Klarinet Archive - Posting 000702.txt from 2002/03
From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Breaking In New Reeds
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 15:49:37 -0500
Howard -
About 6 years ago I returned to playing after many years absence. About 4
or 5 years ago Klarinet contained a lot of good advice and methods of reed
preparation, from which I took what I believed to be the best suggestions
for my own procedures. (I get 7 or 8 good reeds out of a box of Vandoren
V-12s. Not all concert quality, of course, but they are good for many hours
of good practice time.) Check the Klarinet Archives for this information.
There may also be data at the ICA website.
Basically I use a 10 day soak, dry and burnish method before I play on a
reed. Then I balance them, if needed and if the reed warps lengthwise as it
is played, I carefully sand the warp out (on the back side) using 400 or 320
wet and dry production paper. I try to keep 7 or 8 good reeds ready to play
so that I alternate reads for each day's practice session. Since the reeds
vary in their characteristics, this keeps my embouchure and aural cavity
flexible as they adjust to the differences in the reeds.
As the reeds change from usage, I continue to sand and trim as required,
until they finally wear out and go into the discard pile.
My set up is a Goldbeck Mouthpiece (circa 1940), 1.02 tip, Rovner Eddie
Daniels Ligature, Vandoren V-12 31/2 reeds and Leblanc Bb & A horns. Also,
I switched to double lip embouchure several years ago and would never return
to single lip. I believe that one reason that I am able to get more good
reeds out of a box of V-12s is that I play double lip and that I use a
Rovner ligature. This combination seems to give me more flexibility in
dealing with varying reed characteristics. (This is just my opinion and
experience. Listers, please don't start a flame war over ligatures and
single lip vs. double lip embouchures.)
Howard, write me directly if you would like further comments on my
experience with double lip playing.
As you will observe in referring to the Klarinet Archives, reed preparation
is far from an exact science. What works for one may not work for another
player or brand of reed.
Regards,
Gene Nibbelin
Cape Coral, Florida
-----Original Message-----
From: Howard Shapiro [mailto:howards321@-----.com]
Subject: [kl] Breaking In New Reeds
Hello Klarinet list members,
After many years of not playing, I recently picked up the old licorice stick
and started again. I'm having major difficulty in breaking in new reeds.
Can anyone offer some advice on conditioning and getting a reed ready to
play? I'm currently using Vandorens (strength 3).
Thanks in advance,
Howard Shapiro
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