Klarinet Archive - Posting 000218.txt from 2005/08

From: Karl Krelove <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] reeds warping
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 16:14:17 -0400

Don't know why drying them flat side up is resulting in warpage. I've
never had a big warpage problem in the many years I've dried my reeds
that way. I store them in a holder like the old plastic ones that
decades ago used to come in the case with a Buffet clarinet - the reeds
stand up on their long edges in grooves in the bottom of the holder.
Occasionally one warps, but not with the consistency you're suggesting.

The only thing you don't mention having tried is not letting them dry
completely in the first place. You can try storing them in a plastic
bag between playings. We've had discussions here before about mildew,
mold and other unwanted minutiae growing on the reeds over time when you
do this, but it might help the warping problem, in which case you'll
need to weigh the relative pros and cons. They do tend at lest for
awhile to get more resistant as you do this - some re-adjustment will be
needed. I've seen humidors made specifically to keep stored reeds at a
constant humidity when they're not being played on, but I have no
experience with them. Their main drawback, if they work at all, is that
they don't seem very easy to carry with you to and from jobs. The ones
I've seen involve keeping some kind of reservoir of water within the
device, making them a leak hazard in your instrument case.

Or try plastic reeds until the humidity settles down.

Karl Krelove

Peter Stoll wrote:

>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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>
>

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