Klarinet Archive - Posting 000523.txt from 1999/02

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Reed Aging
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 14:53:45 -0500

Roger Garrett wrote:
>
> 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

I tend to agree with Professor Garrett. Many players never realize the
full potential of the majority of reeds they buy because 1) they blow
them out at the outset, rather than carefully break them in and 2) they
spend too much time looking for the perfect reed rather than investing
that time in learning how to adjust, balance and voice their reeds to
their playing styles and their mouthpieces.

Two books that might help are: "Reed Guide: A Comprehensive Handbook of
Modern Reed Working For All Single-Reed Woodwind Instruments" written
and published by George T. Kirk, available through stores that sell Mr.
Kirk's companion product, The Reed-Mate humidity controlling and
moisture retaining reed holder, or by writing him directly at The
Reed-Mate Company, P.O. Box 1217, Westbrook, Maine, 04092-1217, U.S.A
and Larry Teal's "Art of Saxophone Playing, Published by Summy-Birchard.

The "Reed-Mate" book goes into great detail with expanded schedules for
breaking in reeds.

Larry Teal's book very possibly has the best chapter on adjusting single
reeds to be found anywhere.

Professor Garrett really didn't answer the question of whether reeds
improve with additional aging. There are many opinions on this. Some
people recommend that after trying and rejecting a reed, it should be
stored away and maybe tried again a year or two down the road. As
mentioned in another post, a reed that might not play during a
particular season might work better at another time of year.

The only way to get a handle on this question would be to document
carefully all reeds purchased, tried, rejected and saved with dates and
any other info attached to the reed.

If you want to try this, please get back in two or three years and
report your findings:-)

I suspect further aging might, in some instances with certain reeds,
help, but I really can't say for sure.

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