Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-01-03 12:28
If you're making your own reeds...
Then yes of course, there is a bit of time between the first mass removal and the finished product. Most reedmakers have at least two steps - they scrape the reed down to an unfinished version, leave it to dry, then resoak and finish it. Some oboists leave reeds for longer periods and/or have more intermediary steps between initial and final stages.
If you're buying your reeds...
I would say that the problem isn't that they are too young, but that they are too old! The time between reed shop and your house is definitely long enough to allow the reed to settle.
Sometimes, depending on where reeds are made, they can change when shipped to a location with a considerable difference in climate/altitude. I know there was an oboist on this forum before from Malaysia, which is mostly at sea level and is hot and humid most of the year. If the reeds were made in Denver (1633 metres above sea) and finished there, when brought down to Kuala Lumpur's 22m they would seem much too vibrant and loose.
So perhaps it's best to buy reeds from shops with similar climatic conditions..? I don't know.
D
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