Klarinet Archive - Posting 000207.txt from 2005/08

From: fred jacobowitz <fbjacobo@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] reeds warping
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 12:36:56 -0400

Peter,
Have you tried the basic Reed Gard? It presses the reed to the flat surface. I use the Harrison case because it does that also. You could get lots of little pieces of auto glass and put two reeds on either side affixed with rubber bands. All of these press the reed to the glass. I always put them in wet so that they adhere tightly to the flat surface as they dry. Of course, the obviously best place to put them is on the mouthpiece, where they conform exactly to the table. Unfortunately, you can only do one at a time.

Fred Jacobowitz

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Stoll <peterstoll2000@-----.ca>
Sent: Aug 12, 2005 12:22 PM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: [kl] reeds warping

Hi everyone,

We have had an exceptionally weird summer up here with
wildly fluctuating levels of climate and humidity. I
(and other locals I have talked to) have found most of
my reeds (Vandoren reg's strength 4) warp, some
continuously, on the bottom of the table. Sanding the
backs removes most of the Vand.insignia. I have been
for years taking Howard Klug's advice and letting the
reed dry back up before putting them away so they dry
evenly. No dice. I wet 'em in a plastic film can
half-filled with water for a minute or so.

I've tried switching to the Vandoren plastic cases
with grooves underneath, then back to flat glass
bottomed-cases and even licking the bottoms and
sticking 'em wet right on to see if that made any
difference. Still no progress. FWIW I work my reeds in
slowly over 5 days or so at the start. I've been
trying not polishing/sealing the vamp side to see if
that will do anything for the last few months.

I would greatly appreciate hearing from anyone who has
had and conquered this problem or tried these or other
solutions. We need these darn things so any
help/insights are much appreciated (I've been using a
Vand.Optimum ligature).

Thanks,

Peter Stoll

Peter Stoll

University of Toronto
RCM College of Examiners
Toronto Philharmonia
ERGO ensemble
Talisker Players

Find your next car at http://autos.yahoo.ca

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