Klarinet Archive - Posting 000041.txt from 1997/12

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: New topic...when to transcribe?
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 00:12:46 -0500

No....I don't "water log" my reeds. I just soak them in water until they
are ready to play....anywhere from 2 minutes (newer reeds) to 6 or 7
minutes (old reeds). The tip flattens out (the wave leaves) as the reed
becomes properly soaked.

I prepare my reeds for five days....Sanding the back and putting them on
glass between sandings to dry. Left over from my reed making days....and
it helps keep them from warping on me. I start with a thicker blank
...such as the V12 Vandorens...

Roger Garrett

On Mon, 1 Dec 1997, Jennifer Rose McKenna wrote:

> I always wanted to know this - do many of you so called 'water log' your
> reeds before you play them-you know buy blowing through the end of the
> reed. i always found that the reeds died sooner when i did this. just
> wondering?
>
> jennifer mckenna
> jrm0013@-----.edu
> university of north texas
> clarinet concentration/music ed major
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, 1 Dec 1997, Da Shouryu-man wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 1 Dec 1997, Roger Garrett wrote:
> > >
> > > Actually, the break in is not so long for Bass......just the sanding of
> > > the back to be sure the warp is gone. An important consideration is that
> > > when reeds start to wear out, they make it sound/feel as though the horn
> > > is leaking somewhere......very important to remember this!
> >
> > I seal my reeds first, soaking and pressing, soaking and pressing, etc
> > until I don't see air bubbles on the vamp when I blow through the butt of
> > the reed. Then I wait for it to completely dry, and occasionally, after
> > sanding then playing, it will warp again...that's why I say it's long.
> > While it may not be necessary to seal it, I do anyway. That's part of
> > what takes so long for me. I've never tried not sealing the reed; that
> > _would_ shorten the process significantly, huh? ^_^
> >
> > > I disagree with the contention that one never plays on anything harder
> > > than a 3. I play on size 4 Vandorens, and they are a bit soft at times
> > > for me. Lawrie Bloom plays on 4's.....anything less than a size 3 on a
> > > standard C* mouthpiece will be too soft for a good quality, full-bodied
> > > bass clarinet sound....especially for projection in the low range.
> >
> > I haven't tried a C* yet, so I can't say for sure. I was probably jumping
> > the gun with my statement there. All the students I've worked with and
> > played beside in regional conventions, if anyone played anything harder
> > than a 3, they got real reedy in the clarion (yuck) and couldn't play
> > ANYTHING below mezzoforte without sounding like a gagging goose. So when
> > I speak, I speak of off that experience. I haven't tried working past
> > 3.5, but I may try with different mouthpieces, now that you've brought it
> > up.
> >
> > > Doesn't matter to most of us if you sound that way as long as you realize
> > > that there are a LOT of people who have put a lot of time and effort into
> > > being good bass clarinet players......gee...and some of us have even
> > > played in a major symphony orchestra on it!
> >
> > Mr. Garrett, I've been on the list for less than a day, and I'm happy that
> > I've found people like you who take basses seriously. I have such a hard
> > time finding people as such, and it's good to know that they're on this
> > list as well. I'll keep these things in mind from now on. ^_^
> >
> > "The dumbest thing that band directors often do is take the last few
> > clarinets on the list after chair tests and have them play low clarinets.
> > It is truly a tragedy."--Grant Green, Contrabass ML
> >
> > Shouryu
> >
> > Coming soon! A whole new Dope-onna-rope! That's right! Shouryu is
> > changing EVERYTHING!!! A new signature with new and improved design! A
> > new web page with...>gasp<...USEFUL STUFF! Stay tuned in December when
> > Warm Up gets a whole new makeover!!! http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe
> > (This does not mean, however, that Shouryu has a girlfriend yet.)
> >
>
>