 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bensimmonds
Date: 2014-10-27 09:57
So.... I have a student using VanDoren reeds and they're turning blue after a couple weeks playing. Im blowed if I can come up with a reason for it.
As far as I can tell he has good reed hygiene. Brushes teeth (with blue paste) AFTER practise each morning. Doesn't eat blue food or drink.
This also happened with another batch of reeds and also with other brands.
Oh. And before the jokes start, no we haven't been learning the blues.
Any ideas?
Ben
"You do things that some people think are impossible, and that's what separates the men from the boys" ~ Artie Shaw
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-10-27 10:52
Is he taking any sort of medications that could be related to this problem? Is there some sort of environmental anomaly about where he lives? Some mouthwashes and toothpastes are coloured with food dyes that could be part of the problem.
Tony F.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-10-27 14:57
I would look for a chemical answer. Perhaps his water supply has too much fluoride and it interacts with some additive in the water in which he soaks his reeds (wild guess). The most direct way would be to test the chemical residue on the blue reeds (if either of you know a good chemist), but this could easily be the most expensive way if the chemist won't do it for free (this is a job for a mass spectrometer - it will show the makeup of every molecule present).
Of course there is always the possibility that his mom CANNOT know of his habit of going to 7/11 for a Slurpy after school.
..............Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2014-10-27 15:34)
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Author: bensimmonds
Date: 2014-10-28 17:55
Thanks Tony. I might have to ask about medications. Paul I agree it seems like a chemical reaction or sorts.
I have found one other mention of this online. Didn't ever seem to be resolved either.
My main concern is that after finally (I've been at it since he started with me in January) getting him off plastic reeds he will go back because of this.
"You do things that some people think are impossible, and that's what separates the men from the boys" ~ Artie Shaw
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-10-28 18:48
Or a medical condition?
If there is ammonia present in the students mouth, it may combine with fluoridated water to produce ammonium fluoride (crystal green). This may look blue imbedded in a 'yellow' reed.
Possible causes:
o Helicobacter pylori gastritis ( produce gastric ulcers)
o Chronic Renal Failure
Again.....just wild guesses.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: bensimmonds
Date: 2014-10-29 09:38
Thanks Paul. Water here is quite heavily fluoridated (i understand) so that may be something worth checking out. It's got a little bit of green tinge to it and the staining is more pronounced around the inside edges of piece leaving an impression of the lay. Ie. Where saliva would gather.
Seems it must be in the saliva.
"You do things that some people think are impossible, and that's what separates the men from the boys" ~ Artie Shaw
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2014-10-30 06:14
This is caused by some kind of mold or fungus not chemicals. It used to happen to me all the time.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-10-30 06:28
How about a dip into peroxide for a few seconds after each play session? I dilute the drugstore variety about 1:3, but even full strength shouldn't hurt anything. Kill the buggies and bleach any color.
Every time I see this thread I think "Reeds Turn Blue" to the tune of "Song Sung Blue".
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2014-11-04 20:48)
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Author: MrWalnut4
Date: 2014-11-04 09:36
Does he wipe his reeds on his pants after playing them? If he's wearing jeans the reeds tend to pick up a little bit of the blue dye after about a week or so of playing. I had exactly the same "issue" until I realized it was from wiping the reed dry on my jeans and should be harmless as far as I am aware.
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