 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Feliped80
Date: 2020-07-25 12:51
Hi to all, I’ve been using plasticover reeds every now and then and always wondered what are they coated with and is there some DIY solution we can do to achieve similar results.
Best Wishes to everyone
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2020-07-25 18:42
I believe they are coated with vinyl plastic (see: "Plasti-Dip").
In my opinion they are among the worst reeds ever. Do yourself a favor and try other reed brands/types.
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Author: Jimis4klar
Date: 2020-07-25 19:43
That depends on what mouthpiece you play.. Tell me that and then I can recommend reeds..
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2020-07-25 21:54
Feliped80 wrote:
> What other reed brands would you recommend?
It also depends on why you play the plasticover reeds in the first place. Is that just what your first teacher started you with, or is there something about the covering you want to keep? If a water-resistant covering is something you want, you could try Legeres. They're *all* plastic - no cane at all. There are also Forestone reeds, which are made of a resin and cane mixture, Silverstein "ambipoly" (synthetic) Alta reeds and a couple of other plastic/synthetic reeds you could find with Google.
If you're not deliberately avoiding cane, there's an endless array of choices.
Karl
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Author: Feliped80
Date: 2020-07-25 22:28
Hi Karl
I went with plasticover simply because I was having a lot of difficulty playing the traditional cane reeds. Bought some vandoren and Gonzales reeds but they didn’t all play well. With the plasticover I simply pick it up and play. I will look into the ones you mentioned.
Thanks
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2020-07-25 23:10
I worked at Rico - makers of the plasticovers, for many years. The cover coating on the reeds are actually sprayed, not dipped or anything like that. The coating in liquid form is actually pretty toxic until it dries/cures.
The reed bark are place on a long double stick coating, tape, type of backboard. Pretty much like double stick tape.
Then the reeds are sprayed on the back and front vamp area, leaving the bark free of the covering. This was invented in the 1950's 1960's by Herman Hanson. He was a wonderful kind man. He passed on in the 1990's, and lived about 85 years, however he retired in 1984. He was a dear friend of mine.
He joined Rico in the early 1940's when Rico had a total of 3 reed machines! Now there are around 32 or so. Each reed machine can cut a reed between 3 to 6 seconds, depending on the length of the reeds, such as the very long and wide bari sax reed to the very short Eb clarinet reed.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Feliped80
Date: 2020-07-27 09:38
Would you say they are good reeds or should I maybe try something else ?
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2020-07-28 10:49
Feliped80 - wrote <<<<<(Would you say they are good reeds or should I
maybe try something else)
I'm not sure who you directed your question to. A lot of jazz and rockers who play the saxes like these reeds, because the reeds are water resistant for a few weeks and the sound is much brighter than cane reeds. After a few weeks, based on perhaps 1 to 2 hours of playing per day the coating can start to wear off. Peels off maybe a better term in some cases.
The cane itself is usually horrible in color, rejected cane. Then to save money Rico sprays these rejected reeds with this coating. It works well. Herman Hanson did a remarkable job developing his secret process. The coating has several compounds and properties, it's not just a black spray.
I'm not gonna give my opinion about Rico using the rejected can. That's another subject for another time. I will say this - With this coating these reeds won't collapse for a few weeks, until the coating starts coming off and the bright sound projects very well.
To answer your question, these Plasticolor reeds serve their purpose, great for the jazz and rock players, also for marching bands and they tend to hold up when the weather turns south, below 40 degrees. The reeds are not for classical playing due to the brightness.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: EbClarinet
Date: 2020-07-29 05:15
R these the kind of reeds that r Black 2? My high school band director gave the 1st chair girl a BlackMaster reed that was Black.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/mbtldsongministry/
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Author: Feliped80
Date: 2020-07-29 15:09
Thanks Bob for all the information you provided.
I’m looking to get a Forestone Reed now as I’ve heard great feedback things about them.
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2020-08-01 02:52
In these days of good synthetics I don't see any reason for using these, but I do have a question. Is the stuff dangerous as it wears off?
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2020-08-03 18:42
Clarinetwife - I know for sure these are toxic went in liquid form. Rico uses respirators when spraying. I don't know the toxic levels when cured.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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