Reeds Baritone Reed preparation

[johnw]

Can anyone offer advice on Baritone cane reed preparation before any fine adjustments are made with a geek or sandpaper. I was thinking about the soaking in water , how long to play for when breaking in etc. Let me know if this ahs been discussed elsewhere and i can look-thanks

 

[thomsax]

I use to place the reeds with end part down in glass with somer water. The reed is soaking up water through the small channels. I use to have them like this for 1-3 hours. I also use to gently bend the reed between my fingers to reduce tension of the cane. I just do the with new reeds. I always work on wet reeds.

 

[turf3]

Same as any other single reed.

There are more recipes for reed preparation and care than there are reed players. Pick one and see what happens. Personally I've gotten along these 40+ years with a "benign neglect" program.

 

[nigeld]

My usual preparation routine for a new reed is:
1. Remove from wrapper
2. Put in mouth to get it wet
3. Remove from mouth
4. Fix on mouthpiece

At some point I sand the edges so that they aren't sharp and I give the bottom a once-over with a Reed Geek to make sure that it is flat. If it feels too hard, I will shave it with the Reed Geek or a knife.

 

[thomsax]

I like to work on reeds. But I use plasticover on tenor so there is not so much to do. On bari I play LaVoz MH. I also drill my bari reeds. Some guys says my work on reeds is rubbish. "Let them talk". But if the other guys are right, why they don't sound better????

 

[Nick Wyver]

Take out of box. Soak in vodka (the reed, that is). Play.

 

[Vetinari]

@thomsax where,how and why do you drill your bari reeds?

 

[thomsax]

I use a benchdrill and 6-8 mm drill. I've done it on cane (even plasticover) but never on plastic reeds. I'll try that as well. I don't kow what the hole is doing to the reed and sound. I thnk the low nots comes better/more easy and the reed is oveall blowing a little bit easier. The result after drilling should be something in this way. I did my first attemps on used reeds that were ready for the dustbin. My brother in law owns the benchdrill så I've just bought the drills.

Pinnfräs 2-4-skärig, HM, HRC 50/55/60

4-Skärig HM pinnfräs med TiAlN beläggning av hög kvalite som har goda grundegenskaper för fräsning i de flesta material upp till 50/55/60 HRC. TiAlN är en keramisk beläggning som är flerskiktig och mycket hård och slitstark. Denna

smaskin.se

Bosch bänkborrmaskin : Amazon.se: Bygg, el & verktyg

Bosch bänkborrmaskin : Amazon.se: Bygg, el & verktyg

www.amazon.se

 

[Vetinari]

How deep do you drill?

 

[thomsax]

Depends how thick the reed is. C 2 mm ? More on a thick tenor or bari reed. Start on 1 mm and see what happens. You don't need a bench drill like the Bosch. It's important that you find a good way to hold the reed while you are drilling.

For me a drilled reed is a little easier to blow. But you shouldn't expect tremendously improvements.