Klarinet Archive - Posting 000363.txt from 2001/12

From: Clarguy3@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] how to store reeds?
Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 17:01:09 -0500

In a message dated 12/16/01 1:51:49 PM Eastern Standard Time,
GrabnerWG@-----.com writes:

<<
Walter Says:

This sounds to me like an EXCELLENT idea. I'm going to try this. How do you
control the humidity? Is the "food storage box" airtight?

I also (we had a big controvesy on the list about 6 months ago on this
topic) do NOT store my reeds on a flat surface (flat side down) even though
this was how I was taught. My experience is that doing so will promote
warping.

(For those who wonder, the warping we are talking about is not the
"wrinkles" in the tip of the reed, which disappear quickly after wetting, but
the misuch more serious and destructive convex warping that occurs to the
back of the reed. This warp, where the sides of the reed make less contact
with the mouthpiece than the middle of the reed, has ruined many a reed - and
many a concert).

I believe the key to the issue is to arrange to allow the reed to dry
EVENLY, and not too much. For this reason, during the dry heating season, I
"humidify" my reeds, often placing my reed holder in a zip lock bag after
playing. I dry them carefully by hand before putting them in the reed holder.
I use the Vandoren holders that have slots, not theo old fashioned REEDGUARD.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
>>

Exactly! Or the other alternative is to make your own reeds, getting the
warpage out of the blanks before you cut them. Then the whole problem is
basically gone.
Chuck

---------------------------------------------------------------------