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 Aging vandoren reeds - thoughts or practices?
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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 Re: Aging vandoren reeds - thoughts or practices?
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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 Re: Aging vandoren reeds - thoughts or practices?
Author: kdk 
Date:   2020-05-30 00:02

This was discussed not long ago http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=482867&t=482867.

You should read the comments there. That Vandoren reeds are "really green" out of the box isn't at all a universal opinion. Many of us haven't seen a truly green reed in decades. But read through the other thread - it covers, I think, exactly what you've asked about.

Karl



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 Re: Aging vandoren reeds - thoughts or practices?
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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