Klarinet Archive - Posting 000087.txt from 1996/02

From: Richard Spittel <RichLouS@-----.COM>
Subj: Consistency (?) and Results with Reeds (Yea,
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 1996 20:43:17 -0500

I consider myself somewhat of an interloper into this list, since I am
primarily a bassoonist. But I do a fair amount of doubling on bass and
contraAlto clarinets (and bari sax)in concert band settings. In making
bassoon reeds, I soak the cane 5 or 6 times in boiling distilled water to try
to remove as much as the sap as possible. Reeds then tend to last longer and
are a bit more consistent within each batch. I've tried doing this same
soaking process with contraAlto reeds and notice a bit more freedom in each
reed as well as increased projection. I'm wondering whether any REAL
clarinet players have ever tried this and what your reactions are.

Thanx

Richard Spittel Baltimore, MD