 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2017-06-05 02:11
If reed has some black spots on it and I want to remove mold if that is what it is, does anyone know how many parts water to how many parts clorox would do this without harming reed? I have searched this but did not see a parts of each recommendation. Have also seen listerine and hydrogen peroxide maybe 1 part to 2 parts water. Any suggestions? They play OK but where the bevel starts there is some black.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-06-05 02:22
Throw the moldy reed(s) out and use clean ones. More important, figure out what in your reed storage environment is keeping the reeds moist enough to support mold growth in the first place.
Whatever the right mix of bleach and water turns out to be, it can't be good for the cane.
Karl
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Author: Richie
Date: 2017-06-05 05:37
You should periodically wash out your reed guard, that helped a lot when I was using my old one. My new one I don't have to wash as much because I barely ever see mold on my reeds now, which is a plus.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-06-05 06:16
I don't remember what your last decision was - are you using humidifying your stored reeds? If so, what percent humidity are you using?
Karl
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2017-06-05 06:46
Actually I am now keeping them in plastic sandwich containers with Boveda 69% and 84% 2-way humidity controls. The tops do not fit so airtight and if fill with water it comes out if inverted so they are not really sealed tightly.
These are sort of old reeds, 2.5 Mitchell Lurie I have had for awhile and have been stored under various conditions, but other reeds do not have this black spotting. I do not KNOW it is mold but simply assumed it. I am not getting sick from it. I have 10 of them and I just started to play on this group and noticed some blackness as it reached the thick part. So I thought I would ask. They sound OK but are a bit squeaky in upper register after playing on 10 strength #3.
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2017-06-05 07:55
I want to correct what I posted. I just looked at the reeds again and they are not what I said but are D'Addario Reserve Classics purchased 8-17-2015. I looked at all the reeds I have have and all show some darkening where the curve of bevel starts and extends half to 3/4 the way to the tip, and I would not call it black but rather a brownish discoloration. I may in fact be a normal discoloration and not an issue at all. In fact I may be overreacting to what I read. And I do not really want to ruin the reeds by trying to 'clean' them and certainly do not plan to throw all of them away. But I might wash the reed holders they are stored in as I read somewhere that someone started to do. It probably is not mold at all. But I was curious. I read a lot and try many things, some successful and others not. i am trying to learn and improve but do not wish to mislead.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2017-06-05 16:34
I know those "black" marks bother many people. I've had that happen to some reeds over my career if I've been able to keep a "good" reed for a very long time. Especially some bass clarinet reeds that I would use for many months. As long as they didn't have any sign of "powder" on them it never bothered me if the reed played very well. OK, that's me, I never got sick or had any lip problem. Of course it had to be a good reed.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2017-06-05 21:30
I'm an amateur, but FWIW -- I always rinse my reed in cool tap water after practicing, then store the reed in a reed holder that lets in plenty of air. I never leave a reed on the mouthpiece because, here in humid Virginia, leaving the reed on guarantees that something will grow on the reed and inside the mouthpiece, too. Even if the "something" is perfectly safe -- eeewww. And I can't know for sure that the "something" is safe anyhow because, realistically, I'm never going to set up a chem lab in my house. Before I put a reed case into a clarinet case or into the box where I keep extra reeds and all sorts of other stuff, I make sure those reeds are dry. It's way easier to prevent guck from growing in the first place than it is to get rid of the guck without ruining the reed.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2017-06-07 03:46
I researched reed mold on this forum and also an internet search. I am confused by all this. I am trying some things on discolored reeds, which I do not know if mold or not. I washed the reed holders in 1/2 ounce clorox to 8 oz softened tap water since never before washed them.
I will post later after some study.
I am not sure if reeds should be stored in some humidity or left open and dry in the room humidity which varies. Now they are in around 70% in non-airtight plastic food containers.
From my research I found a post where one said nothing found in saliva that destroys cellulose and another opinion that bacteria was seen on reeds under microscope. In my opinion just because bacteria can be found just about everywhere it does not follow that these bacteria or their byproducts are guaranteed to be harmful, deadly, or diseased. It did not say that the bacteria were identified or tested. I do wet reeds in water a few minutes and rinse after play and store in a Boveda humidity environment. But I put in mouth also and I do not feel this is dangerous or destroying the reeds. I have some 3 year old reeds that are damaged and so do not play well or at all but do not feel saliva ruined them.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-06-07 05:36
BGBG -
Like just about everything pertaining to clarinet (with the exception of a few basics) - there aren't many hard and fast rules.
Find what works for you, and then keep doing it.
I don't do any of the things you do to your reeds, and I don't have any issues with my reeds. (My final instructor in college had me doing all sorts of humidity-controlled methods - all of which ended up costing me a lot of reeds to mold or other malady. After college, I simply went back to what worked for me before that instructor came along.) You, on the other hand might find that humidity control is absolutely necessary for you. If you have ten of us (clarinet players) in the same town, chances are you'll have ten different methods of treating reeds.
I'd suggest not getting too caught up in all the tech talk though. Most of the things offered as solutions, are offered as helpful suggestions, or "what worked for me."
So much of what we deal with on clarinet is within our own minds, our own biases, our own training, our own experiences. That's why we can go on for pages and pages about reeds, ligatures, barrels, stock material, etc. Sorta like vitamins or herbal supplements..."I think it helped." 
Embrace the enigma, and enjoy the ride.! 
Fuzzy
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2017-06-07 22:42
BGBG, just a notion. Though your sandwich container with the reeds in it isn't completely airtight it may still be too tight and thus causing mold. I used Vandoren's black Digital Hygro Reed Case for a while and got problems with mold though I didn't exceed the recommended maximum of 70 % humidity - and despite some inbuilt ventilation. I had to stop using it. Vandoren's later 6-pack non digital Hygro Reed Cases has however worked fine for me.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2017-06-08 02:57
I am pretty sure I warned you about this a long time ago. Throw them out. Now you are in danger of lung issues. OMG
Damaged lung infections from mold may never go away and your life may be shortened. Hope this scares you. It's meant to. Same goes with mouthpieces. Keep your mouthpieces clean.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2017-06-08 03:00)
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