 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marie
Date: 2002-08-23 03:37
This may sound like a simple question, but I've been wondering about it all summer. When I was in elementary and middle school, I could use reeds for weeks at a time sometimes. Even in high school I could use them for a quite while. I'm entering my first year as a music major in college next week, and my reeds seem to wear out very quickly. I use Vanduran V12 #3. I can usually use a reed 3 or 4 times and then I notice that the quality of my tone is thinning and the reed is too weak to use. Is this a normal "lifespan" for a reed? I tried #3 1/2 and they seemed too hard.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-08-23 03:53
One can extend the life of these reeds by gently scraping the normal accumulation of acquired material from the reed using a single edge razor blade from time to time. If your mouthpiece is warped a little, it seems to me that reeds could have a little shorter satisfactory life. I also like the V12 #3's. If your humidity is 82% normally like mine, you might consider keeping reeds in a dessicant box. Good luck!!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-08-23 03:58
Marie...With careful reed prep and break in procedures you should be able to maximize the useful life of the reed. There has been much written on this board and within this web site on techniques which have proven successful.
Also, many of the standard clarinet texts contain much useful information (Stein, Pino, Bonade, etc...)
I will not comment on my recent feeling towards Vandoren reeds, as I have already used up my weekly allotment of disparaging Vandoren comments.
I'll let others have the pleasure of commenting further...GBK (contact me off-line if you want the full text of my Vandoren comments)
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Author: Lindsey
Date: 2002-08-23 04:01
I am also entering my first year as a music major and i share your problem. However I am using size 4 reeds and there is not much room to move up. I have recently found 2 things that seem to help this though. First, try alternating a lot of different reeds. I have a selmer reed case and i alternate the 12 reeds, that seems to lengthen their life span. I also started "sealing" my reeds, which is a prosess of wetting, drying, and sanding your reeds to make them last longer and they also lay more true to their potential before being broken in. If you want to read about sealing reeds in more detail you should get a book called "the working clarinetist" by Hadcock. It is a very usefull book in many other areas as well and i strongly recommend it. i know you can buy it at amazon.com but if they are out of print or something you can also order them from muncy winds. Good luck and i hope this helps!!!
Lindsey
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-08-23 04:39
Lindsey wrote:
>
> I am also entering my first year as a music major and
> i share your problem. However I am using size 4 reeds and there
> is not much room to move up.
There should be no reason to "move up" other than by changing your mouthpiece to one that requires a stiffer reed. And those mouthpieces would be few and far between.
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Author: Mark S.
Date: 2002-08-23 12:53
V12s are odd ducks. I have generally found that they play great right out of the box, and then suck for a couple weeks before they come alive. Don't give up on them after 3 or 4 plays. Follow all the good advice on this board about breaking them in, and give them time, because they do in most instances come back.
Now, I'll say it because GBK didn't -- Do yourself a huge favor and try the Gonzales reeds. Roughly the same price, and superior in every way. Even the Grand Concert Select (thick blanks) are coming in better than the V12s these days.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-08-23 15:03
I've noticed two different participants lately who refer to reed "size". Although vd's german reeds are a different size than the regular ones I have been under the impression that the numbers reference stiffness or strength. Am I missing something?
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Author: William
Date: 2002-08-23 20:05
I have found that rubbing the vamps of my reeds before and after playing remarkably extends their lifetimes and concert endurance. This conditioning process will be benefitial no matter what brand of reed you use--and is highly recommended.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-08-24 00:36
Bob wrote:
>
> Am I missing something?
No, but it seems to be common usage and I think we all (or most of us) aren't having any problem understanding the meaning. So, though "strength" may be more precise and is correct, "size" works, even if it is technically the wrong term to use.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-08-25 05:31
Marie: While it may sound stupid, keep those reeds that seem "worn out" for several months or so and try them again. I have had very good results not throwing reeds away, but rather letting them just sit there long enough until they mysteriously rejuvenate. Please do not ask me for a reason attached to this phenomenon, for I have No Idea why it happens. It's just my observation and that of many others.
Regards,
John
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Author: Doug McGee
Date: 2002-08-26 02:10
Last week I ordered a book from WW&BW written by Larry Guy, a prominent N.Y. city freelance and a professor of clarinet at Julliard. Selection,Adjustment, and Care of Single Reeds. Cost is $15. and seems to be worth it. Guy uses a ten day break in period and states that his reeds last much longer using his method. I have followed his lessons for four days using an old purple box of standard Vandorens and my reeds seem to be playing great so far. I don't agree with everything he offers, but so far my reeds sound good. Worth a try.
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