 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: xpedx7342
Date: 2009-10-15 01:56
Most of us know that reeds go through miraculous changes during the break in period. But could someone explain just WHAT happens during it. Specifically, how does the cane change?
and on a side note, do reeds generall get harder or softer during break in?
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-10-15 02:32
Most reeds get a bit softer once broken in because the fibers in the cane break down slightly from vibrating and going wet to dry. Much the same as if you bent the corner of a piece of paper or cardboard dozens and dozens of times that corner would slightly weaken and not come back to it's original straight position. Much the same with a reed, the tip often gets slightly weaker. Also, as the pores open from absorbing moisture and closing when drying they often change, not going back to their original state and becoming weaker. Some times the pores remain wide open and that can cause the reed to become harder on occasion. That may be a simplistic explanation but I think you get the basic idea. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2009-10-15 13:50
I read a scientific paper about reed break-in some years ago. The researchers determined that most of the changes occurred as result of colonization of bacteria and minerals from the player's saliva being deposited in the xylems (the tubular element of the reed that, in nature, transports water from the soil to the leaves). That explains, to me, why reeds moistened in water, rather than saliva, take so much longer to stabilize.
I believe the paper was in "Scientific American." I wonder if anybody in this forum still has a copy -- I lent mine to a friend and it has disappeared forever.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2009-10-15 23:07
In my personal experience I actually find that during the initial break-in period most of my reeds (probably 80%) actually get somewhat harder. I know many double reed players also find this and have heard it referred to as the reed "putting on wood".
I suspect that it could be caused by the cane fibres swelling slightly when exposed to their first ever regular doses of alternating wet and dry playing conditions. The softening one might expect only seems to come after quite extended playing after the reed has been "broken-in".
Again, to my mind, the breaking in process is really the reed getting aclimatised and stabilised to the alternate sessions of wet and dry periods.
I personaly tend to use water rather than saliva for the initial wetting of the reed. I don't know if that prolongs the break in time but firmly believe it prolongs the overall life expectancy of my reeds.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-10-16 00:26
I can only tell you all what my experiences are. I break in a reed using water, not saliva, and always use water to "wet" my reeds as I describe on my website. They stabilize very well after the 3-5 days it takes me to "break" in a reed, depending on the reed. It doesn't matter what anyone else says, it all depends on what works for you. My method works just fine for me so it doesn't really matter to me what anyone else says. I tell people of my experiences and what works for me, if it works for them too, that's great. If it doesn't than I suggest they try something different. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Ed
Date: 2009-10-16 02:12
The article that Larry mentions may have been the one in Science News Dec 14, 1991.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2009-10-16 21:39
My break-in procedure seems very similar to Eddies, I use water for breaking in and also prior to playing. However since our local water comes straight out of chalk, and is probably near to the hardest water anywhere, I use bottled water for my reeds (no I never drink it, tap is better for that).
However what I forgot to mention in earlier post is that virtually all the "new" reeds I break in are more than 5 years old, in fact most are between 15 and 40 years, and mostly Vandoren. I don't know if their age is any factor in them mainly getting harder during initial stages.
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Author: abstruse_melisma
Date: 2009-10-19 21:05
From the article:
"By the time the 21st century rolls around," says Casadonte, "hopefully woodwind players won't still be sitting around coffee tables complaining about reeds all day."
Fancy that.
I'm curious whether there was ever a publication of how the research turned out.
Devin T.B. Langham
Clarinet Performance Major
Michigan State University
interlude
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2009-10-20 09:03
All my reeds seem to get softer EXCEPT for the Xilema. I have no idea why this is.
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