 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: pcook
Date: 2007-03-28 23:44
Hello,
I am a father of a clarinet player - he is 10 - has been playing for about 3 1/2 years - practices 6 days a week.
I wanted to know what storage method you prefer for reeds - we buy Vandorens and swap them out when they get old but in the mean time do people like to use cases? We tried one and it didn't seem to work well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-03-29 15:44
I use a very old skool method - Lavoz reed guard with a zip lock plastic bag. In the winter, I put a dampened piece of sponge in the baggie with the reed guard to prevent warpage. Little need to do this in the spring and summer as the humidity is so high.
Most music stores carry them. Muncy winds has them starting at $1.95.
http://www.muncywinds.com/product.php?productid=420&cat=0&page=1
For a young kid, this type of reed guard is great - cheap and easily replaceable. I don't think I'd waste $66 + on a reed case for a 10 year old...perhaps when they get to H.S. and are more responsible and will likely stick with the instrument.
Post Edited (2007-03-29 15:47)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-03-29 15:57
Hello pcook,
Does your student play one reed until it is finished, or do they change reeds every day (cycling through a group of five-ten)?
If they are playing one or two until they are dead, there is no need for an expensive reed case. If they cycle through many reeds which is advantageous for many reasons, then it may be a good idea.
I have have a plastic box (double shoe box size) which I have turned into a humidor that keeps my reeds at 68% humidity all the time. It was very cheap to equip and the life and performance of my reeds has been clearly improved.
To pre-empt questions and assertions of mold development at such a high humidity level: propolyene glycol.
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pcook
Date: 2007-03-29 17:04
Hi there,
Yes we do cycle through them - changing them every day. I am curious about the plastic box - any design specs for that?
We will be moving close to the ocean soon (Cape Cod) so we are looking into humidity control for our piano (he plays and practices that along with the clarinet - he is very passionate about practicing) and I wanted to make sure that we were doing the right thing for the clarinet.
He plays a Vito 7214P Plateau Key Bb Clarinet - he started when he was 6 1/2 because he wanted to and this was easiest for him to play. He is also high functioning autistic (not a savant) so playing music (with a weekly private tutor and in school band) has been something he knows he can do, loves playing and thus his passion for music.
While I am at it and I know its been addressed in other posts which I have read on this board - is there any need to look into a different mouthpiece? He plays a Vandoren V12 size 3 reed now. Neither my wife nor I have been woodwind players so I am not sure if it is necessary.
Thanks - this is a very helpful BB.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-03-29 17:15
As far as mouthpieces go, there are many many options. For beginners (and even though your son has played for some time this may still be appropriate) I often recommend the Fobes Debut mouthpiece ($28).
Now humidity control for the piano I am absolutely no help for!
I'll email you the specs on the humidor.
I personally use the Selmer reed cases. You can buy similar products from Muncy, protec, Wisemann, and several others.
I am sure others will have good rec's for mouthpieces and reed cases.
Good luck,
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-03-29 18:17
A Roger Garrett reedcase is about $25-$30 and holds the same amount as the selmer. It's also VERY attractive and nice looking. Works well, and is a great price for a case.
Fobes Debut is a good mouthpiece for a beginner. It'll be very easy to play and is cheap to replace should it get chipped or damaged.
If you (or his clarinet teacher) feel he's ready for a mouthpiece above the beginning student level, I'd say give a vandoren B40 a shot. Sounds great (to me) with a size 3 V12 reed, of the three I tried, they all sounded and played well, and still relatively cheap.
And then in a few years, you can either stick with it or try out some professional hand-faced mouthpieces for the great makers (Fobes is included . . . which is why his student model has it's place. It's a hand-faced student model. not given the detailed workover as his professional models, but touched up to work well nonetheless)
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2007-03-29 18:20)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2007-03-29 18:30
(Disclaimer - I sell humidity control products and measurement guages)
What you use to create the humitiy - e.g. propylene glycol is not as important as the humidty level especially here in the Southern U.S.. Mold spores, on used reeds and for that matter they are found on new reeds too, will grow very well in 68% RH. Humidity at or below 50% RH is needed to inhibit mold growth at temperatures above 20C. There are tables of saturated salt solutions with chemicals that will give you slightly less than 50% RH. For me in Georgia, USA the Summer is tropical weather and to keep valuable reeds I must take precautions others might not need. A famous performer pulled out his reed case at ClarinetFest in New Orleans a few years back to gasp at his black and green reeds after a couple of days in the heat and humidity of New Orleans in the Summer time.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: rsholmes
Date: 2007-03-29 18:32
Yikes, more things to worry about I never worried about before. Here we have people trying to keep their reeds from getting too dry, while my Vandoren reed case has a dessicant in it to keep them from staying too moist! So I did some googling and found this
http://idrs.colorado.edu/publications/journal/JNL3/storage.html
and this
http://idrs.colorado.edu/Publications/DR/DR13.1/DR13.1.Bartlett.ReedLong.html
describing two approaches to making a humidistat reed case to keep the humidity around 75%.
