 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2016-04-17 04:11
On numerous occasions, particular when first putting a (non-new) reed on a mouthpiece to play--I'll say a cane reed--I've seen players place the tip sideways on the reed table, holding it down with one thumb, and then doing something akin to what looks like flicking the base of the reed with the fingers of the other hand.
Is that for testing resistance or strength, or bending the reed fibers and stretching the reed "if you will," not unlike how we stretch before exercising, or maybe something else?
https://youtu.be/UAOVSbjcK_w?t=2m10s
Post Edited (2016-04-17 04:13)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2016-04-17 05:56
I've tried flattening the reed tip, but it doesn't do much. The unwrinkling depends on the absorption of water, not pressure. Just hold the reed in your mouth or drop it in a saucer of water until it flattens out. For me, this takes a minimum of 2-3 minutes and sometimes as long as 5 minutes.
Flicking the butt of the reed does no good and, I think, breaks down the fibers. I wouldn't do it.
Ken Shaw
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-04-17 06:23
Ken Shaw wrote:
> I've tried flattening the reed tip, but it doesn't do much.
Your mileage may certainly vary.
I find flattening the reed tip with my thumb to be very effective. Of course, the reed needs to be wet. But "ironing" a reed can be a time saver with an old reed.
But I'm a little confused, because the action involved in this doesn't resemble "flicking the end of the reed." It's more a matter of either rubbing with the thumb or holding it still under the thumb while moving the butt end sideways.
Karl
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2016-04-17 06:49
I have an aluminium La Vox reed guard that is very good at preventing reeds from becoming wrinkly when drying out. After playing , just slide the wet reed into the guard making sure that the reed tip slides all the way under the metal strip at the end. To a certain extent , the plastic Vandoren reed guards ( with the rubber band) solve the problem also. Just make sure the reed is pushed all the way in to the end. I'm not sure just how much of a problem a wrinkly reed tip is as I've played on reeds in that condition with no apparent problem at all.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2016-04-17 06:53)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-04-17 07:33
I've been known to do something a bit different.
I don't know about you guys, but my reeds ALWAYS warp up in the middle (length wise). So sometimes I will apply the first half of the reed to the table and try to flex the reed back the other way. I'm never sure if that works, but for older reeds that have that decided cup appearance I really don't think it can hurt.
................Paul Aviles
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