 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TianL
Date: 2010-09-02 13:51
I'm a little confused on how to use it. On the back of it, it says no activation is needed, does that mean that I don't need to tear it open? Then doesn't that mean it's already in use before I even get it? What if it has already been out for a long time?
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-09-02 15:06
Yes, you need to take it out of the packaging wrapper . I suggest once you do you keep it in a plastic freezer type bag with your reeds in there too and never let it get exposed to the opened air. In other words, always keep your reeds and the vitalizer in the closed bag. Take out the reed you're going to use and put the rest back in the bag and close it air tight. That way the Vitalizer will last for many many months, not drying out, and it will help stabilize your reeds buy keeping them in the same humidity all the time instead of having them sit out in the opened drying out before being put back in the bag. My Vitalizers have lasted me at least a year by never allowing them to be exposed to the opened air and my reeds stay reasonably stable. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2010-09-02 16:11
And don't use the free ones that come with the Reserve Reeds - they are too low a humidity level (personally I argue that they don't work, but Rico is retesting them to make sure). The ones that come w/reeds are in the 30's which is much too low for a playing reed.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Connor
Date: 2010-09-03 02:53
Mr. Blumberg,
I disagree with you about the Rico Reed Vitalizers that come with the Rico Reserve Reeds. I have had great success using the "stock" vitalizers, however, the catch 22 is that I have five of them in my Ziploc bags and they have been in use for well over five months. After this length of time, the vitalizers will act like a sponge and "soak" up ambient water in the air contained in the reed bag and reach a hydration maximum; somewhere around 60%+.
I do agree, however, that the "stock" vitalizer is useless for the reeds before they have been played. Rico need to stop wasting plastic and place their reeds in cardboard holders in simple cardboard boxes like Gonzolez.
TianL open the wrapper containing the vitalizer pack, dont open the vitalizer. If the vitalizer has been out for some time in an environment that matches its humility level, it will be fine (relative humidity from day to day is 60% and your vitalizer says 58%).
If the vitalizer has been out for some time and the ambient humidity is lower than what is printed on your vitalizer (printed 73% but the relative humidity is 40%) the vitalizer is likely no longer functional. In this case, soak a paper towel and wrap a teaspoon of table salt in it. Then place the paper towel and the vitalizer in a ziplock bag for about 4-5 days. This should re-constitute the vitalizer to its original humility level. (also works for old vitalizers that have dried out)
Connor
MM. Clarinet Performance University of Texas at Austin (2012).
BM. Clarinet Performance University of Northern Colorado (2010).
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2010-09-03 03:23
Bet your free/stock vitalizers will still be "working" after another year. Or two. Possibly even more.
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Author: Ronish
Date: 2010-09-03 06:34
Never seen or used any humidifiers where I live. Does the humidifier keep the reed wet enough to play ( if it does what about mould?) or do you still need to moisten, like in your mouth prior to using?
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Author: clariknight
Date: 2010-09-03 13:59
Recently I ordered another one of these cases to increase my reed rotation, and it was packed with a 73% humidity vitalizer pack, which is the standard according to Rico. In fact, I've ordered four over the years and they have always come stocked with these 73% packs, never one in the 30s. DavidBlumberg, who do you order yours from? Perhaps Muncy has just been nice in replacing the stock ones from Rico?
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-09-03 16:34
Conner that's interesting about how you get the Vitalizer back to normal by placing salt in the wet paper towel. First time I've heard of that, I'll give it a try even though, as I said, mine last over a year on average because I never ever let them stay opened to the air, no matter what the humidity is. That way my 58s, which I prefer, always stay at 58, I think. I like the 58s because I always prefer to wet my reed before I play it for about 2-3 seconds in water, only the vamp part without the bark. I want my reeds to be as consistent as possible but not to be stored in a damp environment. The middle number, 73, seems to work well for many others as well but I just prefer the 58.
I don't think it's a good idea to store your reeds, "ready" to play unless you change your reeds every few days, mine last for months on rotation. I posted something last year about a bass clarinet reed that I used for every rehearsal and performance for over a year, and I'm a professional bass clarinet player. That was a miracle reed but I think the #58 Vitalizer kept it consistent. Most of my bass clarinet reeds do last from 2-4 months on average using the same reed, except for practice. I rotate my clarinet reeds so of course some last much longer than others, depending on how much I use them. I love my Vitalizers, kept air tight all the time. ESP
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2010-09-03 17:44
The saturated salt slurry in the Vitalizers will take up and then give up moisture according to their type of salt or salt mixture and the RH environment. This process is however not indefinite and after a finite number of cycles they no longer function well (other elements combine with the salt to make compounds that do not respond to moisture content). If the cycling were infinite we would have our first perpetual motion machine !
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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