 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clariphant in Bb
Date: 2007-05-27 22:52
Sorry if this question doesn't make sense or is obvious, but...
I usually rotate four fully adjusted reeds at a time and have four reeds that are either being broken in or are broken in and waiting for a reed to die and enter my rotation. The problem, however, is that I'm not sure for how many days I should keep soaking them. As it stands, I keep soaking all eight of these reeds every time I practice until they die. I might play a scale on them to see that they're all working, and then I choose one of the four older, adjusted reeds in rotation to actually practice/perform on. Of course, the reeds that are "being adjusted" are generally finished being adjusted before any in the current rotation wear out. Of the adjusted reeds that are in rotation or waiting to enter rotation, should I only soak the one that I plan on practicing with? Does soaking all eight of my reeds every time I practice defeat the purpose of rotation? Does it wear out the four "younger" reeds to keep soaking them even when they are fully adjusted and just waiting to enter my rotation? Maybe I'm being paranoid. It's just water after all
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2007-05-27 23:22
I'll soak any given reed for a minute or two, just before playing it, regardless of its state in my rotation. Not playing it? Not soaking it.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2007-05-28 03:51
When I need a new Bb reed I throw all the potential candidates in the water, the first one gets soaked for 10+ minutes the last one for an hour or two. Once I find a good one it gets played and the others get put back in the box until "the chosen one" craps out. I always keep one good player in reserve just in case "the chosen one" dies of natural causes at an inopportune moment. Reed rotation, that sounds too much like work. I've only found one really good bass reed in the last year, when it dies I'm in deep s***. The only adjustment my reeds get is a clipping, if that doesn't work then they go to the sanitary landfill.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-05-28 04:02
bill28099 wrote:
> When I need a new Bb reed I throw all the potential candidates
> in the water, the first one gets soaked for 10+ minutes the
> last one for an hour or two.
2 hours ???
I've heard of 2 minutes, 5 minutes and even (in extreme cases) 10 minutes.
But 2 hours ??
It must be like playing on a wet, mushy noodle...GBK
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-05-28 04:12
bill28099 wrote:
>Once I find a good one it gets
> played and the others get put back in the box until "the chosen
> one" craps out. I always keep one good player in reserve just
> in case "the chosen one" dies of natural causes at an
> inopportune moment. Reed rotation, that sounds too much like
> work.
I ditto this. In the spring and fall - when the weather changes 20 degrees at the drop of the hat, I'll have 2 ready of one strength and 2 of a different strength prepared- but that's about it.
I did the whole soak thing for years until I took a few lessons with Ian Greitzer who changed my whole philosophy towards reeds. Looking back, over soaking (more than a few minutes) probably ruined more reeds than it helped. Once I learned how to balance a reed (and play a softer strength) I stopped fussing.
I wet the reed in my mouth - do the side to side balance test - adjust if neccessary and that's it. I live in the Northeast and even in winter, I haven't found soaking very neccessary. In my past experience, the more water logged the reed became, the more issues I had with warpage. My reeds will still warp on occassion in mid-winter, but stuff happens ~
Post Edited (2007-05-28 04:13)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-05-28 07:03
I'm of the same thought as Grifffinity above (don't soak, just wet in mouth, do side-side test, then adjust and play). Also, ironically, from NJ.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: musiciandave
Date: 2007-05-28 12:20
I've known of casual players who didn't play the correct strength reed so would soak the reed basically into submission.
Not good.
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2007-05-28 13:52
> It must be like playing on a wet, mushy noodle...GBK
What's the difference between soaking a reed for 2 hours and playing a reed for 2 hours? In both cases they end up like a mushy noodle, however, my experience seems to indicate that if it plays after a long soaking it will play through a long rehearsal. But then maybe I'm all wet.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-05-28 13:56
Ever hear of the term "waterlogged"? I'm of the opinion that soaking reeds in water is not good for the reed but I know many players do it. I think the water soaking routine is another old superstitious belief like "which way do you swab".
Bob Draznik
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2007-05-28 14:03
Maybe this should be a new thread, but it does involve keeping the reed wet.
I am playing several gigs where i play both Eefer AND bass. Often there are long gaps between air going through the horn between touching the other horn, sometimes 30-40 minutes in a concert. In my last one I did soak the Eefer reed for a few minutes and then stuck it back on the horn and capped it. It wasn't perfect but it was better than the no soak treatment that i tried in rehearsal. This particular performance was especially bad as I came in on a pp entrance and a HIGH C#(and tandem with the piccolo no less!). I was just praying anything would come out at that point and not embarass me!
