 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2015-10-27 01:44
Right now I have some very old reeds 6-12 months old or maybe older (6 in all) that I am working on, not to make a new-sounding reed but playable good to fair on a rating of 1-4. Basically I thought to sand the flat side if "hard" and stuffy, and trim tip very slightly (maybe visible to .5 mm) if "soft" and "trilly" or varying pitch. They dont sound all that bad but need some sanding or clipping at this time.
I keep my very old reeds and 29 very new reeds in plastic bags in their original holders they came in. Room humidity runs around 45-55% right now.
I was considering getting some sort of a humidity type reed holder, maybe with rails that are supposed to reduce warpage. I know very little about this so haven't done anything yet. If this is a good idea or recommended storage, I was hoping for some suggestions as to brand, type, model etc, to consider. Thanks for any suggestions.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-10-27 02:37
For my money (although it's actually yours) I think you're getting way too complicated about this.
First of all, keeping new (unused) reeds in a plastic bag seems counterproductive. If anything, you might want to expose them to your local atmospheric conditions to let them acclimate (whether they do or not, I couldn't tell you with any evidence).
We've had discussions about full-fledged humidors, humidified holders, and using humidity packs like Reed Vitalizer in zip-loc type bags with conventional reed holders. You can find lots of material on this using the search facility. IMO holders made to contain humidifiers are more expensive than plastic bags with Vitalizers in them and aren't worth their cost. Humidors that won't fit in your clarinet case don't make too much sense to me unless you only play in your practice studio.
FWIW, I've tried humidifying my reeds (with Vitalizers in bags) and each time, I've given up on it. For me, the reeds get stuffy and heavy if they don't have a chance to dry between uses. I know that many others here insist that maintaining a minimal level of humidity with Vitalizers or something similar is essential to preventing warped reeds. Mine don't warp, either. My own suspicion has been that drying reeds flat-side-down against glass or metal is the prime cause of warping, and keeping the reeds humidified avoids the problem by not allowing the reeds to dry at all.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-10-27 04:11
As one who prefers some humidity, all I can say it that my reeds that are in an active rotation do better with one of those foldy, plastic sandwich bags wrapped loosely around the reed case. I have had a rotation box get neglected and dry over some months and it took a few day back in an active state (with the sandwich bag) before they began playing well again.
I don't really have issues with warping either, just the sound you get from a reed. But honestly Karl, in Pennsylvania during the Winter when the heat's all cranked up, you don't have a problem with reeds not responding?
As for the cases, I don't think that needs to be fancy at all. I often just leave the reeds in the plastic sleeves (Vandorens of course) and in the original box (with some padding like the advert that came in the box somewhat wadded up).
One step up from there would be some simple Vandoren plastic reed cases that hold 8 reeds apiece (there is a middle flap that holds four on each side).
Or moving another step up in cost, you could spring for one of Muncy's wooden reed cases that easily holds 10 reeds (I use one of those a majority of the time). To use that with some humidity, I'd recommend giving it a good coating with some polyurethane.
......................Paul Aviles
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2015-10-27 05:07
Actually the newer reeds are in rotation, not unused. Have been played about 5 times now. They are mostly good. The old ones I dont really need but have them and will play them as long as reasonably good for my purposes. Also use them to practice adjustments on.
I am happy with what I am now doing but see all these different ways to store them and I wondered if advice would be to change. I not necessary or advisable I am content to stay as is. Like to ask to see what current advice is.
I just go and play each day on the next 5 reeds. Then start over. No real demands except for my own desires. Do just play for myself at home, but that does not men to imply I do not wish to improve. This will be my 2nd PA winter with a clarinet. Indoor humidity goes down a good bit.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-10-27 05:28
Paul Aviles wrote:
> I don't really have issues with warping either, just the sound
> you get from a reed. But honestly Karl, in Pennsylvania during
> the Winter when the heat's all cranked up, you don't have a
> problem with reeds not responding?
>
Well, during the winter I have to wet my reeds longer, so I guess I'm giving up a little in terms of prep time before I can play. When I've used Vitalizers in plastic bags, I can play almost instantly on the humidified reed, but I've felt that the reeds get hard to play - heavy-feeling. If I keep adjusting them lighter, taking wood out of the vibrating areas on each side, I can restore the response, but at that point the cost, as you've described, is that if the reeds then dry out for any reason, they need a lot of wetting to revive them. I guess "ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice."
Karl
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2015-10-27 16:09
Silversorcerer,
Let me get this straight.
You said "If you really want to know something useful about reeds, know how to tie them on with a string. After that, there's not much to know." Prior to that you indicated that "I tie them into a mouthpiece and there they remain until they split." In addition, you stated "I don't rotate reeds..."
Do you realize that everything you said above (plus several other statements) is contrary to the conventional wisdom of clarinet pedagogy?
I find your assertions extremely difficult to accept as viable alternatives to common practice.
HRL
Post Edited (2015-10-27 18:57)
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Author: knotty
Date: 2015-10-27 19:48
kdk: "My own suspicion has been that drying reeds flat-side-down against glass or metal is the prime cause of warping"
Seems most logical to me. One side always wet, other side drying and shrinking.
~ Musical Progress: None ~
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-10-28 01:05
Not in defense of leaving a reed on but just another such example:
When Ignatius Gennusa had a particularly good reed, he'd leave it on the mouthpiece, refusing to disturb it because, as he'd say, "All the molecules lined up."
............Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-10-28 16:49
I like string as a ligature. I've used it and find its results similar to the best cloth ligatures I've tried. But with one specific exception, I've never found that any ligature caused a problem with warping, so I can't agree that, however well they play, string ligatures have any special benefit in preventing warped reeds.
To bring the discussion back to the OP's question about reed holders and cases, I think that if you want to experiment with humidifying your reeds in storage, the simplest, least expensive approach is best. Try buying a few Reed Vitalizers - start with the 58% ones - and storing your reeds in bags as you do now. See if there's an improvement in the reeds' overall performance, whether they warp more or less often, whether the benefit over not using the Vitalizers is noticeable. If you like the result, try a higher humidity (Vitalizers come in 58%, 73% and 84%). Players here have their own personal preferences, but yours may differ depending on what you want to accomplish.
More elaborate holders are available, but IMO their main advantage is cosmetic and, maybe, convenience. They don't change the mechanics of the process.
Karl
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