But then again, I also found this from GBK:
http://test.woodwind.org/oboe/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=222830&t=222830
"Forget about any humidity controlled reed case, zip lock bag, humidor or any other contraption. After 10 minutes of being exposed to current humidity conditions, your reeds will still need attention. For greater control over the task at hand, it is better to let the reeds be exposed and stabilize to the current conditions and adjust them once, as needed. A reed coming out of a (for example) zip lock bag is only going to play well for a few minutes, before adapting (for the negative) to the prevailing humidity levels."
So it seems it's once again a matter of picking an opinion and then finding an expert that agrees with you...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pcook
Date: 2007-03-29 18:35
Thanks very much for the email and advice - I think we will try the B40 and get a good case.
He is definitely beyond a beginning player - we will be searching out for teacher at either the Cape Cod Conservatory and look for connections with the New England Conservatory.
I will visit the BB often.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-03-29 18:40
I like the baggies method myself. Just don't hermetically seal the plastic bag because you will very quickly get a black and green reed.
I, would add though that as far as playability, things "work" much better from 60% on up. Since venting my "baggie" or humidor, I have playable reeds without the rainbow colors. The only times I find myself hitting my head against the wall is in the winter when the heaters are on and the relative humidity in the room can be 20% or less. Under those conditions a reed will sound good for about 1 minute and then you think you have a bum batch. Don't forget the humidifier!!!!
.............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-03-29 18:50
Just make sure you either go to place where you can try mouthpieces or order from a trial site. There are HUNDREDS of mouthpieces out there. The B40 is ONE possible choice. I like it, and so have others, but maybe your son won't, so if you can get a trial with an option to return it (probably less stocking/shipping fees), it'd save you money if he tries it and it doesn't agree with him.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Cricket
Date: 2007-03-29 21:53
I am a high school calrinet player, and I highly recommend a selmer reed case. You can purchase one that either holds 5 or 10 reeds, and they are great. They have a flat glass base to place the reed on, and this prevents all reeds from warping. If you go to wwbw.com, you can find one for less than the retail price, and I believe you'll be really pleased. As far as a mouthpiece is concerned, the PYNE SINFONIA is GREAT!!!!! Its sort of like a semi-professional mouthpiece. It gives you a very clear, stable sound, and a great tone quality as well. It is described as a mouthpiece for an advancing student or a college player. What makes this so great is the fact that it is made by James Pyne(pyne-clarion.com) , who is famous for his professional model mouth pieces. So, when your son is ready for a professional mouthpiece, the Sinfonia will be a reliable back-up, because if something ever happens to a professional mouthpiece and you have to go back to the manufactuer's mouthpiece, its almost impossible to play. And, as someone posted earlier, trying a few mouthpieces, whether it is the same type or different types, is advisable to make sure you get what feels and sound best.
Post Edited (2007-03-29 21:57)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bassie
Date: 2007-04-02 12:07
I kinda like those little plastic covers that come with every Vandoren. But I got a really nice wooden box with a glass plate in it for Xmas, and that seems to work better. I play a couple of brands that really like to warp, and this sorts them out (to a degree).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-04-02 19:54
Hello everyone,
I was out of town or I might have responded earlier.
Here in VA humidity can be quite significant, although not as bad as the gulf states can be. Propylene glycol solution prohibits the formation of mold and bacteria in any case.
Now I haven't tested this assertion down in the gulf states! But I'll see how it holds out this summer...
Of course the reed changes once out of the humidor, but I believe the reeds last longer and play more effectively if maintained in this way.
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
