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Re: AFFORDABLE reed cases

Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2010-12-30 14:41

Here, pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marjan_tropper/sets/72157625706623442/show/

They are pretty well indestructible and the reeds do not move. They are easy to make and cheap! The metal box is cleaned with ordinary rubbing alcohol and the cardboard is painted with automotive paint in a spray can: also easy to clean with alcohol!

I put an extra band of cardboard near the bottom of the staple as a pivot to pick up the reed.

I read a lot of stuff about reeds that, please forgive my candor, does not live up to any reasonable scrutiny!

For example, controlling the humidity: cane is extremely porous and will get wet or dry up in less than a minute. You don't believe me.... try this: soak your reed and try to scrape the tip.... very difficult. Now just let it stand on your desk for 30 seconds... now try to scrape the tip again: ah, suddenly easy!

Reeds not moving in a case is another legend: they have to be terribly loose and mobile to suffer any damage at all. I have found them rather resilient and only break when my fingers don't know where they are going!

I find that the more you constrain the reeds, the more they suffer from it. Cane likes to move with time and humidity. That's why it is recommended to let your newly tied reeds dry for several weeks before scraping them. That's also why a reed that plays perfectly the 1st time you scrape it will turn out very hard the next day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music

Post Edited (2010-12-30 14:42)

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