Klarinet Archive - Posting 000692.txt from 1996/10

From: Neil Leupold <nleupold@-----.EDU>
Subj: Oil treatment for reeds
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 1996 17:43:07 -0500

On Sat, 26 Oct 1996, Julianne Kirk wrote:

> a
> trick I learned from my teacher is to coat your reeds in olive oil while
> they're new. It makes them last longer for one thing and it does help the
> sound as long as you don't mind the taste.

Is this for real and, if so, what does it entail? Do I assume correctly
that the oil displaces moisture in the reed and prevents it from becoming
water-logged? What other positive effect does the oil have? If it is
merely to displace the water and seal the pores, will any ol' vegetable oil
do the trick? How is it applied? Dip the reed in & out? Soak? Brush
it on? Cook it with the fries? Should the reed be played once prior to
applying the oil, or should the reed be treated immediately out of the
box? Is it ever necessary to retreat a reed after initial "oiling"?
Does the treatment have any effect on the resistance, response, or
longevity of the reed?

Inquiring minds want to know.
Neil