The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Reed Life

Author: The Doctor ★2017
Date: 2014-12-04 16:39

There are a couple of processes going on here in reed degradation, one mechanical, one enzymatic, and the other bacterial and fungal. No one knows what the actual most harmful aspect is that degrades reed performance.

On the mechanical side the rapid flexes as the reed is played breaks down the reed structure and flexibility and the ultimate ability of the reed to vibrate. Another mechanical aspect is the skin detritus and other debris that may collect on the reed and hamper the movement of the reed. Peroxide as mentioned with remove (oxidize) the organic material that may clog the reed but it also oxidizes some of the carbohydrate holding the cellulose reed bundle together. Ethyl alcohol such as in some mouthwashes will kill bacteria and fungi but it too will attack the matrix holding materials in the cellulose. Both alcohol and peroxide will eventually degrade reed structure unless they contain a balancing humectant.

Human saliva does not contain enzymes that break down cellulose but some bacteria and fungi do. Bacteria and fungi do not grow on a reed that is totally dry so in some respects drying out reeds stops these organisms from breaking down the cellulose of the reed.

The idea that maintaining a moisture content in the reed is achieved by keeping the reed in a moist environment which may or may not maintain a reed that is optimally hydrated and increasing playability.

My own experiments show that it takes a reed a lot longer to be fully hydrated than a achieved by a short soak in water or saliva and some wetting agent may help in getting a totally dry reed into a fully playing condition.

Growth of most bacteria and possibly fungi on reeds usually is not a health issue because normal flora in our mouths has been adjusted by our immune systems to not cause unhealthy and disease causing situations. I would not however use a reed that another person who has a disease uses.
IMO it may not be good to store reeds in a moist condition without some form of disinfectant treatment prior to use.

L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics

Author

Date

Reed Life new

NHM

2007-08-30 20:13