Klarinet Archive - Posting 000228.txt from 2005/08

From: Fred <fred.sheim@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] reeds warping
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 18:46:40 -0400

I let my reed air dry standing up in the ligature. In 45 years of
playing I have yet to see a reed warp.

Fred

At 04:12 PM 8/12/2005, you wrote:
>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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>your next car at http://autos.yahoo.ca
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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