Klarinet Archive - Posting 000182.txt from 1999/07

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Purchase of (aged) Reeds
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 1999 16:39:33 -0400

At 03:28 PM 7/6/99 -0500, you wrote:
>What should an old, stored reed look like ? Should it look like any other
>reed ? Would the reed age, and in so doing, take on a aged appearance?
>
>I have purchased some "old stock" VanDoren reeds which are thought to be as
>many as 20 years old. They don't have a bright look like new VanDoren
>reeds, they have a somewhat "mellow yellow" look to them. These reeds are in
>a purple, plastic reed box which holds 5 on either side and are
>marked/graded differently (3 1/2 = 3 1/2 to 4) than reeds you would buy
>today. I am told that this packaging is that which was used some years back.

The mellow yellow is really a golden color cane takes on as it ages. You
have some vintage 1976-85 reeds there - prior to V12 style reeds. I used
to play on 5's!

They should play quite well - just sand the backs flat with 320 and 600
followed by only 600 each day for 3 days (wetting between and drying on
glass). They shouldn't warp on you, and they should play better than new.

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director, Concert Band/Symphonic Winds/Titan Band
Advisor, Recording Studio
Illinois Wesleyan University
Office: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3411

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