Silverstein ALTA AMBIPOLY

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www.silversteinworks.com

670 Bergen Blvd. 2F Ridgeﬁeld, NJ 07657 USA

ALTA AMBIPOLY™ reeds are

capable of providing secure

intonation, articulation and

tone throughout all registers. This

reed excels in the altissimo register,

producing C4 effortlessly. As with

trying any new brand or cut of reed, a

slight adjustment in voicing will

p r o v i d e r e m a r k a b l e r e s u l t s .

Experiment with your embouchure

and air stream to ﬁnd the maximum

capacity and resonance of your setup.

ALTA

AMBIPOLY

QUICK START

GUIDE

BK & SONS CORPORATION

Your ALTA AMBIPOLY™ reed

behaves and reacts similarly to

cane. After opening it, soak

your new ALTA AMBIPOLY™ reed in

water for approximately 30 seconds,

from the reed tip to the back of the

vamp. Do not submerge the entire

reed. The AMBIPOLY™ material

absorbs water, which enables the

reed to respond with greater freedom

and harmonic coherence, resulting in

a cane-like warm and round tone.

Like a cane reed, you will need

t o b r e a k i n y o u r A LT A

AMBIPOLY™ reed. During this

process, the new reed uniquely

conforms and ‘pairs’ with your

mouthpiece. This is another unique

feature of the AMBIPOLY™ material

and contributes to the reed’s

playability in a way that previously

was not possible with synthetic reeds.

This pairing process takes about 5 to

15 minutes, in which time the reed

will relax and begin to memorize your

mouthpiece facing, the fulcrum point

of your embouchure and your air

pressure. Afterwards, your reed will

have stabilized and will remain stable

for the life of the reed.

If you want to play the reed on

different mouthpieces, then repeat

Steps 2 & 3 each time you switch the

reed between mouthpieces.

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Summary

ALTA AMBIPOLY Quick Start Guide - Initial Steps

Reed Preparation and Soaking

Soak the ALTA AMBIPOLY reed in water for 30 seconds, tip to back of vamp, for optimal response and tone.

Reed Performance and Adjustment

ALTA AMBIPOLY reeds offer secure intonation and tone. Adjust embouchure and air stream for maximum capacity.

Reed Break-in Process

Break in the reed for 5-15 minutes to conform to the mouthpiece for stable playability.

ALTA AMBIPOLY Reed Adjustment

Adjusting Reed Response

Adjust specific areas (1, 2, 3) with a reed knife or sandpaper for desired tone in middle, low, or high registers.

The ALTA AMBIPOLY™ reed is a synthetic reed designed to mimic the performance and feel of traditional cane reeds, offering musicians a durable and consistent alternative. It is suitable for various woodwind instruments, though the specific instrument is not detailed in the provided manual. The reed's core function is to produce sound when vibrated by air, and its design aims to provide secure intonation, articulation, and tone across all registers, with a particular emphasis on excelling in the altissimo register, allowing for effortless production of high notes like C4.

Technical Specifications and Material:

The ALTA AMBIPOLY™ reed is made from a unique material called AMBIPOLY™. This material is engineered to absorb water, a characteristic typically associated with cane reeds. This water absorption is crucial for the reed's performance, as it enables greater freedom of response and harmonic coherence, ultimately contributing to a warm and round, cane-like tone. The manual does not specify the exact chemical composition of AMBIPOLY™ but highlights its unique properties that allow it to conform and 'pair' with a mouthpiece, a feature not commonly found in other synthetic reeds. The reed's durability is implied by its synthetic nature, suggesting a longer lifespan compared to natural cane reeds.

Usage Features:

The ALTA AMBIPOLY™ reed requires a "break-in" process similar to cane reeds. Upon first use, the reed should be soaked in water for approximately 30 seconds. It's important to only submerge the reed tip to the back of the vamp, not the entire reed. This initial soaking allows the AMBIPOLY™ material to absorb water, preparing it for optimal response.

The break-in process, which involves playing the reed, typically takes about 5 to 15 minutes. During this time, the reed relaxes and begins to "memorize" the mouthpiece facing, the fulcrum point of the embouchure, and the player's air pressure. This "pairing" process is a unique feature of the AMBIPOLY™ material, enhancing playability in a way previously unattainable with synthetic reeds. Once stabilized, the reed is designed to maintain its stability for its entire lifespan.

For musicians who use multiple mouthpieces, the manual advises repeating the break-in process (Steps 2 & 3 in the original manual, which refer to experimenting with embouchure/air stream and the pairing process) each time the reed is switched between different mouthpieces. This ensures optimal pairing and performance with each specific mouthpiece.

The manual also emphasizes the importance of adjusting embouchure and air stream to find the maximum capacity and resonance of the player's setup, similar to how one would approach a new brand or cut of cane reed. This suggests that while the reed is designed for consistency, individual player adjustment is still key to achieving desired results.

Maintenance Features and Adjustability:

A significant feature of the ALTA AMBIPOLY™ reed is its adjustability, allowing players to fine-tune its response to achieve their desired sound. This can be done using a reed knife or 800-grit sandpaper. The manual provides specific guidance for adjusting different registers:

Middle register: Adjust area (1) on the reed.
Low register: Adjust area (2) on the reed.
High register: Adjust area (3) on the reed.

When adjusting, players are instructed to allow the weight of the knife to create pressure and remove material gently. It's crucial to avoid excessive pressure, which can lead to curling, divots, or gouges. The recommended technique involves gently scraping or sanding the reed 1 to 5 times in the area needing adjustment. The amount of material removed should appear as a fine dust. After each adjustment, the player should play the reed to evaluate the changes and repeat the process as needed. This level of adjustability provides a degree of customization that bridges the gap between synthetic and natural reeds, allowing players to tailor the reed's performance to their specific preferences and instrument setup.

In summary, the ALTA AMBIPOLY™ reed is a sophisticated synthetic reed that aims to replicate the nuanced performance of cane reeds while offering enhanced durability and consistency. Its unique AMBIPOLY™ material, water absorption properties, "pairing" capability with mouthpieces, and adjustability features make it a versatile and high-performing option for musicians seeking a reliable and customizable reed.