Klarinet Archive - Posting 001085.txt from 2001/02

From: David Glenn <notestaff@-----.de>
Subj: [kl] Warped reeds
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 13:51:52 -0500

rgarrett@-----.edu wrote:

> At 12:05 PM 02/27/2001 -0500, you wrote:
> >NEVER put a wet reed to dry on a flat, impervious surface like a
> >glass plate. This causes the top of the reed to dry quickly (it is
> >exposed to the air) and the bottom to dry much later (as it is not exposed
> >to the air). Any time you take a piece of wood this thin and dry it
> >unevenly on its two sides, the reed is guaranteed to suffer internal
> >stresses, often causing the bottom to become convex as the rails pull off
> >the glass plate as they dry first. SOLUTION...dry your reed thorougly
> >before putting it away, or turn it upside on the kitchen table (label up)
> >to dry (air can now get around both sides of the vamp).
> >
> >As a result of the drying strategy in #2, I never have any warped reeds.
> >I suggest you all try "bottoms up" as an anti-warpage approach to drying
> >the reeds.
>
> Howard is advocating the same procedure as Greg Smith. Both of these
> gentlemen are top notch players and teachers.
>
> However, the procedure they recommend against is discussed at great length
> by William Stubbins in his book, "The Art of Clarinetistry," and it was
> advocated by John Mohler - who made his own reeds - and made them very well
> (and was Bob Spring's teacher - who, like me - learned to make reeds from
> John). The storage on glass technique obviously has its believers and
> non-believers. I am one of the former, and my reeds play wonderfully when
> stored on glass!
>
> Best wishes,
> Roger Garrett
>
> Roger Garrett
> Clarinet Professor
> Director, Symphonic Winds
> Advisor, IWU Recording Services
> Illinois Wesleyan University
> School of Music
> Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
> Phone: (309) 556-3268
> Fax: (309) 556-3121
>

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The reed warping on glass seems to depend on whether the pores are closed yet
or not.

*My* method is to rub down the reed with plain paper. (What would that be? 1000
grit?) Still, I don't put the wet reed onto glass until it's been played in for
a couple of weeks, starting at about one minute on the first day and increasing
to 10-15 minutes. Up until that point I follow the "Klug" method. (Klug is
German for clever, smart or American for great player/teacher)

The German players who make their own reeds tend to store them on glass. But a
handmade reed has been filed and sanded down enough that the pores are surely
closed by the time you can play on it. So it would be only logical to put it on
glass and keep it stable.

David

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