 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-09-17 18:47
Oh, yuck -- LynnB, that's gross
I find that when a reed becomes unresponsive, lazy, tired, it's on its way out. You might trim it a little to see if you can get some more mileage but usually it's nearing the end of it's life expectancy when it starts going limp.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-09-17 22:06
Reeds die gradually, so it's hard to tell when one has gotten too old to play. You can suspect it, though, when you start to squeak in the high register, and when it takes a lot of effort to play.
You can give a failing reed a day or two of extra life by scrubbing the vamp with an old toothbrush and a tiny bit of toothpaste. Another trick is to put it in a small saucer, pour a tablespoon or so of peroxide over it and wait until it stops bubbling. Still another trick is to turn the reed over and, using a sharp knife, remove a thin shaving at the bottom 1/8 inch at the butt end of the table.
The only real way to tell is to try a couple of new reeds. If you immediately feel good playing a new reed, it's time to introduce Mr. Old Reed to Mr. Wall. Do it gladly, and in a spirit of renewal.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Clarinetgigman
Date: 2002-09-17 23:38
How many of us sad clarinet players find the perfect reed and keep it on the mouthpiece for weeks until it just disintegrates, then we reluctantly put on a new one, when we have a jolly blow on it to compare it with our discarded perfect reed, we get an amazingly wonderful sound, we did not realise how bad the old one had become had become......now I am sure that many of us have done that one or am I alone.
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2002-09-18 01:29
Every single day of my life...
And using my best reed for slow practise and scales? Don't get me started!
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-18 03:51
I save reeds that are "blown out." A few months in the drawer seem to provide mysterious rejuvenation. Strange are the ways of the Universe.
Regards,
John
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Author: Willie
Date: 2002-09-18 06:51
Man, don't trash those old reeds! List them on eBay as "vintaged, aged classics". Somebody will surely bid on them.
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Author: Clarinetgigman
Date: 2002-09-18 15:03
I suppose we could go the really interesting way of the matchbox builders and make a model Mississippi Stern Wheeler out of our old reeds, hello I can see a business idea coming on here. anybody know anything about marketing.
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Author: Metalclarinetgigman
Date: 2002-09-18 15:29
Scrapers, your joking I am stripping the wall paper off my bathroom at the moment, I tried you idea......rubbish!! Ha Ha!!!
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Author: TDC
Date: 2002-09-21 21:15
I don't know about playing reeds until the clarinet begs for mercy-- There's no more fun than trying out a fresh reed. (All right, all right!!)
A week or two ago I received my first-ever box of (is it?)Gonzales reeds from Davies. I couldn't wait to open it and try a couple. First one I pulled out was better than the Vic O. on the clarinet. I scraped it a bit to brighten it up, and I've been playing it ever since.
When in doubt, throw it out!
Tom DC
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