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 Old reeds - rising from the dead?
Author: OneWatt 
Date:   2021-03-10 06:43

Perhaps you ole' timers won't be surprised by this, but it was a surprise to me ...

I've found that reeds that were "well past their prime" and therefore put aside for memory's sake, have somehow sprung back to life after having been left alone for several weeks.

I don't know if it's simply that they needed to fully recover and/or dry out (or whatever else reeds do when left to their own devices long enough). But I had reasonably assumed they were dead for good. And that they'd never play well again - and so I had given up the ghost.

Apparently not.

Out of curiosity, I found that quite a few of them (at least the ones without chips or that I hadn't been overly-aggressive in adjusting in the past) played quite beautifully... like long lost wonderful reeds that somehow made their way home again.

Is it just me?

Have others experienced the joy of being reunited with a once-lovely reed that returned... for old time's sake?

If so, does this mean perhaps that I've simply been too rash in taking them out of rotation in the first place?

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Israel = Ancient Hebrew for "Wrestles with God"
Klarinet = Ancient Greek for "Struggles with Reeds"

Post Edited (2021-03-10 06:43)

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 Re: Old reeds - rising from the dead?
Author: Ken Lagace 
Date:   2021-03-10 07:43

It is normal - and I have never thrown a reed away. One slot is for Best Oldies, so I can try them again in the future. I believe all cane ages well.

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 Re: Old reeds - rising from the dead?
Author: LFabian 
Date:   2021-03-10 19:48

I soaked my old and used reeds in hydrogen peroxide. They were rejuvenated. The Legeres went into Dawn detergent and they are fine after 3 years. May not have to buy another reed.

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 Re: Old reeds - rising from the dead?
Author: Una 
Date:   2021-03-11 00:12

Old reeds have saved me from going reed-nuts quite a few times. I usually wait until they are pretty much destroyed before giving up on them and letting my parrot turn them into a chew toy.

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 Re: Old reeds - rising from the dead?
Author: Tom H 
Date:   2021-03-13 08:59

Once I have tossed a reed I have never used it again (well, maybe for practicing, but not performing). After reading these posts perhaps I should reconsider that.

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 Re: Old reeds - rising from the dead?
Author: SecondTry 
Date:   2021-03-13 21:18

I wonder what percentage of a first time played out reed's ability and life span is, on average, restored with such "reedjuvination," not to be confused with product bearing similar name https://reedjuvinate.com/.

Do any of the people who do this have anecdotes? It might help in the decision to see if this process is worth it when counterbalanced against time, frustration and reed purchase cost.

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 Re: Old reeds - rising from the dead?
Author: kdk 
Date:   2021-03-13 23:45

SecondTry wrote:

> I wonder what percentage of a first time played out reed's
> ability and life span is, on average, restored with such
> "reedjuvination,"
> Do any of the people who do this have anecdotes?

Only that I've tried peroxide as a restorative and didn't like the result. I have found old, "spent" reeds that I've put away sometimes come back to surprisingly good condition after a rest of a couple of weeks or so with a decent soak in water.

Karl

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 Re: Old reeds - rising from the dead?
Author: donald 
Date:   2021-03-14 01:09

They rise from the dead and then they die again. Usually after 10min of playing, depending on how high you set your standards. It is simple really.

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 Re: Old reeds - rising from the dead?
Author: OneWatt 
Date:   2021-03-14 17:38

donald wrote:

> They rise from the dead and then they die again. Usually after
> 10min of playing, depending on how high you set your standards.
> It is simple really.

I guess the cycle of life and death is simple on some level. But there is little about getting a reed to behave that seems simple to me at this stage. Hopefully I'll wise up before my time is up.

- - - - - - - - - -
Israel = Ancient Hebrew for "Wrestles with God"
Klarinet = Ancient Greek for "Struggles with Reeds"

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