 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Exiawolf
Date: 2015-12-26 07:31
Okay so I'm having an issue here. The reeds that I normally get are just not working (both today and yesterday), most likely due to the winter weather. I popped open a new box hoping they would fare well, however so far (2 days in) they're showing almost no promise. Is there something I can do to combat this reed degradation, because not only is it discouraging to practice at the moment, it's near impossible to play well
Merry Christmas, by the way!
Post Edited (2015-12-26 07:37)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-12-26 08:06
What is the weather like this week where you are (Tucson?)? How many new reeds have you tried over the two days? Have your old reeds changed? In what way?
Sometimes you get a box of reeds that just don't feel good. Have you opened more than one box and had the same problem? Sometimes the cane the manufacturer used has been affected by the climate where it was grown - the wood may have tighter or coarser grain structure because of local conditions *when it was growing* (not when the reeds shipped).
Tucson is half a mile above sea level. Have you changed location at all - been playing somewhere in Arizona that isn't as high above sea level?
Do you have an audition or a recital coming up soon that has you nervous and perhaps pressing more than usual?
About all you can do is check yourself to be sure you're not changing something in your playing and that it's actually the reeds that are different, and then, if it's the reeds, figure out a way to adjust them to compensate for whatever is different. Or try a half-strength harder or softer (depending on what the problem is).
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-12-26 08:53
I hope you are only playing a few minutes per day on each reed. And if so, you probably won't know what they WILL eventually play like for another 2 or 3 days. And if you use V12 maybe even another 3 or 4 days beyond that!
Breaking in reeds when the dew point in your house could be around 30% is no fun. There is no way around a good break-in period.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Exiawolf
Date: 2015-12-26 09:47
Firstly Paul, I definitely am breaking them in carefully don't worry about that:)
It's just they're not showing as much promise as my other reeds always have (before winter)... I don't know what to do with this box, but maybe it'll be better eventually.
And also Philip, I find if a reed isn't broken in, it ends up being very brittle sounding with poor response
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Author: Agomongo
Date: 2015-12-26 14:31
I've also been having problems with reeds and so has my teacher. We both had to take a strength lower. My teacher plays on 4 then had to go to a 3.5 and I had to go from a 3.5+ to a 3.5.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-12-26 14:53
I can only recall a year in Boston when I did not take particular care with breaking in reeds. The measurable humidity was around 30% (according to a hygrometer) due to the radiators blasting all Winter. I plowed through box after box, only getting more and more frustrated.
For me, the broken-in reed stabilizes in its ability to accept and retain enough moisture during the period in which you play it without getting water logged.
During Summer (or high humidity conditions) you want to prevent reeds retaining too much moisture. In this case they become "water logged," soggy, sluggish, thuddy sounding.
During the Winter (low humidity due to dew point which can only be as high as the temperature and then running the heat constantly burns off what little moisture is in the air already......unless you use a humidifier) you want to prevent reeds from drying out completely as soon as you remove them from a water bottle or your mouth. When reeds dry out "instantaneously," they get brittle, hard, sound shrill, harsh.
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2015-12-26 16:16
Right now it was 71 plus degrees in Maryland and raining. In California it was 50 today, windy and dry. Hard to find newer reeds with drastic weather changes. Ft Myers, FL was 88 degrees today. Snowing in Michigan.
I often use those orange prescription medicine containers from your local drug store and drill several holes in them with about an 1/8" drill bit. Then add/cut a sponge to fit them. Re-wet the sponges every few days. I have about 6 in my double case. It helps keep the clarinet wood and the reeds stable. Don't put these inside the bores of the horns, just the outsides and maybe 2 or 3 where your reeds are at, even if the reeds are new. By the way I like to use distilled water. What is distilled water? It's simply water that is boiled and the steam that comes out is called the distilled part, so there are no chemicals, it's simple steamed water and this lessons the chances of mold, which surely can't be good for you. Distilled water can be found at any super market about the same price as regular water, like Sparklets or all of the other brands. Yes it's very safe to drink. It's simply water minus chemicals used when filtering, no minerals, nothing! Just H2O!
Some players use cigar humidifiers. Not a bad idea. They come in assorted sizes, holding 2 cigars to 20 or more. The good ones tell you when to add water. Use distilled water.
Like last night when I last wrote, it's late, just after 4 PM so I need to sleep! Hope these ideas help make your reeds a bit more consistent and not as frustrating. Your horns should play better in tune as well, the bores won't shrink.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-12-26 17:57
I might have added in my first post that the your reeds are mostly likely reacting, if they are, to the ambient conditions in your practice room, not to the conditions outdoors (except possibly for atmospheric pressure). We turn on central heat during the winter (in climates that are cold enough to need it), Forced air heat tends to dry room air noticeably - we start to get bloody noses and static shocks as the relative humidity goes down in our houses. So one possible remedy is to put a room humidifier in your practice area. YMMV, but you and your instruments may also benefit.
Break-in is a constant throughout the year. It may have special benefits during the drier indoor conditions of winter, but I can't tell because my new reeds water log and die early even in July if I don't break them in gradually. Besides, you say you're already doing that.
Karl
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2015-12-27 14:14
The Vandoren Hygro reed case for six reeds works really good for me, with no problems with mold. For the larger black Vandoren "Hygrocase" for about 20 reeds with a built in digital meter water had to be added every other day in a really dry indoor climate and eventually I got problems with mold.
Micke Isotalo
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Author: Burt
Date: 2015-12-28 02:16
When all else fails, have a plastic reed available. I like the Legere.
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