Klarinet Archive - Posting 000328.txt from 1998/04

From: C E Field <CEField@-----.com>
Subj: Reed Life Span
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 16:23:00 -0400

My experience is that some reeds seem to last forever (or at least a month
which is like forever if you play a lot). On the other hand, some reeds crap
out on the first try. You can occasionally take a "bad" reed, set it aside,
try it during another season (climatic, that is), and the reed will suddenly
come to life.

I know one professional player whose everyday reeds look like he used them
when he played during World War II. The Board of Health would shut down this
guy's reed case in a heartbeat...but who am I to criticize? When this man
plays, the angels draw near.

The good news is that as much as we obsess over reeds, clarinetists are not
nearly as neurotic as oboe players are. Their reed variables are exponential
compared to ours.

Cindy