Klarinet Archive - Posting 001089.txt from 1997/12

From: Dee Hays <deerich@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Reeds
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 12:43:33 -0500

Roger Garrett wrote:

> Antoine is correct with everything regarding cost, quality, and
> consistancy of home made reeds.

Cost of anything handmade is higher if you include the cost of the ALL the time
involved (not only just working the material, but also the time it takes to
select and buy, etc) . However if that's how a person wants to spend their
time that's OK. Afterall I knit and it takes many hours to make a sweater so I
hate to even calculate the value of the time on that. But I do it because I
like to.

> ... He convinced me that, with a little
> bit of effort (and using th eskills learned by making reeds), I could
> adapt commercial reeds to play as well......he was correct. However, the
> reeds don't last nearly as long, and the consistancy is definitely worse.
> On the flip side - by practicing more (3+ hours a day), reeds all began to
> feel the same anyway.....as though they all played great.
>

Amen. I agree 100%. Too many people get hung up on equipment rather than
practicing. If they don't last as long that's no big deal. And what if the
weather and humidity suddenly changes and affects your reeds, you're used to
adapting and can still play.

I get very good yield rates out of a box of commercial reeds. Up to 7 or 8 are
good with only minor adjustments. The remainder either take more work or are
(occasionally) far enough off the average that I mark them thick or thin and
save them for very dry days or very humid days.

Dee Hays
deerich@-----.net
Canton, SD

   
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