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 When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: moolatte 
Date:   2009-02-19 01:13

What do you do with it? I usually throw mine away, but I just realized that's equivalent to wasting paper, is it not? Killing trees, except for some it's killing bambo.

Also, how good is a plastic reed? Because my lesson teacher showed one to me today.

(fixed a punctuation error)



Post Edited (2009-02-19 01:15)

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: NBeaty 
Date:   2009-02-19 02:16

I don't think they are really recycling material. If a reed doesn't work or has served its time, just throw it out. Recycle the reed cases, boxes, and wrappers and call it a day.

-Nathan

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Library Geek 
Date:   2009-02-19 02:19

I wonder if you could save the reeds and use them for kindling in a campfire or your fireplace. I've started to do this (save them), but then wound up throwing them out. I throw the plastic cover they came in into the recycling bin.

I've been experiment with synthetic reeds. I really like the fibracell better than the Legere. To me, the legere almost makes me sound to loud and "brassy." The fibracell, to me, sounds closer to the wood reed. Both though, have been consistent--they don't wear down as quickly. Its also nice not have to wet the reed or keep it wet when your clarinet's at rest (like during opening announcements and prayer time at our orchestra's rehearsals).

Ann

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Geirskogul 
Date:   2009-02-19 03:12

I actually like the Bari reeds, if I had to choose a synthetic one. But my choice is Rico Royal, I just like the sound it makes.

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2009-02-19 05:14

Reeds are biodegradable, like paper. I'd be more concerned about the plastic covers.

Trees are easily replanted, and arundo donax is an invasive species that grows extremely fast. Of far greater environmental concern would be tearing down the places where the trees grow to build housing developments, or introducing donax into a non-native ecosystem.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: skygardener 
Date:   2009-02-19 06:31

You could easily throw them in your garden if you have one. Maybe chop them up and throw them in with the wood chips.

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Bassie 
Date:   2009-02-19 09:26

Loads of re-use round the home, mainly as glue spreaders and shim. Nothing like them for silencing a squeaky stair...

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2009-02-19 13:02

Few things come close to the satisfaction of introducing Mr. Dead Reed nose-first to Mr. Wall. After that, he can live in Mr. Recycle Bin.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Tobin 
Date:   2009-02-19 13:29

Just the other day Ken, my wife was listening to me play and asked tentatively: "Is that a just a bad reed?"

I'm a little TOO forgiving sometimes, and I realized I was trying to make something work that was never going to. [...so I divorced her and kept the reed...just kidding!]

So I slipped it off and said to her "I don't know, let's find out..." walked over to the wall and "wall-tested" it, "I guess so!" She fell off the couch laughing at me. She's a cellist, and had never heard of the "wall-test".

"Just wait" I said...I got a piece of scotch tape and taped it to the inside cover of my reed humidor "as an example" to the rest of them.

She couldn't talk for about five minutes!

James

Gnothi Seauton

Post Edited (2009-02-19 13:44)

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: William 
Date:   2009-02-19 14:07

I like the Legere reed (specifically, the Trad #3's) best, but like cane, you have to find the right one by trying many of the same strength. Even Guy's plastic cannot be molded uniformly every time.

Old reeds--they are biodegradeable, just dispose of them as you would a tree twig.

Tobin--hilarious!!! LOL

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Brenda 2017
Date:   2009-02-19 16:01

WHY THROW THEM AWAY? After a year or two they could be fit enough to add to the rotation again! Others here on the Board have talked about trimming them a whittle and a shave and they play as good as new again.

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Tobin 
Date:   2009-02-19 16:20

I do not believe that once I have played the flexibility out of the reed that it will return with rest. I also believe there is a point of diminishing returns in the clipping/trimming category as well.

James

Gnothi Seauton

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2009-02-19 16:58

I had a reed pass the wall test once. My sincerest apologies were issued to the reed in question.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2009-02-19 22:32

Brenda -

My experience is exactly the opposite. I kept all my dead Vandorens, dating back to 1958, on the off chance that they might revive. About a year ago, I got them out, and despite soaking and cleaning, none of them worked, even a little bit.

I've learned Kalmen Opperman's method of making reeds from blanks and can make good ones. However, I tried taking up to an inch off the tip end of old reeds and recutting the vamp. It's been a total failure. At least for me, the entire reed wears out.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Curinfinwe 
Date:   2009-02-20 00:41

I'm extremely ignorant, but what's the wall test?



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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: weberfan 
Date:   2009-02-20 00:53




The Wall Test: throwing a nonperforming reed against the wall. (You can imagine the frustration.)

Basically, throwing it out.

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Tobin 
Date:   2009-02-20 01:07

I don't throw it. I take it and jam the tip into a wall...if the reed survives, then I was wrong about the reed.

James

Gnothi Seauton

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: weberfan 
Date:   2009-02-20 01:25




I'm barred from jamming, unless i want to spackle, sand and repaint periodically.

I do occasionally use the side of an old bookcase.

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2009-02-20 01:44

wenberfan -

If you don't want to jam, split the reed longitudinally into 4 pieces and send it on a blind date with Lady Pencil Sharpener and her vagina dentata.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: When your reeds just doesn't play like you want it to anymore...
Author: weberfan 
Date:   2009-02-20 01:55

Thanks, Ken.
I'll try that.
But now I'm wondering, as you have done on another post, what Vandoren's cane is named.
It might be Elmer, as you offer, but is that the French rendering?



Post Edited (2009-02-20 02:00)

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