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What do your reeds feel like new?

Author: kev182
Date: 2008-12-29 14:07

Quick question:

What do your brand new reeds feel like (strength, response etc...) on your mouthpiece?

Do they get lighter as they break in or harder?

thanks!!

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Re: What do your reeds feel like new?

Author: Sambo 933
Date: 2008-12-29 18:16

I use vandoren 4's. They all seem to brake in differently.
When I take them out of they box response and tone aren't that good, but after I play on them a little while(and usually soke them in a glass of water) they play fine. After about a week some of them lose their tone and I find that adjusting them then keeps them alive a little longer.

I use a B45 mp.
hope this helps.

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Re: What do your reeds feel like new?

Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-12-30 12:53

I'm an amateur, but fwiw: On most Bb and A clarinets, I use Mitchell Lurie Premiums, 3 or 3.5 depending on the mouthpiece. Usually I don't do anything to them except moisten them and rub my thumb a few times lengthwise, from the base of the reed to the tip, not very hard, on both sides. These reeds generally don't feel rough, but some of my saxophone reeds do feel a little bit grainy at first. I swipe those lengthwise a few times on typing paper or reed rush.

I don't feel a big difference between broken-in reeds and new Mitchell Luries, which generally play well right out of the box. When I start noticing a difference (a slick or flabby feel), that's usually a sign that the reed is wearing out. By the time I notice a change in the way the reed feels to my lip or tongue, I'm usually getting some musical trouble from the reed: squeaks or difficulty reaching high notes. Time to retire the reed.

But it's a different story with other brands and especially with larger reeds for alto and contra-alto clarinets and for saxophones. Those big reeds usually feel coarser to begin with (heavier grain) and often play their best after they smooth out a little bit. Also, for me, the first sign of wear on a big reed is that the tip begins to chip or the reed may even split. Those big reeds are more likely to go bad all at once. It's usually easy to tell when they need replacing.

I tend to hang onto reeds too long for clarinet in Bb and A because the reed stays usable past its prime. Often when I break in a new reed, there's such a difference that I say to myself, "I should have tossed that old one a long time ago!"

Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.

Post Edited (2008-12-30 12:54)

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Re: What do your reeds feel like new?

Author: Rob Vitale
Date: 2008-12-30 22:47

Generally my reeds get softer with time. I usually scrap a reed when all of the response is gone from it. Typically for me the reeds that play out of the box have a shorter life span then the reeds that need breaking in.

I never have had a problem with the reeds losing tone, they just don't feel right after a while. Call it a sixth sense?

you can tell if a reed is bad by giving it the music stand test. Press it tip first into the stand. If the reed breaks its a bad one...haha sorry!

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