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Re: Compensating for Bowed Reeds

Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-01-02 19:54

It's very common for larger clarinet reeds (bass and lower) to warp on the bottom (nominally flat) side, generally into a convex shape such that the sides of the reed lift away from the mouthpiece rail. I can tell immediately when this has happened because the reed will be very tiring to play (as my embouchure is automatically compensating for the warpage by tightening up around the reed and mouthpiece). In severe cases there is an audible leak or hissing.

Since I expect this to happen, I buy reeds 1/2 to 1 strength harder than the desired final stiffness, and incremently scrape the bottoms flat as I'm breaking in the reeds over a period of a week or so.

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