 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Vero0921
Date: 2007-01-14 17:06
Hi,
I heard that some ppl break in their reeds for 3 to 6 months and some ppl just do it for 1 week. So how long do we actually need to spend to break in reeds???
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2007-01-14 22:58
I play test reeds for about one minute, select the reeds that have potential and place them in my Harrison reed case (on glass). The "too soft" reeds get tossed--the "too hard" ones go under my Reed Wizard and usually become candidates. Then, I let the selected reeds rest for a day or two before retesting them, again for about two minutes each. Important!!! Every time I play test any reed, I use saliva (one minute, no more) to moisten it (never, ever water!!) and rub the vamp before playing to seal the pores against overabsorbtion. Then they "rest" for a few more days. After that, I just start using them and adjusting them as I need them. This whole process takes about 5 to 10 days and seems to work. I always have about six reed candidates in my Harrison case along with six "veterens" for concertizing and practice. I try never to practice with reeds that are "past their prime".
And, I carry a second Harrison case to preserve those "talented" reeds that are past their prime but just too good to be thrown away. It's nice to always have something to fall back on.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2007-01-21 17:49
I use saliva only. That means, I soak my reeds in my mouth and never use a glass of water. My reeds dry out slower and last longer since I stopped using H2O. Scientifically, I don't know why--just works for me.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mk
Date: 2007-01-21 21:20
you know there is a product known as artificial saliva on the market used for individuals with dry mouth syndrome, etc....i dare one of you to give it a shot and let us know what it does to reeds....soaking reeds with your saliva is almost as bad tasting as licking postage stamps....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-01-22 14:49
That's really odd. I had EXACTLY the opposite happen to me. Once I switched to soaking several minutes first (every time) in water (with deference to my double reed compatriots) my reeds last forever (MONTHS!!) and break in more consistantly.
Reed care is not a science, as far as I have seen. It's more akin to black magic. If you find a spell that works for you....USE IT !!!
...............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
