I wrote Vandoren about my aging reed question. You can now rest easy, I got this great answer:
My name is Jim ___ and I am the marketing manager for DANSR inc, the sole US importer of Vandoren products. My colleagues in France asked that I respond to your email.
Your question has been the subject of a debate that has gone on for years. Some musicians swear up and down that aged reeds are better while others simply swear about aged reeds because of their unreliable response.
Over the 105 years we have been making reeds, we have found absolutely no scientific evidence that aged reeds perform any better than fresh reeds. In fact, aging reeds will actually increase your chances of experiencing more problems than fresh reeds will. Reeds behave just like wood – they can rot from too much moisture or from not enough (i.e. dry rot). To keep them in good condition over time, they will need to be stored in an environment that is consistently between 40% and 70% relative humidity and between 65 and 75 degrees.
On the opposite side of that, the flow pack keeps the reed at the same humidity as the factory for at least two years, guaranteeing that the reed will be fresh and ready to play at any time.
Ultimately, the “right” answer is the one that helps you sleep at night. If you think that aged reeds play better and that helps you to mentally relax, then go for it. If you’re happier with fresh reeds, go that direction. If you’re okay with buying reeds now and taking the chance that they may not survive (succumbing to wet rot, dry rot, or something else), then you should follow your heart.
