Author: mnhnhyouh
Date: 2014-08-16 15:20
I watched a youtube video a while ago about warping reeds.
The test in the video was to place the reed, flat side down, on glass, and put a finger on each long edge and try to rock the reed side to side. If it rocks, it is warped, if it doesnt it is flat.
I tested mine and a couple were warped. I played them and they were not that good, then I sanded the flat side on some 600 grit paper that was on a glass table. The reed was much better. When I sand them I keep the top cm or 2 off the edge of the paper, not wanting to affect the reed strength.
Where I live it is hot (36 C - about 95F?) with 60 - 80% humidity.
Today I pulled out an old good reed, tested it and it was fine. I soaked it in water for less than a minute, and started playing. It was fine for about 3 or 4 minutes, but then started to sound horrible. Since I am a beginner I always suspect it is me. But after a couple of minutes I took the reed off, and tested it again. It was warped.
I rinsed it off in fresh water, dried it as well as I could, and sanded the flat side until it was nice and flat, and played with it again. It sounded great.
I used to dry my reeds flat side down on a flat glass surface, and then put them in a reed case. But the same video said I should dry them flat side up as that dries them better. I am wondering if the change has caused my reeds to warp more quickly, and have gone back to flat side down on glass.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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