Klarinet Archive - Posting 000948.txt from 1997/12

From: Robin Fairbairns <Robin.Fairbairns@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: Reeds
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 16:44:14 -0500

> I consider it a hassle to buy reeds because you don't know what you are
> getting in the box. Some have written about pre-selecting the reeds and
> buying what they like the most. I like to make my own reeds and I find
> better results in making them. I know you can work on store bought reeds,
> but it makes more since to me for someone just to buy reed blanks and
> start from scratch. Besides a box Vandoren cost about $20 from a local
> music store and from a catalog about 12 to 15 dollars. I find it much
> cheaper to buy about 60 reeds for about $40. In a store $40 only can get
> you about 20 reeds and half of them don't work.

As an economic argument, this makes sense if your time is totally
valueless. I would doubt that this is in fact the case.

As an argument about what's good for you, what you like doing, it's
interesting but I fear of no relevance to many of us. I for one
wouldn't know what to do with a reed blank (and probably couldn't make
a decent fist of it if I did, with my various disabilities).

I'ld love to be able to take a decent reed out of the box every time,
but I'm not about to invest time in learning craft techniques for
avoiding the problem in the first place.

Robin

   
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