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Re: Reed Inconsistency Experiences

Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2018-03-18 15:10

If you live in an area where the winters and summers have wide temperature ranges, and therefore wide humidity changes, the problem may be reed warpage. On a flat surface, place the reed table down, and with fingers on both side of the reed at where the bark is cut rock the reed back and forth. If it rocks the center is swollen and it makes the reed feel harder. I either save these reeds for the summer or soak them for 2-4 hours until flat. I also mark them so as not use them for performance because they may dry enough to swell again. Another trick that works quickly is to drop them into hot water, just under boiling. (Some have said that this hurts the reeds but I haven't notices that - and so-what if they don't work well anyway) they seem to become flat in 10-15 minutes. And sometimes that even 'cures' them of warping!
I never use Vandoren because they all seem to be susceptible to swelling this time of year. Some cane that may have had better aging will not swell and they are also marked as such. Some reeds also act differently whether you wet the entire reed or just the tip.

Post Edited (2018-03-18 20:06)

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