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Waterlogged Bass Clarinet Reeds

Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2015-03-20 19:34

Hi All Bass Clarinet Players,

I'm finishing up a stint on bass clarinet with a very fine local concert band and have run into a reed problem. Our weekly rehearsal go a pretty solid two-hours with no break and in the later part of rehearsals, my reeds have been getting pretty waterlogged. They play well for the first hour but to have a reed last the whole rehearsal is not a common occurrence.

I do empty out the neck often and slip a piece of paper into the MP to dry the back of the reed. But after about an hour and a half, the reed closes up. For a concert, no problem as there are rest between selections and the time is much shorter.

My preferred reed is a Rico Royal #3 on a Roger Garrett MO mouthpiece with a VD M|O ligature (in black BTW). Is it time to change brands or go to a synthetic reed? Maybe just change reeds mid-rehearsal?

I have also consider embouchure fatigue but I've got pretty resilient chops.

Cheers,

Hank

PS At last night's rehearsal in another band, I played my Bb soprano on the same reed with no problems. This is the usual situation.

Post Edited (2015-03-21 00:48)

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Waterlogged Bass Clarinet Reeds new

Hank Lehrer

2015-03-20 19:34