|
Single
Reeds: selection, care and maintenance.
Single reeds are those used on saxophones
or clarinets.
The cut and the strength are the most important aspects when choosing
reeds.
Cut refers to the shape of the vibrating section
of the reed, In general, a reed with a long table
like La Voz and Rico gets thin close to the shoulder of the reed
and has a long flat section leading to the tip, giving more flexibility
in tone and dynamics, and tending to sound bright. Short
table reeds like Vandoren Traditional and Marca are
more wedge shaped in cross section, with only a short section at
the tip which is flat. These have a darker sound ant suit the classical
style, although lose some flexibility and ease of tone protuction.
Most brands incorporate aspects of both styles and have various
perceived strengths as a result. Lately, there are more and more
specific cuts for different styles of playing, with variations in
the cross sectional shape that are too detailed to enter into here.
Basically, the subjective choice is always the best one - namely,
play the reed that gives you the sound and the feel you are looking
for. But, don't be afraid to try something new.
Strength refers to the force needed to move the
tip of the reed a particular distance. This is usually measured
by a machine and the reeds are sorted into their respective strengths
and packed into boxes. Bear in mind that the strength indicated
on a particular reed means that it fits into a range of measurements
indicated on the sorting machine (e.g. 2 1/2 may mean somewhere
between about 2.3 and 2,7, 3 may mean 2.8 to 3.2, etc). This helps
to explain the variation of strengths experienced by most of us
from time to time. Also, reeds are made from cane, whose quality
is dependent on the weather conditions where it is grown. Canes
can vary greatly from one harvest to the next, even when all other
conditions are maintained. Some makers are only prepared to give
vague descriptions of the strength (e,g.
'medium-soft'' or 'hard''), while others are prepared to go to 1/4
strengths. You will probably find that the more you pay, the more
cane is rejected during the manufacturing process and the finer
the sorting of strengths is, but this does not mean that a cheaper-reed
may not play just as well. You should also note that the tip of
the reed is not necessarily thicker in a stronger reed, so they
may also break just) as easily.
Care of reeds: Reeds should he dried after playing
by removing them from the mouthpiece as part of your habitual cleaning
of the instrument (you DO have that habit, don't you?). They are
best stored on a flat surface (e.g. a reed guard). Don't handle
or adjust them by the tip (skinny end). Don't push your mouthpiece
cap on too far (this might mash the end), Do use the mouthpiece
cap when not playing, as this protects both mouthpiece and reed.
Maintenance: Some tips to get longer life from
your reeds: Single reeds can be washed and brushed gently towards
the tip with a soft toothbrush to remove any built up dirt, Sometimes,
you could use a drop of hydrogen peroxide in a litre of water to
help clean a particular favourite, but remember that this may weaken
it. Rotate the reeds you use - have three or four in prime playing
condition, and use each one for a few hours at most with plenty
of recovery time between uses, If the table has become warped, you
can use a reed resurfaced to return it to a flat, smooth finish
(though again, too much of this will decrease the perceived strength).
[Why am I telling you this? Just let 'em rot and come and buy some
more!]
If a reed has become a little too soft or has a small chip in it,
you can trim the tip using a reed trimmer, but try to limit this
to about a third of a millimetre for each trimming. it's easy to
take too much off, but impossible to put any back on. (Like hair.)
Oddly enough, a split reed may continue to have some useful life,
but usually won't recuperate for the next use.
Eventually, even your favourite will bit the dust. When in doubt,
chuck it out.
To enquire about anything on this page please
feel free to
contact us by clicking
here or phone (02) 9557
4588 |
