Klarinet Archive - Posting 000509.txt from 1999/02

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Reed Aging
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 08:54:13 -0500

On Sun, 14 Feb 1999, Jason Hsien wrote:
> I've read of the great qualities of aged reeds, and so, two years ago I put a
> pair of boxes of Vandoren's (Clarinet 3.5 V-12, Tenor Sax 3 V-16) away in Safe
> Deposit. Granted, Safe Deposit isn't the most pristine enviroment for anything,
> but it kep them safe.

Perhaps more important than aging already aged reeds such as the
Vandorens might be the preparation/break in process. After so many years
of trying different procedures, the one I know works LEAST best is to soak
them up out of the box and just start to play them until they die.

As a woodworker, I've grown to appreciate the ways that woods react to
moisture and humidity. Reeds are no different. Sand the backs with 320
and 600, soak and rub the vamp flat on glass. Let dry. Do it again the
next day with 600 and the next day after that. Then begin playing on them
- 5-10 minutes each max. - and play on all of them - no matter how hard or
ugly they are. Increase this time by 5 minute each day until you have
played on them for three days. Begin working on the vamp/tip of reed by
the third day of playing - mostly just balancing the reed (yup - TR - I
know how to do that) - with the Vandorens, this is about all you need to
do. The sanding really helps seal the back of the reed and flatten it -
it works wonderfully for flat tabled mouthpieces. I'm not sure if the
process works as well for hollow table mouthpieces such as the Hawkins and
Smith.

There are a few people who "hand select" reeds - and they balance them for
others. But just about anyone can learn how to do it - and you spend a
heck of a lot less money on reeds in the long run.

One other thing - there was a post about reeds getting mushy, etc. I have
found that reeds that I prepare in a given temperature/humidity/season
tend to do worse when the season changes than those that I prepare during
THAT season. It's not a bad idea to have reeds on the glass being worked
on all the time - as you play on a box or two - have a box being prepared.
Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director - Concert Band, Symphonic Winds & Titan Band
Advisor - Recording Studio
Illinois Wesleyan University

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