 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: vjoet
Date: 2008-09-10 22:38
I'm very particular about the reeds I play on. They must have a tone quality that is mellow yet with a edge. They must respond readily without having to work to render the tone on each and every note (which is exhausting).
I've long held the supposition that the major cause of good reeds being retired is the accumulation of minerals in the tubules of the cane. This idea occurred to me when I discovered my reeds lasted longer when I soaked them in tap water than they did when I moistened them in my mouth. And longer still when I used distilled water, not tap water, to soak them.
So yesterday I had the hair-brained idea to take several of my "retired" reeds and boil them in distilled water. (I used distilled water, for it contains no dissolved minerals.) I had nothing to lose in trying this, for as they stood their usefulness was over.
This is exactly what I did:
1. In a small pot, I put about 3 cups of distilled water. I put 4 of my retired reeds in the pot, and brought it to a boil, then reduced to a simmer for about 5 minutes.
2. I removed the reeds and poured the hot water into a glass (octagonal, with many flat sides), and positioned the reeds in the water on the sides. I let them sit until the water was room temperature.
3. I then dried the 4 reeds, flat side up, on a piece of glass for 24 hours.
4. I soaked them in distilled water, and reflattened their tables (flat side), with the Vandoren Reed tool (like very fine flat sandpaper). I got a tiny amount of saw dust from each.
5. I put each through the Reed Wizard, and got a tiny amount of saw dust from each.
6. When I tried each of them, they were each just as I remembered them in their prime. (I use a sharpie pen to number my reeds, and recall how #253 (e.g.) used to be. It is that way again.)
Now, what remains to find out is how long they will serve me in this rejuvenated state. I have community band rehearsal tomorrow night, and symphony on Monday, plus daily practice. I'm going to try to use #253 for all of it.
If #253 stands up well to 12 hours of use, I want to see if --after being retired again (who knows when?)-- if the treatment will again bring it back. (I estimate a good reeds usually last me about 20 hours.)
I'd like to invite others who retire their reeds (rather than destroy them) to try this as well, and report their results.
Who know, maybe this hair-brained idea will save all of us hundreds of dollars a year, if we can verify similar results from others. (Something tells me the reed companies won't like the idea too much, if it really works.)
Best wishes,
Vann Joe
(amateur)
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-09-11 03:45
Here, try this:
Take distilled water
Take clean, smooth pan
Boil said distilled water (without the reeds)
Put the reeds in the hot water
?????
Profit
Wake up in a burn unit at your friendly local hospital
Post Edited (2008-09-11 03:46)
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-09-11 04:58
Personally, I prefer mine sauteed in butter with a little white wine and garlic and maybe a few mushrooms.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2008-09-11 06:27
--"I've long held the supposition that the major cause of good reeds being retired is the accumulation of minerals in the tubules of the cane." --
I think there's a bit more to it than that. After all that vibrating, the lignin in the wood fibres must start to stretch, weaken and break down. Rather like weakening a branch by twisting it.
Perhaps boiling simply stiffens the wood fibres - like meat stiffens when cooked.
But a worthwhile experiment. experiment. It will be interesting to see how long your rejuvenated reeds last.
Steve
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2008-09-11 11:27
There is a lot of mechanical stress that causes reeds to "die" but cleaning them from time to time also helps them last. Sometimes I rub a few drops of ethenol on the surface and a small amount of "grime" comes off. The color goes back to that of being new, almost. Generally the reed plays better after that, but I have no fantasies that I can keep the reeds playing forever by just removing the dead skin from the pores. Maybe I can get a handful more of practice sessions from it, though.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-09-11 12:22
I'm making my stupid pet human type this. When I return the use of her feeble, primate brain, she'll think she fell asleep at the computer. The best way to treat reeds is to give them to the friendly cat intent on saving you from yourself. The cat is an expert with reeds and knows exactly how to chew a reed to shreds so that it will never menace the environment again.
Sssssssssssssssst!!
Shadow Cat
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2008-09-11 12:22)
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-09-11 18:05
"I prefer mine sauteed in butter with a little white wine and garlic and maybe a few mushrooms."
that's the best gimmick i've heard for reeds so far.
interesting little project you've tried here. I think i'll give it a try.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: OldClarinetGuy
Date: 2008-09-11 19:23
I give my old reeds to my dog who tosses them around for a while before chewing them into little pieces. I figure this is fair given that he is forced to listen to me practice.
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Author: donald
Date: 2008-09-11 20:38
wasn't this exact same post made a couple of years ago?
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-09-12 02:12
Is this anything like the old Salaam Witch Trials where they would try to drown an accused witch and if she didn’t drown that proved she was a witch so they burned her at the stake. If she did drown they said, woops?
I think beer works much better anyway because at least you have to after taste, but don’t boil it. ESP
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-09-12 03:32
I'm going to save all of my old reeds (I'm a newbie, so I'm sometimes literally chewing through them fast) and skit one of these ideas into a photo, then post it here months from now, confusing everyone besides those who participated.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2008-09-12 03:45
Well, there are some reputable shysters out there raking in thousands of dollars by "cryogenically treating" saxophone bodies, so maybe I can freeze-dry clarinet reeds and retire from my day gig, eh?
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-09-12 13:47
HI,
Putting on my professor hat, I'm sorry to say that there is a major logic error here in the process.
You can not be sure that boiling caused the effect. You really need control each variable so that you know which one contributes to any change and if so, what percentage.
I depart the podium.
HRL
PS I use only an ATG for reed work.
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Author: donald
Date: 2008-09-12 19:12
Van Joe is playing a joke and will be very amused by the first person that posts saying that they too have boiled their reeds, with similar results
dn
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2008-09-13 00:36
Years ago I'd execute bad reeds, each one by a different method, and I kept the remains in a rogues gallery with little epitaphs. One of them I boiled in oil (deep fried, actually). It's color afterward was ghastly - I wouldn't dream of sticking it back in my mouth to see how it played. At some point during my 33-year break in playing I found and discarded the gallery.
Back on topic, I may give vjoet's idea a try.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-09-13 16:11
So, Tony, did you ever try David Niethamer's suggestion? Hmm, I wonder how thinly-jullienned reeds would taste stir-fried in olive oil with garlic, pepper, green onions and shredded carrots. De-glaze the pan with white wine and serve over wild rice....
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-09-13 16:57
I'm making my stupid pet human type this. When I return control of his pathetic brain, he will think he has been surfing the web for free clarinet music downloads.
The solution to the old reed problem is NOT TO LET THEM BECOME OLD IN THE FIRST PLACE. No, as soon as you buy a new box, take all the reeds wrap them in a bundle with rubber bands (preferably with your mouthpiece) and take your dogs outside for a good long game of fetch.
Doc Sound
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