 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ken
Date: 2003-01-21 12:06
Hi:
How long would one expect an average reed to last before it needs to be replaced? I realize that individual reeds can have widely variable lifetimes, but in general, how long can you play a reed before you decide to chuck it?
I'm using an eight reed rotation, playing about an hour every day, and it seems to me that I can usually go about two or three months on the rotation before a particular reed is deemed no longer playable.
Thanks,
Ken
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Author: John Elison
Date: 2003-01-21 13:10
I use a 10-reed rotation and also play about 1 hour per day. I probably buy a new box every couple of months so you’re doing better than I.
Best regards,
John Elison
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Author: beejay
Date: 2003-01-21 13:29
Rule of thumb. The better the reed, the shorter time it lasts.
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Author: d dow
Date: 2003-01-21 13:42
I tend to get some reeds that last up to 2 and 3 months at a time. I am generally working with vandoren v12 cane. A few things that can be done to insure long playability are:
Wet the reed before polaying in a glass of water before each practice.
When breaking in a new reed don't kill it by playing on it longer than 15 minutes for about 4 days and then you should be able to open it up for longer practice
Make sure your mouth is clean before playing (Coke can kill a reed pretty fast).
Store your reed in a dry place. Dry the reed after your done playing always. leaving it wet will allow calcium and other chemicals from the mouth to deaden the reed.
Keep your reed playing surface clean. If you notice it darkening even while practicing rinse the reed with water.
Don't overtighten ligature screws. This deadens and kills a reed quickly.
Make sure you rotate a few working reeds, by playing on the same reed all of the time you develop reed-dependancy, a bad disease in the clarinet world..hard to cure!
Some players also find they get reeds to last longer if they store them in a plastic bag. When breaking in new reeds, you can get them to last longer by starting them out(new ones) on long tones. staccatto and loud playing shocks the wood, so ease the reed in. think of it as hitting the floor with a new car. After a while engine life dies.
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Author: d dow
Date: 2003-01-21 13:43
I tend to get some reeds that last up to 2 and 3 months at a time. I am generally working with vandoren v12 cane. A few things that can be done to insure long playability are:
Wet the reed before polaying in a glass of water before each practice.
When breaking in a new reed don't kill it by playing on it longer than 15 minutes for about 4 days and then you should be able to open it up for longer practice
Make sure your mouth is clean before playing (Coke can kill a reed pretty fast).
Store your reed in a dry place. Dry the reed after your done playing always. leaving it wet will allow calcium and other chemicals from the mouth to deaden the reed.
Keep your reed playing surface clean. If you notice it darkening even while practicing rinse the reed with water.
Best Regards
DD
Don't overtighten ligature screws. This deadens and kills a reed quickly.
Make sure you rotate a few working reeds, by playing on the same reed all of the time you develop reed-dependancy, a bad disease in the clarinet world..hard to cure!
Some players also find they get reeds to last longer if they store them in a plastic bag. When breaking in new reeds, you can get them to last longer by starting them out(new ones) on long tones. staccatto and loud playing shocks the wood, so ease the reed in. think of it as hitting the floor with a new car. After a while engine life dies.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-01-21 14:42
I generally agree with David's reed advice, differing only on two main points:
1) Use saliva only to moisten your reed--even in initail play tests. Never use water!! Saliva soaked reeds will play more consistantly and will not dry midway through a performance. Also, for doublers, a saliva soaked reed will remain moist, even for long periods of in-activity while you are playing another instrument. Water soaked reeds will dry out and warp quite rapidly on your mouthpiece. Since I started saliva only moistening of reeds, I have never pick up any of my reeds instruments only to find a reed with a tip resembling a waffel. They are always moist and ready to play.
2) Rubbing the vamp of your reed before playing (after saliva only soak) will seal the xylum tubes that are left open during manufacture and help prevent too much absorbtion of saliva during performances--and that will lend more consistancy to your reeds performance. Rubbing the vamp after playing will help dry the reed and prevent premature deterioration. (Hint--too prevent that "dirty" look, make certain your fingers are clean)
And, always brush before you play. This will also help your reeds last longer and will prevent instrumental "odor." Regular brushing is also very important practice to protect and maintain a component of your musical gear that is (are) often overlooked--your teeth. (important, that is, unless you really like double-lip)
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Author: William
Date: 2003-01-21 14:49
(and to answer the question) I use a twelve reed rotation system on both of my clarinet set-ups. On my played less jazz clarinet, I am using some reeds that are over a year old. My much more played orchestral/wind ensemble clarinet, my longest lasting reeds (exceptional players) are about three months old--average reed life I would guess to be about four two six weeks.
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Author: Kim
Date: 2003-01-21 15:47
It's variable. I had 50 Vandoren's go in three weeks. That stunk.
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Author: Samy
Date: 2003-01-21 16:32
With a 10-12 reed rotation it might last about 2 or 3 month (In my case). But one of my reed is 1 year old !!
--SM
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Author: Jean
Date: 2003-01-22 02:16
Reeds are like pantyhose...the more you paid for them the sooner you ruin them....
Jean
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Author: Bob
Date: 2003-01-22 13:43
I'll withold my comments on the panty hose comparison but I do think rinsing reeds with water after playing is a good idea. Coke will loosen rusty threads too.
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-01-22 16:01
"Reeds are like pantyhose...the more you paid for them the sooner you ruin them.... "
Yes, but you should try my fishnet ligature!
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Author: Burt
Date: 2003-01-22 22:37
If you store reeds in a plastic bag, MAKE SURE THEY ARE DRY. I didn't dry some reeds well enough and they got mildew on them. I saved a couple by using hydrogen peroxide.
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