Klarinet Archive - Posting 000508.txt from 2002/10

From: "Phil" <fuffy442@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Whacky reed problem
Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2002 11:38:03 -0400

Gene,

I appreciate your opinion but from what I've read in this forum, on the
bulletin board, from my own personal experience and those related by many
top professionals, I must attempt to correct your notion about the quality
of the González cane. I think you will find that many of the participants
here will be correcting you on this. This isn't flame, it's knowledge.

First of all reeds aren't made from Bamboo. Cane is a totally separate
species. It's a minor point, but facts are facts. Reeds, regardless of who
makes them have been deprived of moisture for years by the time they get to
you. Vandoren typically uses cane that is 2 years old or less, from a wide
variety of sources. Some is quite good, but most is seriously under par.
González cane, as can be seen from the harvest dates on the labels is all
about 5 years old by this time. That means that the wood is Very dry when
you first take them out of the box. If you're playing a new reed for the
first time, straight out of the box as it were, for 20-30 minutes then of
course it will collapse. You have to give a new reed time to break in
properly. The fibers in the reed need days to settle, not minutes. Call the
guys at Davie Cane, they'll explain how this process occurs and talk you
through the Proper break in procedures for a new reed. New reeds will also
tend to warp if over-soaked in the first few days, another reason for going
slow initially. I always polish the back of the reed on paper after every
playing. This helps keep the nice and flat, and greatly reduces warping.
These problems are multiplied if the reed has alot of fiber, which the
González reeds do. When you talk about "Grain" are you referring to visible
grain on the surface of the reed, or large thick vertical fibers visible as
you look through the reed? Remember, small but tightly bunched and plentiful
fiber is better than sparser thick fibers. Quality cane will be smooth and
uniform, which I find the González cane to be.

I remember reeds from the '70's. (that's as far back as I go) You had to
break them in slowly, say a week or so. Nobody ever played a reed right from
the box, unless it was an emergency. As cane quality has fallen over the
years players have changed their habits. Modern reeds, including Good ones
like Vandoren, are at their best right out of the box. It's all downhill
from there. Now along comes a reed made from cane of a quality not seen in
years. It's not surprising that people don't know how to handle them as
nobody expects there to be any difference, but there is. You have to go back
to methods that most people haven't used for 20 years. Take the time, you
might be surprised at the results.

And this is, of course, my opinion.
-P

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