Klarinet Archive - Posting 000200.txt from 1997/12

From: W LEE WOOD <WLEEWOOD@-----.com>
Subj: Reed preparation
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 12:40:54 -0500

Dec. 2nd Jennifer McKenna wrote:
"I guess that i seal my reeds differently. I soak the reeds over
days, 10 min. the first day, play for 5 min. soak 10 min. next day, seal
reads against a glass surface using the reverse side of a piece of sand
paper. soak reeds 15 min. nextday and rub down on sand paper until smooth.
play for 20 min. soak 15 min. forth day and play and adjust reeds. Maybe
i'm doing it wrong, but this process has worked pretty well for me. i have
had more luck with this. i played bass clarinet for 5 years, and used to
use the water logging process frequently, and it worked well with the
larger reed, but with the clarinet reeds i have found this to be less
productive, many time the reeds die out in about 2-3 days after i've
finished prepping them. then again, maybe i don't do it right?"

This is very much like the process that Reedmate recomends in their book
called I believe, The Reed Guide.( I would be sure of title but my copy is
loaned out now.) It is the system I use on my reeds but I have not had
trouble with the reeds dieing too quickly. With this system I find that the
stablization of the reed makes virtually all 5 reeds in a box of Mitchell
Lurie premium useable. I also use the Reedmate holder which minimizes the
affect of humidity on reeds. Omited in the overview above is the light
sanding as necessary to flaten the table following the initial polishing or
sealing.

Lee Wood