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Re: Wetting reeds butt down

Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2018-12-30 00:56

My take - after making reeds for 50 years.
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* Saliva is thicker than water and tends to seal the pores.
* Use saliva until the tip curls. Then only use water.
* A curled tip after a short soak means the water isn't getting into the pores easily.
* Sealed pores need a longer soak.
* A wet tip and dry butt affects the flexibility of the cane since the tip swells and the butt doesn't.
* Some cane warps and some cane doesn't, due to how well it was aged. Mark the warping cane and treat it differently.
* An older, broken in reed that warps, may flatten after a few hour soak. It takes more time for the water to get through the sealed cane.
* Always wet the whole reed. Better to find it warped now and not after playing it for a while. A warping reed begins to feel more stuffy.
* Flattening a swollen table changes the reed dimension relationships by taking out some of the 'spine'. Use only as a last resort, or you will need to refinish the reed shape into its original shape.
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My take. Everyone is different. Experiment and see what works for you.

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Wetting reeds butt down new

kdk

2018-12-25 23:27