The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DARBY
Date: 2001-06-02 00:09
Hello, Darby here,
I keep seeing and hearing about reed rush, but no one seems to explain what it is or what it's used for. Can someone explain it to me please? Thank you.
Darby
P.S. Are C.G.Conn wooden clarinets any good?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-06-02 02:09
Reed rush is a plant that grows locally in some areas. However only people who play reed instruments use that name for it though. It has small stems that can be flattened and used to sand reeds. Some people like it because it is very gentle. However to buy reed rush can be quite expensive to buy and so some people use very fine sandpaper. Those who live in areas where the stuff grows naturally often just go pick their own.
Conn clarinets are only of medium quality. They are not and never have been in the class of Selmer, Leblanc, or Buffet.
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Author: Jonathan
Date: 2001-06-02 06:49
Dear Darby,
the 'reed rush' that u are reffering to would be Dutch Rush. It grows in the USA and parts of Europe and normally has a diameter a little under half a centimeter and is dark green/olive coloured. It has been used in the fashioning and sharpening of knives and arrows etc. A clarinettist would use it in adjustment of reeds. :-) Personally i haven't used it for a few years - instead i have a set of small files that I use. Apparently though, if u use a file, knife, or sandpaper to refine your reed, all it does is remove wood from the sections that u use it on. The difference with Dutch rush though, is that it supposedly not only takes wood away from the reed, but shoves minute particles from itself and the dust of the cane that you're taking off the reed back into the pores of the reed. This purportedly prevents or helps prevent waterlogging. To use it, u moisten it in your mouth for around a minute, squeeze it inbetween your fingers so that it flattens out, and then rub it on the reed. To clean it u wait until its dry and then use a toothbrush to get rid of the reed dust inside the ridges of the rush. The difference between Dutch rush and the Silver Rush that i posted about (so the book stated) is that silver rush is completely round with no ridges. It is also silver in colour (i think - have never seen it) and won't take anything off the reed only polish it by imparting some of its skin into the pores of the reed(again I don't know if this is true or not).
Hope this has helped a little,
Jonathan Farquhar
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Author: Peter Spriggs
Date: 2001-06-02 12:54
Hi Darby,
Dutch Rush grows on my property. If you want some, contact me directly with your address, and I will send some at no charge.
Peter
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-06-02 15:16
This is neat, I've never heard of it before; its cool. where could I get some?
Sara
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-06-02 15:23
The WoodwindBrasswind catalog (www.wwandbw.com) has Reed Rush (01-RUSH) listed for $3.45
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-06-05 12:16
I thought you got 'Reed Rush' from inhaling the dust while making reeds?!
This would account for the popularity of the "Reedual" at parties.
anji
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