 The Oboe BBoard
|
Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-08-24 18:06
I am as guilty as anyone of playing on a favourite reed in favour of not-so-pretty ones (though as my reed making skills improve with my playing, I currently have a about 5 favourites ). I have noticed that my particular favourites, after time (or if I use them quite a few days in a row of days on end at camp) develop a mildew taste after soaking, which I guess isn't surprising (also it's winter down here).
I have a large case with vents on the side. I leave it open when I play and afterwards if I am home. If I have rehearsals I usually have a long drive home and then once home I am guilty of leaving the case in my front pocket and assuming everything dries out (I'm scared I'm going to take off with my oboe case and no reeds one day if I take the reeds out). Once the reeds develop the taste, I leave them alone because I am terrified of breathing in spores or something else nasty, even though I can't see any mould at all. But the reeds still usually have plenty of life in them.
Is there anything I can soak them or clean them with in that might eliminate the mildew taste (and any mould if present) but not kill the reed? Mouthwash? Alcohol? I've probably got 5 reeds like this at the moment that are beautiful but I won't play them anymore.
Thanks,
Rachel
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oboi
Date: 2014-08-24 20:19
I've seen mildew form on the inside of my really old reeds once I take them apart. I've never really had weird "tasting" reeds. Maybe one or two weird-smelling if you purposely sniff it. I'm guilty of often leaving reeds just on the table or in the open reed case while at home. I think once spores start growing on something it's pretty difficult to get rid of it, if at all. On occasion I'll dip all of my reeds in a diluted solution of mouth wash. I hardly know if it does anyting, but gives me a bit of piece of mind.
I've actually a few playable reeds that are YEARS old. The only time I had major mildew problem were on my baroque reeds, because I only had a few I swapped between and they were played in Toronto (hot, humid) and for a long time after returning home. Didn't taste funky, just freaked me out when I took them apart.
I know someone who puts their reeds in an ultrasonic wash after every play. I can't be bothered with that, although this person makes reeds only about twice a year! (they're bassoon reeds, so they do last much longer, though)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2014-08-24 23:43
Soak in Hydrogen Peroxide until the little foaming sounds stop, then rinse thoroughly with water.
I place them tip down in the solution in a shot glass rather than dipping them and setting them down.
You will get little volcanoes flowing up out the bottom of the staples when the greatest cleaning is taking place.
I know several very good oboe players who do this. I've done it for years. A bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide from your super market only cost a couple $.
Some good players advise using it after every use. I just do a cleanup now and then, and for sure if anything funky shows up as a taste to the reed.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-08-25 07:50
I have heard about the peroxide thing, but I have also heard that some players do this as a last ditch attempt to revive a dying reed...can it be done and the reed still have plenty of life in it (if it is still a good reed)?
It's funny, there are no signs of visible mildew or mould on these reeds, they aren't even discoloured. And I always soak in fresh water. Just the taste. I would be completely freaked out if I saw the mould too!
(Having said that, the state I have caught students' reeds in and they are still alive means I shouldn't be too worried!)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2014-08-25 08:20
Try it on 2 - 3. reeds ... and report back.
Reviving an old gunked-up reed is one thing, and sanitizing is another.
Do a few mid-older reeds and report back.
I think you will be impressed.
Do watch and listen to the cleansing action and volcano of gunk rejected from the reed.
Take videos and post... if you have the camera for doing that. It'd be good mater's thesis fodder, at least.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2014-08-25 10:50
Well, I use a small trimmed bird feather to scrub the interior of my good reeds, holding them in water before I crow or play them. One can see the debris that comes off into the water glass. It is not convenient to do this right after a rehearsal, however, for me.
In addition, I don't expose my reeds to the air in the room any more than absolutely necessary to take one out of the reed case or put it back in the reed case. The reed case is fairly sealed and this avoids reeds absorbing moisture from the air if the humidity is high or drying out too much if it is very low. One can dry reeds when the humidity is high with exposure of them to an incandescent lamp for a few minutes.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jhoyla
Date: 2014-08-25 12:06
I find the long-stemmed paro no. 1016 intra-dental brushes to be superb for cleaning the inside of reeds. I prefer the red-colored x-fine 3mm brushes, though I have used the green ones successfully as well.
They are likely to be more hygienic than feathers, at any rate!
Drop them stem-first through the staple, prod them a little with a bare staple and then pull them carefully out through the well-soaked reed tip. You can also use this method to clean between reed blade edges, but go carefully so as not to damage them.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: huboboe
Date: 2014-08-26 04:27
The peroxide will kill off the mildew, but the gunk that collects inside old reeds is the same dental plaque you brush off your teeth every morning. The best thing I've found to deal with that is a pipe cleaner. After the reed is soaked run a clean pipe cleaner through the tube and out the tip of the reed. Pull from side to side, but don't spread the blade sides. DON'T go backwards. That and occasional peroxide should solve your problem.
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jhoyla
Date: 2014-08-26 10:12
I found that pipe cleaners leave fluffy residue and often this catches between the blades, compounding the problems. Are there such things as lint-free pipe-cleaners? The local pipe and cigar speciality house didn't seem to have any.
J.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cjwright
Date: 2014-08-26 12:25
I rinse my reeds out after playing them, sucking water in as the cork side is in my mouth and spewing water back out, then shake them off and put them back in my case. Then I let them dry, or if it's really humid I will put them in a room with good circulation at my home overnight with the case open (my bedroom as we run the AC all night usually).
I personally don't like hydroxide as I feel it cripples the vibrations of my reeds. I've tried sonic cleaners, pipe cleaners, and staple cleaners for the inside/toothbrush for the outside, and they all seem to do damage to the reed in some way or another, so I've given up on using them.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2014-08-26 21:45
Can confirm about the hydrogen peroxide and pipe cleaner.
Before you use the pipe cleaner make sure it is wet, reeds really well soaked, and swipe it between your fingers a few times under running water to get rid of most of the fuzzies.
I produce a lot of saliva lately - I had really minor oral surgery over the summer and it seems to have become a problem. So my reeds get lots of plaque.
Also now that my lip is in shape I noticed that my tone has become overall FLAT. Even on reeds that crow a C, used to play perfectly in tune before the little operation. So frustrating! I was used to playing with this huge bump on my lower lip and that really messed with my muscle memory. Aargh.
Ok vent over.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-08-29 16:46
Next time I head to the grocery store, I will pick up some peroxide and experiment with my older, less important reeds. Ditto for the pipe cleaners. I have one here that fits my staples but not the blades of the reed, so I shall take a very dangerous expedition to the craft store.
Thanks everyone! I will report as to whether I manage to create reed volcanoes. :P
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oboesage
Date: 2014-09-02 00:29
Well have you tried taking the reed after soaked in fresh water and gently separating the blades then drag a dollar bill between the reed to remove any possible grunge or gunk if you will? or simply make a new batch of reeds, I understand its effort.
George
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-09-02 15:25
I know dollar bills fix a lot of problems, but we don't have paper bills in Australia. Shame, I know they are good for sticky keys too.
I always have enough reeds, but it is just frustrating when ones that still have playing life in them start tasting as though I shouldn't be sticking them in my mouth. I don't have a problem keeping my supply up with demand, luckily.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oboesage
Date: 2014-09-03 00:32
Sticky notes or any kind of rough paper would work in place of dollar bills
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
