 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jeeves
Date: 2008-10-29 01:18
What's the best way to store reeds in your guys' opinions?
Jeeves
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2008-10-29 01:29
Are you talking about reed cases?
Or reed vaults?
Or unopened boxes of reeds?
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Author: jeeves
Date: 2008-10-29 01:31
I'm talking about reed cases (nothing too expensive) to store reeds in use.
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2008-10-29 01:38
If you use the search function, you'll find plenty of threads on this issue and lots of good suggestions.
One popular reed case is made by Rico. It holds eight reeds and a so-called vitalizer pack, which maintains a certain level of humidity for several months. The case costs about $20, and each vitalizer replacement is about $4.95. To make the vitalizer last longer, you can store the reed case in an airtight freezer bag.
The Rico case works for me. I have two of them.
Others prefer Pro-Tec or Vandoren or Selmer cases. Those are among the least expensive, in general.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-10-29 02:38
I totaly agree with weberfan, I use them too, and they work for me. Just don't let it sit opened, keep it closed at all times with the reeds inside that you are not playing at the time. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
Listen to a little Mozart
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-10-29 02:47
I have a generic pro-tec case, and extra reeds I keep inside of a 10-pack Rico Royal box in their little plastic holders. Once I use one it goes in the pro-tec case, but unused I keep 10 extras. The Yamaha case I have (strange design, I've never seen another like it, maybe I'll post a pic later) has enough room for the Rico Royal box of 10, swab, cork grease, and the pro-tec case. Mind you, I keep a plethora of reeds, like some V-12s, Rico Reserve, and some generic Ricos. Reserves are my favorite.
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2008-10-29 02:54
To give credit where credit is due: It was Ed Palanker, in an earlier thread on reed cases, who gave me the idea for the freezer bag.
It works like a charm. The vitalizer bags, which Rico suggests replacing every two months, have a useful life of up to six months with the freezer bags.
If you live in the Northeast, as we both do, keeping the humidity constant in the face of seasonal weather change is a decided advantage. I've had no problems with mold using this set-up.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2008-10-29 03:25
I break my reeds in 4 at a time, which lends itself to this quite nicely... I use a couple 4-reed holders (the Vandoren ones with the desiccant cartridge are nice) for the 2 sets I've most recently broken in, and a 12-reed Protec for ones that are towards the end of their prime.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Rusty
Date: 2008-10-29 03:31
I can understand a reed case is helpfull because it can assist in keeping the reed flat and not buckling. The case also provides a method of keeping an order to your currently prefered reeds, but what is with the freezer bag? Presuably to keep reeds in a prefered constant humidity environmemt. But dry or humid air, does it matter? You wet them before playing.
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-10-29 04:04
People can get crazy about anything, even humidity for reeds. Some people even wet them with tap water, though I say the same thing as you, "you wet them while/before playing." Don't let it get to you.
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2008-10-29 04:56
Rusty wrote:
"...what is with the freezer bag? Presuably to keep reeds in a prefered constant humidity environmemt. But dry or humid air, does it matter? You wet them before playing.''
I think you've answered your own question. It appears that the constant environment, aided by the airtight baggie, keeps mold at bay and, in my experience, diminishes the likehihood of warping. I had trouble with the Vandoren reed case---the otherwise very handy four-reed case that Alex referred to. My reeds suffered with mold and warping.
Perhaps the vitalizer pack and the freezer bag seem like so much Voodoo.
Perhaps they are. But it works, through dry cold winters and often hot and humid summers. Given the fussiness of reeds generally, I'm inclined to stick with what works, in this case.
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Author: Rusty
Date: 2008-10-29 06:55
Are you taking about anused reeds webwefan or are these reeds in constant use? If they are being used, I don`t doubt you, but it just amazes me that reeds don`t wear out long before any mold grows on them. If mold is a problem in your area dip them after use in a little diluted mouth wash and wipe them (I keep a jar on my table) I use this not for any mold growth but to keep the reeds clean and smelling good.
Ditto the MPC sometimes.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-10-29 12:09
Keeping the humidity constant *is* important. It's not something to casually cast aside as you reed will work a lot better longer.
