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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000060.txt from 2008/01

From: Mike Benthin -MUTS oboe support <benthin@-----.net>
Subj: [DR-L] Re: [doublereeds] reed humidor
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:02:41 -0500

As this group does not allows attachments; pics of reed scrape/tip and
reedsoaker can be sent privately)

One to 2 minutes soak after keeping them humidified? Anyone have mold
problems keeping a reed "playing wet"? A thoroughly soaked reed is in a
different environment than during playing, and will get drier. Like
David Weiss, I'm more of a "get it out, soak it in the mouth, and
play"...type, but if I want to pick through reeds, I just dip them and
lay them down at home-if closed, blow through them to favor the outside
curving more; if open, wipe the outside. My reedsoaker core shown lets
you safely hang reeds from a stand if in a rehearsal situation. I also
have an invention based on my "foam and hairclip" idea, good for one
reed like an EH reed on the horn in a stand. As for reed tip openings,
I think those that open at the sides when dry were bound too tight or
bound above the staple top. A "holy grail" is a reed that is still open
when nearly dry and playable in a "can't wet it" situation like a
quintet. Most of mine look closed dry and are just open right when
"playing" wet; reeds I just made that are too open wet get the "squeeze
of death" and the hope they will behave after that.

Miriam Williams wrote:
>
> I'm using the 84% packet (the highest humidification). It will supposedly
> keep reeds at an optimum moisture, "ready to play". I find I still
need to
> soak for 1 or 2 minutes, but my reeds seem to be more responsive than
> when I
> was keeping them in my usual (cigarette type) case.

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