 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rtaylor
Date: 2020-05-29 22:12
Hi,
I've read about people that will "age" vandoren reeds. It seems that new ones straight out of the box are really green. It's been this way for a long time.
Beyond the usual one to two week break in, what are some thoughts on letting their reeds "age" for lack of a better term. I remember something about how Harold Wright has a stock pile and he used reeds multiple years old. Maybe someone has a more clear version of that story and whether it's true or not.
Cheers,
Robert
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Author: fbjacobo
Date: 2020-05-29 23:04
I don't know if it is true, but I wouldn't be surprised. I too have a stockpile of Vandoren reeds that have been sitting on the shelf for at least 3 years (some for as long as a decade!). I am of the opinion that Vandoren has great cane but cuts their reeds before they are sufficiently dry (a.k.a. aged). Aging them works for me. I get a minimum of 3 concert-quality reeds out of a box and sometimes up to 8 (!) usable reeds. By that I mean that I can adjust them so that I can practice on them. That is, of course, after the normal break in period.
I found early on that if I had reeds that wouldn't play right out of the box, some WOULD play if I let them sit and dry out for a few months, and the ones that STILL didn't play, I would age more.
Now, it does help if you can teach yourself to play reeds that are less-than-perfect, so you can make do with practice reeds, and save the great ones for concerts. Being flexible is very useful.
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2020-05-30 01:06
I find that if a reed is good right out of the box--good enough to play a concert-- it will last a while. I may shave it down a bit or not. I don't "break in" a reed over any more than using it for practice once or maybe even at a rehearsal. But, I'm only principal of the Westchester Band, not the Detroit Symphony, so I guess I could be a little more picky.
I do usually have 3-4 reeds going because they do change. Prior to a concert I'll try out them all and pick the best one, numbering them. I am somewhat more picky if I am to be a soloist.
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Post Edited (2020-05-30 01:08)
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