 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mmatisoff
Date: 2019-07-31 20:45
I search the bboard for info on quick drying reeds, but I didn't see anything that addresses this issue.
Problem:
All of my cane reeds have started drying out if I stop playing long enough to write some notes down. I've never had this happen before. I live in Kentucky where the outside temp is 87 F and the humidity is usually is around 80% RH. My synthetics work very well. I'm using Pilgerstorfer Dolce Reeds (excellent reeds until now).
I was just using saliva to moisten my reeds and that was sufficient. I've started soaking them for ~10 to 15 min. Neither works.
Question: We run the AC day and night. Can refrigerated A/C cause the reeds to dry out quickly? Seems like the humidity out to keep the reeds moist.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2019-07-31 21:19
mmatisoff wrote:
> I live in Kentucky where the outside temp is 87
> F and the humidity is usually is around 80% RH.
> Question: We run the AC day and night. Can refrigerated A/C
> cause the reeds to dry out quickly?
AC dries the air as well as cooling it. Have you actually checked the humidity in your air-conditioned home?
In a very dry environment, I generally keep the mouthpiece cap on the mouthpiece if I'm not going to be playing for any length of time - even for a longish multiple-measure rest at a concert or rehearsal. It has always seemed to me in any case that the cane dries first at the surface and the tip, so re-wetting becomes a matter of dipping the reed (or, as Tony suggested in 2001, the whole mouthpiece) in water for a short time - enough to re-wet the surface and the thinnest area of the tip.
For doubling in a pit or even an occasional concert situation, I avoid the problem by using synthetic reeds. The instrument changes are too fast sometimes to allow even minimal re-wetting before playing the new instrument.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-07-31 21:35
The AC is not just temperature. The idea is to remove humidity from the air (humidity in the air prevents our bodies from experiencing the cooling effect of perspiration).
Of course I have always found that a longer break-in period sort of trains cane to retain its suppleness longer.
There was a very bad Winter in Boston though where I literally saw the cane dry on my mouthpiece in about 10 seconds. Everything sounded horrible. I wish I had Legeres back then. The air drying function mechanism was the radiators running ALL the time.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: Kaos
Date: 2019-08-01 00:07
AC absolutely dries the reeds very fast. Everyday when I study in summer I have to keep a glass of water to moisten the reed whenever I have to make a small rest (take notes, change music sheets/books etc.) or to take some sips during practice because playing with AC on makes my mouth dry as well.
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2019-08-01 09:03
I live in San Diego and play Pilgergerstorfer Dolce, but have played others as well and most have rough vamps which mean that the surface of the reed is quite porous. I nearly always seal and smooth the vamp by rubbing it with my thumb and polishing it with reed rush. More recently I have been scraping the backs with a Reed Geek, which serves to smooth/seal the back. After sealing, breaking in and adjusting, most reeds will play for hours without drying out. Nonetheless, I will wet them (in my mouth) during long rests or breaks (mostly out of habit)
I have also had great success keeping reeds in a Rico/Daddario reed case which helps them to keep a minimal level of humidity without warping or molding.
Bob Barnhart
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-08-01 09:53
A few ideas, but first the readers above are correct about the AC.
You can try a cigar humidifier. But they are a pain to carry around. If you have a drill and a drill bit you can take one of those medicine pill bottles, drill a mess of holes in it and then put a wet sponge in it, then rewet it every few days and keep if close to where the reeds are in the case. Or order one of those things string players use called Damp-its I think. Maybe fellow readers know where to order them. It's sort of the same thing as a sponge, just went them every few days.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2019-08-06 16:12
The Silverstein Omnicap may be worth a try: because it sits on the reed it tends to preserve the moisture more effectively than a regular mouthpiece cap.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2019-08-06 16:48
I always kept my reeds in an air tight freezer bag and NEVER LET THEM SIT OUT IN THE AIR. Once I choose the reed to use they all went back in. I always put my cap on when not playing, even for a few minutes. One colleague kept a small cup of water near his stand in rehearsals and concerts and using his finger to pat a little water on the reed if he felt it was getting dry. If it's very dry in our house get a humidifier but make sure you adjust it in your studio so you don't get mold. You can also keep your reeds in some kind of box with a dampit or small sponge in it but make sure it's not completely air tight so the reeds don't get mildly. Just keep the dampit damp not soaked. Humidity control is the name of the game.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2019-08-06 17:43
The AC's been addressed. I live in NM, where most of the year it's pretty dry, and have the same problem: if you've got long rests, the reed can dry out. I do what Tony suggests, and have a clip-on plastic shot glass on the stand with water in it. You periodically, and especially before a solo, dip your finger into the water and wet the reed. Pilgerstorfers (which I use) aren't going to behave differently from other cane reeds in drying out. Humidification methods are fine, but don't do anything when you're sitting in a rehearsal or concert. I second the comment on the Omnicap. With bass, which can sit there for 20 minutes before you have to desperately grab it to play something exposed, I have to just use a Legere.
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Author: oian
Date: 2019-08-07 00:14
I don't know if this will help, but I picked the idea up from one of Ridenours videos. Take a plastic mouthpiece cover, place it on the mouthpiece with a reed and ligature attached, Add strips of tape over the slot. When you take it off the mouthpiece the tape will wrinkle. When playing just put it in place during breaks and it will help to keep the reed from drying out and easily slips on and off.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2019-08-08 09:41
When I have really dry conditions, I'll go to the Legere European Signatures.
Otherwise, it's Pilgerstorfer ... and always keep you reeds in a humidity controlled reed case ... about 72% RH.
Tom
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Author: kdk
Date: 2019-08-08 17:42
TomS wrote:
> ... and always keep you reeds in
> a humidity controlled reed case ... about 72% RH.
>
Or just wet them longer at the beginning of a session. Keeping them in a humidity-controlled case doesn't, IMO, help much for the reed that's drying out on your mouthpiece as you count a long rest or spend time playing on another instrument.
Karl
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Author: TomS
Date: 2019-08-08 23:14
Yeah, you can't let them dry out completely before, during or after playing. I remove mine occasionally, wipe the tuna salad off I had for lunch, and re-wet. But I store them in a reed case or a plastic sandwich box with a 72% Reed Vitalizer pack ...
I remember some old cardboard music folders, back in Jr. High that had some playing tips by Frederick Fennel printed on the inside ... one often repeated read: "keep your reeds wet!"
Tom
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