 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-03-07 22:45
Hey all!
Perhaps someone has written this, I don't always pay attention. I was complaining to my instructor about having to work on my reeds to make them playable. He suggested that I soak the new reed for a minute and then blow air through the thick end. The air bubbles that escape are fun to watch and help seal the reed. Hope this helps someone. Enjoy!
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-03-07 23:02
Ben Armato's book describes the role of the xylem (water transportation vessels of the arrundo donax plant) on reed playability. Very interesting information, and important to understanding the playabilty of reeds.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2001-03-08 02:36
Never heard of this technique quite this way. Thanks for passing it on. Gotta try it.
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Author: Stefano
Date: 2001-03-08 08:50
Francesca,
Thanks! I have just a box of new reeds to break-in and select this evening. I will try too.
Stefano
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Author: Eils
Date: 2001-03-08 09:34
Cheers Francesca!!!I just amused myself for hours watching bubbles as I did this to all my reeds, clarinet and sax!!!!
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Author: Cass
Date: 2001-03-08 11:42
How does doing this help *seal* the reed? Shouldn't blowing air through those fibers open them up, not seal them?
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-03-08 11:54
Has anybody experimented with filling these x..x..xy..xy..holes with runny superglue to make a 'plastic' reed. Seriously!
And can anybody blow hard enough to make bubbles on a Legerre reed. (Not so seriously)
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Author: tropicana
Date: 2001-03-08 19:26
If you blow into the end of the reed and there are bubbles, that means the reed is NOT sealed. (i think)
so you rub the end of the reed from the bark to the tip to seal it until no more bubbles are formed or something
i dunno
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Author: MRidgeP
Date: 2001-03-08 20:06
I've tried melting candle wax on them to fill the pores. Doesn't work.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-03-08 21:00
Larry Guy's book (day 7) says to seal the heel by drawing the flat part of the heel across #320 sandpaper 20 to 30 half-inch strokes with the reed perpendicular to the sandpaper.
Ben Armato's book does not mention sealing the heal. He suggests putting the heel in water (tip up) when a reed is "waiting" to be played, so water can rise up the xylem to keep the reed moist without soaking the tip. However, he states that if the xylem become clogged with "particles" it can adversely affect the playability of the reed, and this seems to imply that sealing the heel might be beneficial in some instances.
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Author: Stefano
Date: 2001-03-09 09:54
Francesca,
I have soaked my new reeds in water as usual... and then tried to blow air through the reed, but... nothing happened.
I use Vandoren traditional: I must guess that the fact that I have obtained no bubbles is good, and means that the reeds are already sealed.
What reeds have you been "bubbling"?
Stefano
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-03-09 14:51
Are you blowing all those bacteria, viruses and fungi from your breath so they can take up residence INSIDE the grain of the reed? Are you achieving anything else? Apart from the bubble pleasure, of course, but there are surely better pleasures to explore!
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-03-10 22:38
The reason I try this trick is to help seal the reed and make it playable. I rarely get a concert ready Glotin reed straight from the box, so I do whatever it takes to improve my tone. I don't think the reeds should gather any additional germs, etc.. from blowing through the heel. The trick for any reeds is to let them dry well before putting them away. It took me several black, red, and every other color reeds before I figured that out!
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