 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2005-11-03 15:21
This might be a stupid question for someone playing over 30 years, and I'm sure my teacher must have told me during the first lessons.
I'm of course cleaning and more or less drying my reed after playing and most of the time put it in a box, but ...
should I leave it a bit 'wet' or try whatever I can to get it as dry as possible ?
Or is this just another topic with endless threads and a thousand opinions ?![[right]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie8.gif)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2005-11-03 15:41
I am kinda interested in this question too.
I have a friend who keeps his reeds in a wet condition with salt water to extend the life of his reeds. He has reeds over three years old that seem to play just fine. His reed holder is a tupperware contain that is air tight. When he is playing he keeps a cover over the mouthpiece during the breaks.
I have always dried mine and put them away in a standard case. I rotate my reeds and always have six to eight with a condition code penciled on them. My reeds seem to last six to eight months but I only play them 6 to 10 hours a week.
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2005-11-03 15:44
Probably will get a lot of opinions. Here is my opinion. If you have not been having a mold problem, you have been getting them dry enough.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2005-11-03 16:11
Mold and bacteria are the main concern. They both tend to grow in damp, dark places. On the other hand, if they were to be stored wet, the salt water that Gandalfe's friend (Is his name Frodo?) uses may very well inhibit the growth of these organisms.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2005-11-03 16:13
You will also get some people who insist that if a reed is working properly on your mouthpiece, just leave it there, rather than having the reed go through another wet/dry cycle.
I've done it numerous times before major performances and it seems to work perfectly fine.
I've often felt that it's not such a bad idea...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: RodRubber
Date: 2005-11-03 16:46
To add to GBK's rec. Should it be a very dry or cold day in winter, i suggest leaving the reed on the mouthpiece, and placing both mouthpiece and reed in a zip lock bag.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2005-11-03 17:04
<<Should it be a very dry or cold day in winter, i suggest leaving the reed on the mouthpiece, and placing both mouthpiece and reed in a zip lock bag.>>
In the winter time, with its resulting very low humidity, I keep my reed holders in zip lock bags. Excessive drying incourages warping. In the humid summer, I believe that the reeds retain enough moisture and to do this would encourage mold and other yucky plant life.
Of course, the fall and spring are problematical. My view is that if the furnace is running, I better start humidifying. I start humidifying my clarinets as well, using small dampened sponges in 35mm film canisters that have small holes poked in the lid.
With 2 Bb's, an A, a bass clarinet, and a C clarinet, that's a lot of humidifying! (I have a Bundy Alto clarinet, but I don't humidify that - LOL).
Another thing that is very important - if you have extra barrels - humidify them as well. Two winters ago I had a barrel crack, right down the middle, right in front of my eyes. It was one of my favorites too! I had it fixed, but it has never been quite the same - very sad.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
Eb Contra Alto Mouthpieces
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2005-11-03 19:41
(Disclaimer - I sell reed drying and storage products)
A famous reed manufacturer now (must have been a que from me, Ha) packages their reeds in a low humidity controlled package. All hype and marketing aside I believe in storing bulk reeds before they are entered into service in a dry (40-55% RH) environment. I use a commercial humidor with special salt mixtures for my stash. After putting them into rotation IMHO it is best to dry them between uses. Careful drying on a flat surface will discourage tip warping and if they are kept dry in a reed holder that exerts pressure on the tip they will usually not warp in varying indoor humidity fluctuations.
Another famous reed manufacturer sells a plastic bag with several types of salts packets to maintain humidity at semi-dry storage, intermediate, and fully hydrated relative humidity conditions.
Various players have different rituals for keeping and storing their reeds which are in the playing mode as have been given here. My only absolute is to keep them below 50% RH in the summer heat here in GA because they will, and do grow mold easily. Since I go through this drying routine I have learned to work with reeds in this condition.
Ideally your clarinet and all wooden parts should also be kept in a relative humidity range of 45-65% RH either by HVAC means or by adding or removing humidity from the case or storage container. I feel that sudden temperature drops and very dry conditions present the greatest risk potential for wood which may potentially crack.
L. Omar Henderson
Post Edited (2005-11-03 19:51)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2005-11-04 12:28
Are there any oboe or bassoon players here? is so, I would be interested in their views on this. They seem to store their reeds totally immersed.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2005-11-04 13:35
The one thing that does happen when you leave a reed on the mouthpiece is stuff accumulates on the inside of the reed. Oboists have devised ways to clean the inside of their reeds.....pipe cleaner, plaques, horse hair, etc. We have the advantage as single reed players to take the reed off and clean the back.
Freelance woodwind performer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DressedToKill
Date: 2005-11-04 14:44
I am a freelance oboe/d'amore/English horn player, and I generally keep my reeds in an airtight container with good vodka. It keeps them ready-to-play, discourages any weird icky growth, and I find that if I suck on my reed enough, stage fright seems to disappear rather quickly. *grin*
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2005-11-04 21:49
Vodka is not a bad idea at all since the alcohol will "dissolve" the water in the reed......and probably knock out some critters.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kalakos
Date: 2005-11-04 22:47
I used to leave a really good reed on the mpc when I put it away. However, they often dried in a "wavy" kind of warped way. No big problem, but it took longer for them to become wet and playable.
I finally stopped doing this, though, when I began to worry about germs. The reeds always played well when I just left them on though.
:-)
Kalakos
Kalakos Music
http://www.TAdelphia.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-11-04 23:16
FYI,
A good, inexpensive water/vodka?! tight container is a plain old 35mm film container. The little black plastic thing that you get the film in.
Alexi
[EDIT] - Just realized that it PROBABLY won't fit a reed (sudden swell of stupidity in my brain . . .)
But it IS water tight! (trying to half-save face)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2005-11-04 23:18)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chalumeau Joe
Date: 2005-11-04 23:31
What about using a UV sterilizer light, such as those that are used in fish aquariums, to kill any critters growing on reeds? They're not too expensive (~$30)...any thoughts on how effective this might be?
Joe
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-11-05 10:04
> What about using a UV sterilizer light
What's wrong with rinsing mpc and reed under lukewarm water (maybe a little dishwashing liquid) after practicing (plus brushing teeth before, if possible)?
After rinsing I simply (and carefully) wipe the reed on a piece of household paper (the rest is used to dry the tenons), place it on the rim of the clarinet case to dry while I clean and disassemble the rest of the horn. After that I slide it (the reed, that is) in my Reedguard and that's about it.
I realise this is cheap, not high-tech and might make me subject to ridicule, but I can live with that.
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bassie
Date: 2005-11-15 14:31
Ooh, ooh, I bet a 120 film pot would fit a reed though... they ARE still available from photographic suppliers. Presumably they can be water-tight. Must be at least 65mm long inside... now, how long is a reed...?
I find the salt-water or vodka idea fascinating (especially the vodka). Currently I dry my reeds and reedgard 'em... for my bass reeds I don't know any other way to keep the beggars flat when they dry out. Them big reeds don't seem to recover easily when that happens - though my soprano reeds 'wake up' fairly quickly.
How about Tequila - doesn't that have cane in it anyway? ;-D That'll sterilise anything :-D (I'll stop now before this turns into a booze thread...)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
