 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-04-26 17:54
When you begin to play a brand new reed how quickly do you know whether or not it will be a good reed, and how can you tell?
I have some reeds that seem to indicate from the get-go that they'll be my friends, while I have others that I hope after playing for awhile will make the turn and become keepers. Sometimes they'll come around and sometimes they won't. And to make it more confusing, sometimes I'll have a reed that plays great right away but quickly craps out. Any feedback on that? What am I experiencing?
For what it's worth I'm far from accomplished. Most high schools kids could probably play circles around me but I still enjoy playing a great deal. I figured that was relevant somehow. Thank you.
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2003-04-26 19:50
The problem with reeds is that they change. This winter in the Mid-West, everyone I knew was fussing about reeds because the temps were all over the map along with the humidity. My good reeds went South and my bad reeds suddenly started playing. I've had reeds that on initial test were great, three days later I wanted to burn them...g
That said though, the common wisdom is that if you spend time breaking in the reed it will be more consistant over a longer period, so just take your time and see what happens.
Best
Rick
Best
Rick
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-04-26 20:11
You know Rick, that makes sense. I'm in Buffalo, NY and this past week temperatures ranged from the mid 20s to the low 80s. Some days sunny, some days... not sunny. I didn't realize weather changes would have such a profound influence on the playability of reeds but what you've written certainly rings true with what I've been going through lately. Thanks.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-04-26 21:21
Reeds are like people, subject to great change at the least provocation or whim.
David Dow
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-04-26 21:52
"Reeds are like cats...sometimes they are in the mood to play, and sometimes they are not."
Break your reeds in slowly. Don't adjust them too soon.
Make very small adjustments. Retest over several days.
Rinse and repeat....GBK
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Author: krawfish3x
Date: 2003-04-27 02:56
You could probably either tell if a reed will be good or bad is right off the bat or within a few days. if it is bad make small adjustments.
you should also check to see if the reed is laying flat on the table of the mouthpiece. to do this lay the reed on a flat surface and tap the sides of it, if it wobbles then take a light sand paper(600) and rub it back and forth on the back of the reed.
if it squeaks try trimming the tip.
also try putting your mouth on one corner of the reed to see if the sides are balanced, if they arent balance them.
if the sound is all around fuzzy, use rush or a really light sand paper and thin out the reed. remember make small adjustments, then check, then repeat.
you can always take more reed off, but you cant add it back on.
also, play the brand new reeds for at least 5 minutes the first few days.
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