Reeds are important to playing the saxaphone but it also depends on the technique of the player. I luckily found a really good music teacher and my technique has dramatically improved in the past 2 years I have been with him. But anyway, a few years ago before my contest solo in the Spring, I was playing with what I believed to be my dream reed! Soul Reed! It had been slightly chipped on the end, getting very thin and was nearly black on the inside. I was able to receive a 1 superior rating in my solo and the day after, I picked up the horn and began to moisten it, the Reed of My Dreams spilt into two pieces and the rest just fell to the floor. I was devestated at first but when I found a good teacher and a better brand of reeds all my reeds sound like that dreem reed and probably a lot better.