 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2004-08-11 01:59
On Woodwind/Brasswind I saw something called the Rico Reed Vitalizer. It is like a plastic pouch lined with a moisture-rich gel, or something, that is suppoed to keep reeds at the proper humidity at all times. It was available in 3 different "moisture amounts" or something. Just wondering if anyone has used this product and, if so, how well it works. Thanks!
here is a link:
http://www.wwbw.com/Rico-ReedVitalizer-i143745.music
DH
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2004-08-11 11:10
(Disclaimer - I now sell a product kit with pouch and silica gel canisters for reed storage) I received the Rico product as a gift at the Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium and have evaluated it thoroughly since June. The usefulness of the product depends on your own environmental conditions and your particular way of rehydrating reeds before playing. The pouch is a heavy plastic bag with slider lock top. The little pouches used to create a Relative Humidity environment in the bag contain chemical salts that bind certain amounts of water and are a classic chemistry experiment of the amount of water bound by a saturated salt solution of a particular chemical type. The pouches produce RH in the bag in the high 80% range, around 70% and the high 50% range which they indicate are useful as "Ready to play", "Needs a little more moisture to be ready to play" and "Storage" - forgive my paraphrasing of their terms but I no longer have the bag system to give direct quotes.
My comments - the product is pricey for what it is and the salts packets need replacing regularily. If you live in a warm humid environment like me there is great potential for mold and fungus growth at the 80%, 70%, and even high 50% RH. The RH quoted are for saturated salt solutions is for 70 degrees F and can change upward by 10-20% in our 90 degree F weather here in GA. The 80% plus RH condition is only good, IMHO, for those that have trouble adequately rehydrating their reeds thoroughly. In very dry environments this bag system might be of more use than in the hot humid Southeastern U.S. To be safe and prevent mold, mildew, fungus, and bacterial growth on used reeds the RH must be below 50% and their storage salt packet is on the borderline for me. This product may be useful for some players.
The Doctor
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