Break-in = Necessary ?

Tears June · 03-29-2003, 05:25 PM

Usually I will do 2 times break-in for new reed. First time soaking for 5 minutes in warm water then play for 5 minutes. Send time will be the next day, 5 mintues soaking and play for 10 minutes. No altissimo notes.
In general, I found less chance to get squeaking problem and the reed has longer life.

I wonder if is it necessary to do Break-In for new reed? If yes, usually how many time of break-in and how long you'll play on it each time?

I wonder how many famous artist will do this?

MS · 03-29-2003, 06:04 PM

I suspect a break -in period has something to do with the quality of cane. If the cane has been cured properly, I think the break in you suggest is fine. The soaking for the first few days will help remove any sap the reed may still contain. Reeds that are chemically cured may not need careful soaking.

Polishing the back of the reed and closing the reed pores over a period of a few days may help extend the playable life of the reed. Wood of any kind is more stable and swells and warps less if it is cured before manufacture, or at least during break - in. Hand made reeds will play longer and not need wetting each time you play (if the cane is good) because of the curing, sanding andpolishing during the making process.

colibri · 03-31-2003, 09:06 AM

I find that any brand of reed would play slightly harder after the initial break-in period, due to the swelling of cane fiber. I usually open a box of reeds and soak them all for 8 hours to absorb some water. Then leave them to dry, soak another 8 hours. After a couple of days of soaking, they pretty much stay the same even if there's a drastic change of weather.

Gregg W. Jackson · 03-31-2003, 07:35 PM

I think that breaking in reeds increases the probability that they will play more consistantly and for a longer period of time before they wear out. I'm sure that some reeds will sound good right out of the box. I used to play them all that way, and still sometimes do in an emergency. I look at breaking in as a way of increasing the odds in my favor not as the absolute difference between a reed playing well and not.

MikeS · 03-31-2003, 08:51 PM

Gregg, I agree with you. Even though I seldom use Alexander Superial reeds, I do think that the break-in method described on Tom's web site is the best. The best explanation I have seen why it is important--it was on the old forum I think--is that the fibers expand and contract every time you get them wet and dry them again. A gradual breaking in, helps the fibers achieve a permanent position, after which the reed plays more consistently and longer.

Tears June · 04-02-2003, 06:34 AM

colibri

Soaking for 8 hours for a few times???? But I think it will KILL the reed. I've tried to soak a reed for just 40 minutes (because I forgot this reed is in soaking process when I was playing another reed). Finally I found this reed was dead, can't make any sound.

Anybody who tried to soak a reed for 8 hours (or long soaking time)??

Quote:

Originally Posted by colibri

I find that any brand of reed would play slightly harder after the initial break-in period, due to the swelling of cane fiber. I usually open a box of reeds and soak them all for 8 hours to absorb some water. Then leave them to dry, soak another 8 hours. After a couple of days of soaking, they pretty much stay the same even if there's a drastic change of weather.

colibri · 04-02-2003, 07:24 AM

Tears June,
The reed will sound dead right after they've been soak for 8 hours, because it's basically waterlogged. I let them dry naturally, then soak again. After two sessions of soaking and drying, I find that they're more stable. I use #4 reeds, so perhaps a softer reed wouldn't require the whole 8 hours. Give it a try with one or two reeds for 5 hours, see if you like it.

Cameron Wigmore · 05-02-2003, 02:58 PM

This works for me:

*dampen the reed and use a spoon to gently close the pores on the vamp

*lightly sand the vamp with 600 grit sandpaper

*re-dampen and re-seal the pores with a spoon, (or fingernail).

*thoroughly wet the reed for playing and play for 10 - 15 minutes ,(no altissimo).

*if the reed blows great it can go into my 'current use' reed holders. If the reed is stuffy or imbalanced make a note of how it played or which side is unbalanced.

*do NOT adjust. Put reed away untill the next day and then play again for 10 - 15 minutes, noting the response again. Sometimes it changes.

* if the reed still blows stuffy adjst a little bit. And re-try. If still stuffy, put away and save for another month.

This method has worked well for me for many years. Some of my best longest lasting reeds were stuffy resistant the first time I played them but then I didn't adjust them and the next time I played on them they blew great.

An occasional washing with soapy water is good to remove the dirty crud on the reed.

Also, the table of the reed will warp a bit over time, so I scrape lightly with a flat razor blade to level the table. Before and after I do this, I'll rub the damp/almost dry reed in a circle on a piece of paper on a flat surface. This flatens the table a bit and shines up the spots that are bulging out. When pressing I adjust my finger position regularly to avoid pressing too hard in one spot. Good Luck!