 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clariphant in Bb
Date: 2007-01-26 06:32
I use Mitchell Lurie #4 reeds. I use ReedGuard cases for them, because I don't always have time to let them dry before putting them away, and they have an open design that allows for some airflow. Anyway, I've noticed that once I break in a reed (I soak them in water, not saliva, by the way), after a couple days or so, the "thickness pattern" when I hold it up to the light is definitely different than it should be. Normally, you want a softly curved triangle, but I've noticed that after a few days, I have a light line (thin area?) about 4mm wide going through the center of the reed. This same line appears to be the last area to finish drying, often not completely drying before the next time I play. Is the reed actually thinning down the center? Or is it the moisture in that area that makes it look thinner unless it's dry? I can't really tell if it causes a tonal difference. I've searched and see nothing about this anywhere. Any help is much appreciated =)
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2007-01-26 09:22
If the reed isn't responding as well or you find it like I call "dead" then you might need to brake in the reed for a longer period of time. I also find it very usfull to rubbe the reed firmly with my thumb before playing and after on the glass in my Steuer reed case. I take about 5-7 days to brake in my Gonzalez FOF reeds and after that they last for a long time(even longer than Vandoren V-12 reeds). If this doesn't work then this might just be a poor cane.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-01-26 12:22
>>I can't really tell if it causes a tonal difference.
Then why do you need help? My motto about reeds is, "If they play well, they're good reeds." Who cares how they look?
For soprano clarinets, I use mostly Mitchell Lurie Premium reeds (3 and 3-1/2, depending on clarinet and mouthpiece). I use the cheapo Vito plastic reed holders and haven't noticed the apparent thinning phenomenon described above, but then again, I don't pay much attention. I do notice any of the obvious defects that really can spoil the playing quality of a reed: lopsided cutting or wavy, irregular or unusually coarse grain--but I don't find those problems with this brand. The Mitchell Luries do get wavy at the tip as they dry in my holders, but flatten out as soon as I start to play.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2007-01-26 12:45
My guess is that the moisture remaining in the center of the reed is making it translucent.
One way to check this would be to thoroughly rewet (soak) the reed and then view a light through it. My guess is that the line in the center will go away.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-01-26 15:07
Kalmen Opperman knows more about reeds than the rest of us put together. His advice is to always take a few seconds to dry a reed before putting it away.
Hold it with your left thumb (for right-handers) on the bark, pointing toward the tip, and your bent index finger underneath. Pinch lightly with your right thumb and index finger at the top of the vamp and slide them forward and off the end of the tip. Do this until the vamp is dry -- usually about a dozen times.
If the "light area" goes across the reed from side to side, or if it goes down the center-line of the reed, it's almost certainly because that's where the ReedGuard presses. You can avoid it by sliding the reeds in gently. Unless it makes an indentation or affects the way the reed plays, I wouldn't worry about it.
Ken Shaw
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Author: johnnymo0829
Date: 2007-01-26 15:48
How long has it been happening with these reeds? It is possible that you got a bad box, or sometimes when you got a few boxes from the same batch they can all be a little wierd.
What Ken Shaw said sounds reasonable as well. I have seen a lot of players have reeds with creases in reeds from where the reed guard presses on the reed.
I like the reed guards from protek where the reed case closes so you can keep the reeds in the slots on the loose side so they don't get pressed. Lebalnc has some nice reed guards as well where the reed is heald in with what looks like a loose rubber band that puts little pressure more than what is needed to hold the reed still, but I have seen them make marks in reeds as well. I think that the best reed guards on the market may be the ones selmer makes where the reed is heald down on a piece of glass and is heald down from pressure from the closeing of the lid. The biggest problem I found with them though is that they are on the big side, and they are on the expensive side. The price last I checked is about $40, but it's a small ammount if it extends the life of your reeds.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-01-26 16:10
Hmm, I just rinse the reed, hold it on the butt and swipe it over a kitchen towel or on my trousered thigh. Then I let air it till I'm done swabbing the rest of the horn.
I came to like the vito reed holder better than the Reedguard. Unfortunately they're not available here.
(And I'd rather they had four different colors or symbols so you always know which one to use. The numbers are just tiny and difficult to read in subway passages or under bridges. ![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif) )
--
Ben
Post Edited (2007-01-26 16:11)
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Author: Clariphant in Bb
Date: 2007-01-27 00:54
Well, I dried out one of the reeds completely, and it turned out to be a combination of the moisture affecting the light's penetration and dead lip tissue on blocking out light on other areas (ewwww!). I still have a question though. Throughout this escapade, I've noticed that the reedguard leaves a slight indentation about a half centimeter above the center of the lower curve of the "u" shape on the reed. It appears that after soaking them, the problem goes away (not sure if it actually does or if it just gets harder to see). I haven't had any tone issues from this as far a I can tell, but would it be a good idea to store the reeds more loosely in the reed guard? I have a Protec reed case I could use instead, but it's hard to quicly store the reeds in there without grazing the edge of the plastic. The indentation is below the area where the reed starts separating from the mouthpiece, so would it even affect tone?
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Author: Escsrc
Date: 2007-01-27 06:55
From my experience with the Reedguard: nope. The indentation isn't an issue if its so small it goes away (from sight) with soaking and its that far back. storing them looser isn't a bad idea at all, though.
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