Klarinet Archive - Posting 000232.txt from 1997/04

From: Lord Rob <rteitelbaum@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Reed Contradictions
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 08:56:03 -0400

I confess that I know nothing of tubes in reeds or any of the other =
topics that have been discussed on this thread (except what I've learned =
from reading the recent postings.) But I do know that a former sax =
teacher of mine recommended rubbing new reeds with a plant that I think =
was called Dutch Rush, which he grew in his backyard. It has a =
sandpaper-like texture, and seemed especially good for softening up =
overly-stiff reeds. I liked it better for sax reeds than clarinet ones, =
but along a similar vein I've found that gently pressing new Vandorens =
on a glass surface or the mouthpiece table can be helpful, since those =
infernal plastic cases that Vandorens come in have the tendency to bend =
the reed, causing it to be out of shape when first removed from the box. =
In this way I've been able to find 5-6 good V12's to a box instead of =
the usual 2-3. I think the difference results because these bent reeds =
aren't straightened out, and hence are not given a proper "chance" to =
prove themselves to be good reeds.

Rob Teitelbaum
Claremont McKenna College

   
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