Back in college the big thing that Gigliotti liked a lot and had his students use was the ReedMate. Not nearly as good so the vitalizer.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2008-10-29 12:27
Rusty,
The reeds I'm describing are in continual rotation, for daily practice. The stuffy ones eventually go into a "reed vault," a plastic airtight box that also contains a vitalizer pack. Sometimes, after a few months, these balky old reeds will actually play the way I wanted them to. The rest eventually get thrown against the wall or used to caulk the bathtub.
I do rinse reeds in tap water and massage them before putting them away.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2008-10-29 13:12
I don't know how much this is, but I got it as an /excellent/ stocking filler last Christmas:
http://www.wisemancases.com/clarinet_reed.html
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2008-10-29 13:49
The Wiseman case, for clarinet reeds, is about $40 in the States.
Looks to be quite nice.
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Author: William
Date: 2008-10-29 14:35
I carry & store my "classical" reeds in two 12 reed Harrison reed cases which keeps safe, allows them to dry out with the tips flat between uses. For my "jazz" clarinet reeds, I use the Pro-Tech case, smaller than the wooden Harrisons but just as effective. For reeds that I am auditioning, I simply let them dry on a flat piece of glass from an old picture frame in the open room air. They seem to cure best that way, especially the new "flowpack" VDs which need to adapt to the local humiditiy levels before "coming to life". I still wish that Vandoren and other reed manufacturers would return to the "good ole days" and concentrate on producing a quality product rather than relying on all that ineffective and wasteful packaging glitz to sell their reeds.
BTW, VANDORAN--how 'bout returning to the old V12 tip profile as well??
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2008-10-29 17:37
Indeed... I guess I'm fortunate that I live in a relatively reed-friendly climate (Los Angeles) and don't have to worry much about mold and such. Slightly moist winters and dry summers do have their advantages.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Rusty
Date: 2008-10-29 21:16
This Vitalizer thingy, I know you can add moisture to a closed atmospher until it reaches its saturation point or you can include a drier like silica gel and remove all but I know of nothing that will (in a closed environment) give a constant specific humidity figure. Is the Vitalizer supposed to add or reduce water content?
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-10-29 21:39
vandoren plastic case that holds 8 reeds......the one with the hinged cover...not the one with the charcoal packets.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Ryan25
Date: 2008-10-29 21:58
The Rico case is the only way to go. Best results I have ever had.
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2008-10-29 22:25
I use Flow Pack Vandoren V12 reeds put into the black "Vito" four-reed plastic clip that holds the reed in place with a rubber "O" ring. The clip also has the all-important grooves on it's storing surface so that the back or trademark side of the reed dries in approximately equal time with the vamp of the reed.
I then place the four-reed clips in the Rico Ziplock bag provided with the reed Vitalizer Pack - 73% humidity - which stabilizes the reeds and keeps then from warping. (Whoever thought that that would even be remotely possible in especially dry weather?)
The past 2 years in Chicago's bloody-difficult climate have never been easier in terms of managing reed quality and consistency. I would give credit to Rico, Vandoren, and Selmer/Leblanc (Vito), for making my reeds a little less difficult to work with.
Hopefully, like myself, one has a humidity controlled studio or performance space in which to prepare and adjust them.
Gregory Smith
http://www.gregory-smith.com
Post Edited (2008-10-29 22:28)
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2008-10-30 02:04
Here's my setup that I am happy with...I use a vandoren reed case with a vitalizer pack in it, stored in a freezer bag (freezer bag has thick plastic...mostly used for durability). I keep my 'good' reeds in that. The reeds I am breaking in are kept in a plastic container with a vitalizer pack.
I have also heard and seen people store their reeds in a microscope slide case with the reed held on the slide by way of rubber band. They can range from space for a few reeds to nearly 50, or twice that if you are crafty...who would need 100 reeds? idk...maybe you could cyle them...just a thought, never tried it myself though.
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
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Author: ABerry
Date: 2008-10-30 17:30
Greetings,
Perhaps this should be a separate thread, but how do you store your reed stock, say 30 or more boxes?
Thanks,
Allan
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