 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2015-06-27 02:19
I have read all the ways players store, prepare, clean reeds and how some reeds last a few days and other months or even years. I realize players conditions and body chemistry and habits may be different but I would be interested in what exactly those who claim to keep and play reeds for long terms such as several months or longer, do to break-in, prepare and store their reeds. I have been playing about a year and maybe half hour a day at home. Had 16 lessons one per week. At first I had a reed that came with rental, and bought 3 pack of cheapest Rico 2 strength. Of these original reeds the first got lost, two were badly chipped and I am sanding them and they play now but need more work. The 4th reed is about 6 months used, had a chip, but still plays well enough for my needs. I added some more reeds to experience different strengths- 2.5, 3 Rico and a Laurie 5 pack of 2.5 which I havent opened. While starting I just dipped the reed before and after play and stored it after drying a short while. Then tried various things from soaking 24/7 in water and in 25% Listerine, and in jar with glass beads and water where they were humid but not wet. I recently cleaned all these in peroxide, rinsed with water and am storing them in holders after drying on glass flat side up.
All the reeds play, and I didnt notice a whole lot of difference in them with all these different methods. Now I soak butt end in water a few minutes, then dip and wipe tip between fingers before play Nd rinse and dry aferwards and store in case.
That is what I have done. And now Ii wonder what all these different methods accomplish and if there really IS only one or several BEST ways. Seems like water and drying would be best, and maybe disinfecting a little once in awhile. But how do others who keep reeds a long time take care of theirs in storage, before and ater play?
And I am one that has a very hard time throwing ANYTHING away. Good or bad.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2015-06-27 02:42
Don't get too hung up with fancy procedures at this stage, better to concentrate on practising the clarinet.
Yes breaking reesd in by short and gentle playing in early days is a good idea.
No don't soak reed for 24/7 and never soak the full reed or the butt end, just moisten the vamp (playing end for a minute or so before playing.
When finished playing remove reed and sqeeze excess moisture from reed by pulling vamp gently between first finger and thumb then put it back in a good reed holder. if you are practising at home then no harm in allowing reed to dry flat side up for 15-30 minutes before putting back in holder.
Rotate your use of reeds by trying to use a different reed each time you play (try and keep at least say 3-4 reeds in this rotation). Reeds do last longer if you do this.
I have never soaked a reed in Listerine in 60 years of playing with no ill effect on me or the reeds.
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2015-06-27 06:39
Good. Will try this. Feel more comfortble with a fixed recommended procedure than simply trying everything everyone else says they do. Just get more confused. Thanks.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2015-06-27 06:46
A reed lasts as long as it lasts. For me, in rotation with half a dozen others, that's a month or so. Nothing will revive a dead reed or make it last longer, and I've tried everything.
The best and most satisfying way to deal with the problem is to grasp Mr. Reed between your thumb and forefinger and introduce him exuberantly to Mr. Wall.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2015-06-28 03:50
I have a hard time telling when a Reed should be discarded also. Good advice from my teacher was to occassionally break in a few new reeds and compare how they play with how the old ones play. Eventually, the old reeds get less crisp. Maybe dull sounding, with less precise articulation. If you play an old one, switch to a newer one, and say "gee, that's much better", its time to switch! You could use the old ones for practice if you must.
Jim C.
CT, USA
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