Klarinet Archive - Posting 000195.txt from 1997/03

From: Greg Barrett <gbarrett@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Reed Theory Question
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 15:34:25 -0500

On Wed, 5 March Neil Leupold wrote:

>On Wed, 5 Mar 1997, David C. Blumberg wrote:

>>>> If someone invented a reed holder that held the reed flat on glass
>>>>with
>>>> equal, and hard pressure (not enough to crush the fibers) at All
>>>>points of
>>>> the reed (top and bottom). Would warping not be possible, as the
>>>>reed would
>>>> have to dry flat?

>One of the points that was made on this subject had to do with
>even air exposure. The Selmer and Harrison reed cases are
>designed precisely on the principal you describe above, but
>there is a counter-argument which suggests that since the
>sides of the reed and rounded top surface, the exposed areas,
>still dry first, the reed will not dry out evenly and warpage
>will occur along the edges, in spite of the fact that the main
>flat surface is pressed against glass.

>Who knows for sure? I haven't done enough experimentation of
>buying different reed cases in order to do an empirical study.
>Pehaps somebody else has.

>Neil

I have used a Harrison reed holder for my soprano clarinet reeds for 17
years and have found that if I wipe my reeds dry (or lightly scrape them
with a reed knife) before placing them in the holder warpage is not a
problem. The tips may wrinkle a little but this is easily "ironed out"
when wetting the reed in water the next time I use it.

Greg Barrett
Jacksonville State University
Alabama

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org