Our Story
Where Passion for Music Meets Practical Innovation
ALE Reed Balancer is the creation of lifelong friends Marty Giaimo and Dominic Bianco, who met at the age of 18 and bonded instantly over their shared love for music. Decades later, they are still gigging, performing, and innovating together.
Meet Marty Giaimo
A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and the High School of Performing Arts, Marty is a true virtuoso. He plays nearly every wind instrument, including the clarinet, all saxophones, flute, and trumpet, as well as piano and percussion. Throughout his career, Marty has had the honor of studying with renowned musicians, honing his craft to the highest level.
Meet Dominic Bianco
Dominic studied guitar and vocals privately for over a decade. With a knack for craftsmanship, he’s the kind of person who can build or fix almost anything. From handmade guitars (seen in the picture above) to surgical instruments, kitchen knives, and custom cabinetry, Dominic’s creativity and skill know no bounds.
The Birth of ALE Reed Balancer
One evening, Marty was playing a gig when his saxophone reed started acting up. It squeaked and made odd sounds, throwing off the performance. He replaced the reed with a new one, but that didn’t work either. After trying another—and yet another—he finally found a reed that worked well enough to finish the song. Still, the experience left him frustrated. Why were so many reeds failing to perform?
​
At the same time, Dominic’s son had recently started learning the clarinet. Dominic noticed his son experiencing similar problems—some reeds played fine, while others seemed impossible to use. Watching his son struggle sparked an idea. Dominic thought, There must be a way to make every reed work as it should.
​
With Marty’s musical expertise and Dominic’s knack for craftsmanship, the two friends collaborated to design a tool that makes adjusting reeds simple, fast, and effective.
​
The result? A practical, easy-to-use solution that helps reeds perform consistently and keeps musicians focused on what matters: playing great music.
As Marty and Dominic like to say:
"It’s Cheaper Than a Box of Reeds!"
Why A.L.E. Reed Balancer?
The ALE Reed Balancer simplifies the process of optimizing reeds, saving musicians time, money, and frustration.
​
It's made by musicians, for musicians, regardless of skill level so whether you’re a professional performer, a student, or just passionate about music, ALE Reed Balancer ensures your reeds are always ready to perform at their best.