Klarinet Archive - Posting 000260.txt from 1996/10

From: Burch Johnson <burchard@-----.COM>
Subj: Fogle...reed life
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 18:12:51 -0400

I read something awhile back that took the position that reeds go end-
of-life for two reasons: 1) the crystaline structure breaks down, and 2)
the wood fibers clog up with bacteria and dampen the vibrations. I guess
they both would result in a reed that "doesn't respond well,"or "sounds
dull." I believe the paper came out of a university in Chicago, and the
author indicated that he wanted to do some lab studies along this line,
but I haven't heard anything since then. He suggested that careful break-
in of the reed would minimize the first, and periodic soaking in hydrogen
peroxide and storage in the refrigerator would minimize the second. I'm
kind of thinking like you: Bag it and unwrap a new reed. Comments, anyone?
Burch