[Dixielandjazz] Vibrator Reeds - was Metal Clarinets

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

Didn't the Vibrator reed morph into Rico.  Today there are a dozen or so 
ligatures that try to mimic what the grooves did in those reeds.  It was 
probably just a gimmick but I'm surprised that someone hasn't put grooves in 
their reeds.  I liked the reeds but I was just a kid when they went out of 
business so I don't know if they were very good or not.

Speaking of plastic reeds.  When I was teaching I was forever going to my 
office a few feet away and picking up some woodwind or another and playing a 
line or two for a student.  It was like a private lesson situation.  I found 
that while the fibercane reeds were not too good they worked out because I 
didn't have to soak them up.  UNTIL I got a microscopic splinter in my lower 
lip and the thing got infected.  What a mess I had for a couple of weeks. 
It cost me a half a dozen jobs.  Needless to say never again.

The only mishap I ever had with a regular reed was when I was playing a 
concert at a Veteran's hospital in Gulfport MS with the AF band.  The big 
band was playing and I was on lead tenor.  I stood up to blow a solo and 
caught the pad guard on the chair which caused the mouthpiece to make a 
quick slash to the left just as I was putting it in my mouth.  It laid open 
my tongue pretty good.  I finished the concert (Ouch!) and it had stopped 
bleeding but boy was I an unhappy camper for a week.  You do not want 
stitches in the tongue.
Larry
St. Louis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike" <mike at railroadstjazzwest.com>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 12:11 AM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] metal clarinets


> Boosey & Hawkes used to make some excellent instruments. Now they only do 
> sheet music I believe.
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> Charlie Coleman wrote:
>> Hi Listees, If you can stand one more post on metal clarinets, my first 
>> clarinet was a metal Boosey & Hawkes which I bought used in 1948.  In 
>> excellent condition and wish I still had it. It was Boehm system, and I 
>> learned to play with a plastic reed (one of the first?) until I 
>> discovered "vibrators" which is another story.  Regards, Charlie  "too 
>> oldt too soon" Coleman
>>
>>
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