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: Wavy Reeds

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-03-23 05:07

A wavy tip means the cane is too dry. It will squeak and sound noisy until it becomes evenly moist across the whole tip area.

The two previous posts have given you the two basic ways to deal with this:
Either

(1) take more time before you try to play on a reed to wet it. If needed, press the reed tip with your thumb against a flat surface (glass, the mouthpiece table, etc.), which forces the water into the cane and distributes the moisture evenly. You don't need to wet the reed any longer than it takes to straighten out (which it will), or

(2) don't let the reed ever dry out completely by keeping it in some kind of humidity-controlled holder. You can use a fancy (pricey) cigar humidor or buy the humidity packs sold by Boveda (a cigar humidifier company) or by Rico as "Reed Vitalizer" (same as the Boveda humidity packs but more expensive). Keep the reeds (or your whole assembled mouthpiece) wrapped in a plastic bag to hold the humidity (moisture) in.

Most of the debate is over the advantages and disadvantages of keeping your reeds in a consistently humidified condition. As to how long to wet a dry reed, the answer is to wet it until the tip un-wrinkles and the reed plays well.

Karl

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics

Author

Date

Wavy Reeds new

BGBG

2017-03-23 02:55