Klarinet Archive - Posting 000448.txt from 1999/10

From: "Karl Krelove" <kkrelove@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] re: wetting reeds
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 18:57:30 -0400

My experience is the opposite. The older the reed (and the more closed the
pores are), the longer it takes to get it flexible enough to play its best.
Brand new reed out of the box will play comfortably (if they're the right
strength) after a few seconds of wetting in my mouth. My oldest friends in
my reed box will need to soak a good couple of minutes.

I've tried soaking my reeds in those little film holders with tap water, but
in the end I found it more trouble than it was worth. Between the spills and
having to risk carrying the filled container of water with me when I wasn't
sure I could get water where I was going to be playing, I gave it up. I did
find that stiffer reeds played better when I had soaked them this way, but I
also found that I tended to forget how long the reeds had been in the water
and wound up water-logging them more often, making them completely useless
until they had dried out.

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clarinet [mailto:clarinet@-----.net]
> Sent: Friday, October 15, 1999 3:02 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [kl] re: wetting reeds
>
>
> For me I find it has to do with how old the reed is. Because the tone and
> ease of play has to do with how well the reed is vibrating. If
> you soak an
> old reed too long, it gets soggy and plays very poorly... but with a new
> reed it is different... so I guess I would have to say it depends on what
> works well for you and the type of reeds you use.
>
> New Reeds, I soak well before using... otherwise they are more prone to
> splitting
> Seasoned Reed, I soak the tips for a minute.. then keep wet with saliva
> Old Reed, only use saliva to moisten... then again... it should
> probably be
> in the garbage anyway <grin>
>
> This is what works for me....
> Bruce
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Frank Galiani <fgaliani@-----.net>
> To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> Sent: Friday, October 15, 1999 11:39 AM
> Subject: [kl] re: wetting reeds
>
>
> > I am a retired early intermediate player and would appreciate some
> > advice on wetting a reed before playing. I have been soaking the reed I
> > play with in a small cup of water for 5 to 10 minutes before playing,
> > wetting the third of the reed nearest the tip. It seems to work very
> > well. I am getting a good tone and have no trouble producing my highest
> > note, currently G4. (I use Vandoren V-12s, #3 1/2 on a Genussa M/P).
> > When I try moistening the reed with saliva for a brief period before
> > playing, I get a much thinner tone and have greater difficulty reaching
> > the higher notes, yet this seems to be what many clarinetists do??? Are
> > their more "acceptable" or better ways to treat the reed before
> > playing? (Maybe I should take a hint from Nancy Buckman's post and take
> > my Buffet E-11 into the shower with me. 8~) Thanks in advance for
> > any comments or advice. Frank Galiani
> >
> >
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