “throw away” bin, I wanted to see what would happen if I was aggressive. So I used the “eraser” side of the geeklet on the front of the reed, either side of the spine, and “went to town.” Probably about 5x more shaving than the guide showed. Same for the siding. Result? It’s the best sounding reed I’ve played! If it can resurrect a 2×4, imagine what it can do for a decent reed. Obviously you take it easy and keep working the reed until it meets your expectations. I’m just mad that I didn’t buy this 50 years ago!
Thanks Jay, and Better Sax, and Reed Geek. Cheers! — James
James, this is great to hear. Glad you experimented and looked for the limits of what is possible with the Geeklet. Enjoy the new found control over your reeds’ performance!
It is shocking how much 2 minutes of reed care can change your playing experience. I (used to) struggle to find reeds that respond how I’d like- with the Geeklet, I can balance and shape every reed so it is as good as it can be. That doesn’t mean it makes every reed a 10/10, but 2 minutes can take just about every reed to at least a 7 or 8. I tell everyone I play with how much it has improved my performance and experience, and encourage everyone to give it a try. Considering the number of reeds and mouthpieces we all try just to change our sound a little bit, this tool costs less and has a more substantial impact than I could have imagined.
Thanks for sharing this! It is amazing how a little reed adjustment can make such a big difference. Glad to hear the Geeklet is working so well for you!
I’ve been using the Reedgeek for over a year now and decided to buy two more so I can always have one handy no matter which horn I’m playing. It’s a must-have as far as I’m concerned.
Hi Jay, I wish I had this tool 20 or more years ago. It is extremely easy to use. I was surprised at how much material came off the back of the reed I was using and the first two unplayable reeds I used it on actually made them play well. I’ve thrown away a lot of reeds over the years that probably could have been saved. There’s more but i will keep this short. Thanks!
Hi Craig,
Thank you so much for your kind feedback. We are really glad to hear that!
Will Cui
BetterSax Support Team
This is a terrific tool: small and easy to throw in my gig bag. I find this much better and more functional that my old reed knife.
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are really happy to hear that you are finding the Geeklet convenient!
Will Cui
BetterSax Support Team
I’m brand new to music and after getting an Alto sax from my kids for Christmas, I finally started taking classes this past March. After watching Jay’s video, I ordered the geeklet and also got the reeds at the same time. After using the tool, I broke two reeds already, but I am sure it’s all user error and nothing to do with the tool. Brand new at this but I am confident that with time and practice, hopefully will get better with the reeds and my sax playing.