Klarinet Archive - Posting 000526.txt from 1996/07

From: "Robert J. Resnik" <rjresnik@-----.EDU>
Subj: REED FIXING WITH VODKA (fwd)
Date: Sat, 27 Jul 1996 23:09:06 -0400

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 27 JUL 1996 13:16:12 +0600
From: Richard Corpolongo <RCorp@-----.com>
Newgroups: alt.music.makers.woodwind, alt.music.clarinet,
alt.music.saxophone
Subject: REED FIXING WITH VODKA

REED FIXING
USING VODKA

TOOLS REQUIRED:

1). MCCORMICK SPICE JAR BOTTLE OR
SIMILAR
CONTAINER.
2). REED KNIFE.
3). CURVED TOOTH FILE.
4). REED CLIPPER.

STEP ONE:

PLACE ALL BRAND NEW REEDS IN THE MCCORMICK SPICE JAR BOTTLE
COVERED COMPLETELY WITH VODKA (ANY BRAND). MAKE SURE NOT TO PLAY
REEDS BEFORE PLACING THEM IN VODKA. LET REEDS SOAK COMPLETELY FOR ONE
DAY, MAKING SURE THE REEDS ARE SATURATED.

STEP TWO:

THE NEXT DAY PLAY EACH REED ABOUT 2 TO 3 MINUTES. CHECK EACH
REED FOR OVER-ALL FEEL, HARDNESS, AND EASE OF PERFORMANCE.

THE REEDS THAT PLAY PRETTY WELL STAY IN THE MCCORMICK BOTTLE.
THE OTHER REEDS ARE PUT IN ANOTHER SEPARATE VODKA BOTTLE UNTIL YOU ARE
READY TO WORK ON THEM.

YOU ARE PROBABLY ASKING --WHY VODKA? REEDS DO NOT LAST LONG
BECAUSE OF THE GERMS IN YOUR SALIVA. REEDS IN VODKA (EVEN GIN,
TEQUILA, OR ANY CLEAR ALCOHOL) KILL GERMS.

ONCE YOU HAVE PLACED ALL YOUR GOOD REEDS IN A REED BOTTLE
FILLED WITH ALCOHOL THERE IS NO REASON TO EVER TAKE THEM OUT UNTIL YOU
ARE READY TO USE THEM.

AFTER EACH PERFORMANCE OR PRACTICE ON YOUR GOOD REED SIMPLY
RETURN THE REED TO THE BOTTLE FILLED WITH ALCOHOL.

PLACING YOUR GOOD REEDS BACK INTO THE ALCOHOL BOTTLE AFTER
EVERY PERFORMANCE OR PRACTICE MAKES THE REED FREE FROM GERMS AND
RETAINS ALL THE MOISTURE IN THEM FOR THE NEXT PERFORMANCE.

IT IS ADVISABLE TO GET A PLASTIC MCCORMICK BOTTLE WITH A COVER
RATHER THAN A GLASS BOTTLE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. TRY TO FIND A WASHER
TO FIT THE COVER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL SPILLING. THE COVER ALSO
KEEPS THE MOISTURE IN THE REEDS.

THIS CONCLUDES REED PREPARATION FOR REEDS THAT HAVE BEEN
SOAKED AND PLAY PRETTY WELL

STEP THREE:
(CORRECTING THE REEDS THAT WERE PUT BACK INTO THE VODKA FILLED
MCCORMICK SPICE JAR BOTTLE).

IF THE REED IS TOO SOFT SIMPLY CLIP THE REED VERY CAREFULLY A
LITTLE AT A TIME WITH A REED CLIPPER (SOLD AT ANY MUSIC STORE).
KEEP ON CLIPPING UNTIL THE DESIRED STIFFNESS IS ACHIEVED. USUALLY A
SOFT REED IS THE EASIEST PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED -- THE SITUATION GETS
WORSE WHEN THE REED IS TOO HARD, PLAYS STUFFY, SQUEAKS, AND PLAYS
UNEVENLY IN THE DIFFERENT REGISTERS.

STEP FOUR:
(FOR REEDS THAT ARE TOO HARD, STUFFY, SQUEAKY, AND PLAY UNEVEN).

1). TAKE ONE REED OUT OF
THE JAR FILLED WITH VODKA.
2). START WITH THE UNDER-SIDE OF THE REED.
3). USE YOUR CURVED TOOTH FILE
AND FILE THE UNDER-SIDE VERY EVENLY.
4). MAKE SURE TO GO IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CURVE.

