Get yourself a 3 1/2 / Medium Hard Fibracell and stop wasting time fighting with cane. Wasn't clear which horn you were talking about (SATB?) If you're talking tenor, then maybe a 4 Fibracell instead of a 3 1/2 as the C* facing is pretty closed on tenor. Sorry - don't mean to start the cane vs. synthetic battle, but if consistency is your concern - you can't beat synthetic. And Fibracells play very well and cane-like in terms of fundamental sound. Once you sort out which strength is right for you, all you have to do is buy another one months and months down the road when the old one wears out and it will play like the last.