Anyway I'd appreciate any suggestions as to the doubling dilemma in terms of keeping horn and reeds moist. I did use a bit softer reed than i would've normally to facilitate getting any sound out.
EEfer guy
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Author: hans
Date: 2007-05-28 14:49
Ebclarinet1,
Re the doubling dilemma, that is one of my reasons for using a Legere (I have no Legere connection beyond being a satisfied customer) on my clarinet. It doesn't dry out, there are no surprises, it's always ready, and it never turns into a mushy noodle.
While a plastic reed does not need to be moistened, wetting the back may result in a better seal with the mouthpiece.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-05-28 15:45
One sax doubler I play with drops his clarinet mpc tip down into a glass of water and lets it soak 'til time to play.
A lot of double reed players keep a second reed in a glass of water by their stand -ready for action.
Bob Phillips
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-05-28 19:52
Bob, my comment concerns reed longevity. Yes, I know players who soak spares while playing and evidently that works for them.
Bob Draznik
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-05-28 20:11
BobD wrote:
> Bob, my comment concerns reed longevity. Yes, I know players
> who soak spares while playing and evidently that works for
> them.
>
While I don't believe soaking is neccessary for me when preparing reeds, in certain situations (in the pit, doubling, on stage with hot lights) there are times when it is good to have the option to soak. Especially if ones mouth is very dry or the hall is dry/hot.
I assumed the OP was addressing soaking while preparing reeds, not in a performance/rehearsal situation. Ebclarinet1 posted from a different POV where soaking to revive or maintain a reed in a performance situation may be neccessary.
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2007-05-28 23:28
If you want to keep a reed moist on the horn when not playing drill a large hole in bottom of your mouthpiece cap a stuff a hunk of sponge in it so it touches the reed. Then wet the sponge and put the cap on. My teacher does that.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-05-29 19:54
"If you want to keep a reed moist on the horn when not playing drill a large hole in bottom of your mouthpiece cap a stuff a hunk of sponge in it so it touches the reed. Then wet the sponge and put the cap on. My teacher does that."
Now that's a good idea for Doubling - put a small sponge in the mpc cap!!
Just need the added time to put the cap back on .. or put on during a short break. prob best to use a plastic cap
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-05-30 07:27
> I'm of the same thought as Grifffinity above (don't soak, just wet in
> mouth, do side-side test, then adjust and play). Also, ironically, from NJ.
I'm of the same thought as Alexi, except I don't do the side-side test and don't adjust to play. I also lived for two months in Morganville, NJ
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2007-05-30 10:51
Aha! The true purpose of the mouthpiece cap revealed at last! :-)
I've only ever wetted the reed in the mouth (UK player here!). But it takes a good five minutes with my current chosen brand, which plays best thoroughly soaked. So I'll take on board the suggestions here.
Reeds get damp when they're played. How damp, compared to a bucket of water? That's the question. When I play, the reed gets damper on the flat than on the vamp. A reed which is dry on the flat plays poorly, presumably because it doesn't seat right on the mouthpiece. How does a reed with a wet vamp perform? Presumably softer... anyone performed the comparison? If I've got a too-hard reed I find myself licking it to try and soften it up. Presumably a bucket of water performs a similar role.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-05-30 11:21
So...I have some older metal caps that already have one or more holes in them.
I can see the sponge idea ruining a reed when it dries out and you're not aware.
I have heard of a guy who keeps his spare reed in his armpit!! More?
Bob Draznik
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2007-05-30 12:00
Thanks for the suggestions for dealing with the doubling problems. Oddly the bass clarinet reed seems to resist the drying out a bit more than the Eefer one does. In the next concert I have a good break of when I'm playing Eefer and when I'm playing bass so each horn SHOULD be OK. I start with the most difficult Eefer part first and then I can relax!
Second question/ comment is on the Legere's. What sacrifice in sound have you noted? I am a person who realy works with his reeds to get them JUST SO (must be the oboist in me, we're never happy with our reeds!), so I realy don't want a major tone quality loss. OF course maybe this is better than NO tone on a dry reed.
Third comment on the armpit! I have taken the Eefer or the oboe and placed it under there in a chilly concert hall but I somehow can't imagine the REED there.
Thanks for all of your comments.
Eefer guy
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