THIS IS USUALLY ENOUGH TO MAKE THE REED PLAY BETTER.
BECAUSE OF THE SOAKING PROCESS REEDS HAVE A TENDENCY TO SWELL-UP.
FILING THE UNDER-SIDE CREATES A MORE UNIFORM FIT OVER THE MOUTHPIECE.

5). PLAY THE REED -- IF IT IS STILL HARD REPEAT 3) AND 4).
IF YOU ARE STILL DISSATISFIED AFTER REPEATING 3) AND 4) THERE IS
STILL ANOTHER METHOD THAT CAN BE USED.

STEP FIVE:

TAKE YOUR REED KNIFE AND VERY LIGHTLY SLICE A LINE BEGINNING
AT THE HEART TO THE BOTTOM OF THE REED.
PLAY THE REED TO SEE IF THE SLICE CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. IF
NOT, CUT THE REED ONCE MORE IN THE SAME PLACE A LITTLE DEEPER.

STEP SIX:

IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS CUT A LINE ACROSS THE BODY OF THE REED
-- 1/4 INCH LOWER THAN THE HEART. SCRAPE THE BARK OFF BETWEEN THE
SLICE AND THE HEART MAKING SURE NOT TO TOUCH THE HEART. IF YOU SEE THE
FIBERS OF THE REED -- YOU HAVE SCRAPED TOO DEEPLY.

AFTER ALL THIS SCRAPING, THE REED SHOULD RESPOND
SATISFACTORILY. IF THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS, ANOTHER METHOD IS
NECESSARY.

STEP SEVEN:

WITH A PENCIL DIVIDE THE REED INTO FOUR EQUAL SECTIONS
STARTING AT THE HEART AND PROCEEDING UPWARD.

Section 1. Lowest note to a 5th above. Section 2. Half step above
that note to a 5th above that. Section 3. Half step above that note
to a 5th above. Section 4. Half step above that to the highest note.

FOE EXAMPLE: For Saxophone

Section 1. Low Bb to F. Section 2. F# to C#. Section 3. D to A.
Section 4. Db to high F and above harmonics.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PROBLEM? COME TO A DEFINITE CONCLUSION AS
TO WHAT NOTES ARE GIVING YOU THE MOST TROUBLE.

FOR EXAMPLE:

ON THESAXOPHONE, THE NOTE G ON THE SECOND LINE SOUNDS STUFFY.
LOOK AT THE CHART ABOVE -- YOU WILL FIND THE NOTE G LOCATED IN
SECTION 2.

1). TAKE YOUR REED KNIFE ONCE AGAIN AND SCRAPE VERY GENTLY
ON THE RIGHT SIDE (1) OF THE REED WHERE THE PROBLEM NOTE IS LOCATED
MAKING SURE NOT TO GO INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE REED (HEART AND MIDDLE
PART).

2). IF THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE SCRAPE THE LEFT SIDE (2 )
OF THE REED WHERE THE PROBLEM NOTE IS LOCATED.

THIS IS THE PROCEDURE FOR CORRECTING NOTES FOR SECTIONS 1, 2 AND 3
ONLY.

SECTION 4 IS A DIFFERENT MATTER, PROBLEMS THAT ARISE IN THIS
SECTION INCLUDE STUFFINESS IN THE HIGH REGISTER, SQUEAKING, REED
CLOSING UP AND CHIRPS.

1). WITH THE MOUTHPIECE -- PLACE THE MOUTHPIECE IN YOUR MOUTH
SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT FORCING YOU TO PLAY ON THE LEFT SIDE.

2). PLACE THE MOUTHPIECE IN YOUR MOUTH SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT
FORCING YOU TO PLAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

DETERMINE WHICH SIDE OF THE REED IS HARDER THAN THE OTHER --
LEFT OR RIGHT.

3). THE SIDE THAT IS THE HARDER SHOULD BE SCRAPED EVER SO
GENTLY WITH YOUR REED KNIFE TO MATCH THE SOFTER SIDE.

4). IF THIS SCRAPING OF SECTION 1 MAKES THE TIP TOO SOFT,
CLIP THE TIP WITH YOUR REED CLIPPER A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.

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IF ALL THESE METHODS ON REED PREPARATION FAIL THE ONLY
ALTERNATIVE IS TO DISCARD THE REED.

ONCE A REED IS DEAD, IT CANNOT BE RESURRECTED IF IT HAS GONE
THROUGH ALL THE ABOVE PROCEDURES.

Peace,

Rich Corpolongo
RCorp@-----.com