Author: RogerGarrett
Date: 2009-12-26 23:20
I guess I'll weigh in on this discussion - primarily because of all the interesting questions and suppositions.
Let me begin by saying that there is no reed case with a non-porous flat surface (such as glass, plexiglass, aluminum (unless ribbed), etc. that will keep or prevent a moist reed placed flat side down on it from warping. This is because the reed will dry from the outside inward (thinnest portion of the reed towards the heart). Like a piece of paper or any other unstable material, the cane will be forced into a new shape if it isn't well sealed and broken in. The straighter the cane and the less warping in the original tube (no way to tell unless you made the reed from a tube), the less chance of warping. The best way to avoid warping is to do at least one or two of the following:
1. Prepare your reeds before playing them in such a way as to create as good a seal as you can on the flat side of the reed. I have ideas about this process if you are interested. Because I now play from reeds that I make directly from the tube of cane, there is a specific process I feel seems to help prevent warping.
2. Dry your reeds on their backs (cut side down, flat side up) and then place them in a storage container.
I don't believe you can do much about the humidity factor affecting your reeds - especially if you use a lot of reeds. When a box of reeds is opened and balanced for play - it will function in the climate/humidity during which the process takes place. It is pretty difficult to force it to play in a different climate/humidity - much better to store it until the weather changes back. I have many reeds that I use in January - then, as April comes around, I store the reeds until November or December (if they aren't worn out) in a case that is labeled specifically for winter months. Same as spring/summer/fall reeds.
Having said that - some cases work ok for maintaining a level of humidity. More on that shortly.
Ok - regarding reed cases. There are so many to choose from you, you have to make a decision what your reed case is to function as. Is it to act primarily as a humidor (much like a cigar humidor)? If so, purchase one with a seal and a humidity control function built into it. But, for a lot less money, you can purchase an entire humidor from a cigar shop and use it to store reeds in. If you are after a reed case per se, I personally feel that Robert DeLutis has a good product - although I've seen the wood carcasses before anything is installed in it, and there is nothing really special about them. The wood sealer he uses is black paint - so it isn't reallly anything special except for the rubber grommet/seal, the humidity control system (humidor, etc.) - AND (perhaps most importantly) the ribbed plates that the reeds sit on. Regrettably, I also believe that reeds will change as soon as they are in a new environment for only an hour or two. Unless you plan to leave the case closed until the moment you pull a reed out (and return the reed you are using immediately into the case and close it), the humidity controlled case is really best just for at home use.
Frankly (I recall the M*A*S*H quote - "Can I be Frank Frank????") - the Selmer reed case, Harrison reed case, Vandoren four packs (the charcoal thing really is quite silly!), my case, and the other similar cases - are simply cases to store reeds in to transport them from one place to another. I own several Harrison cases, several Selmer cases, and an old Harrison style case that I purchased from David Shifrin in the 1980s. All of these cases are between 8 and 25 years old (at least). The cases I make are simply nice looking, functional, wooden reed cases. They hold 12-14 Bb reeds, and they are quite popular. The hinges are good and solid, the hook is as good as I can find anywhere and more reliable over time than the Harrison latches (thin brass clips that fail eventually) and the "spring catches" that can also fail over time. My Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Saxophone reed cases are not available from a dealer - just me. But - the oboe and bassoon reed cases are available from many sources - Musicians Friend, WWBW, Giardinelli, etc. - and directly from me. Most people purchase Clarinet and saxophone reed cases directly from me if they want a nice exotic wood such as grenadilla, rosewood, cocobolo, paduk, redheart, bloodwood, mahogany, zebrawood, spalted maple, burled woods, purpleheart, etc. I also provide the option of a magnetic latch - just recently - as well as a three reed case. You can visit my website at GarrettMusicProducts.com and click on reed cases. All the information is there (well - the magnet latch is so new it is not there, but you get the point).
I hope this helps answer some questions. Please feel free to contact me directly with questions if you like.
Best wishes,
Roger Garrett
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