Doublereed Archive - Posting 000050.txt from 2003/05

From: <dblereed@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] New subject - Wires on oboe reeds
Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 18:06:39 -0400

Cal,
Something jumped out at me when I read your E-mail. You said you use
solder coated wire. Unless I'm mistaken, I believe solder contains lead. If
so, this could pose a problem as lead is considered a poison. Gang, let me
know if I'm right or wrong. Many thanks.
.
Patrick McFarland
English horn & Oboe, Atlanta Symphony
McFarland Double Reed Shop
(404) 321-5356
(404) 634-3796 - Fax
http://www.McFarlandDoubleReed.Com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cal" <czoboe@-----.com>
To: <doublereed-l@-----.edu>
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2003 5:34 PM
Subject: Re: [DR-L] New subject - Wires on oboe reeds

> Hi,
>
> I am the person who asked the question about wires on
> oboe reeds. I am glad to see that other people have
> tried using them. At one time I thought it was a
> 'no-no' and was even afraid to say that I have tried
> using them with success.
>
> I have been using profiled cane and sometimes the
> reeds are open too much, sometimes ~4 times too much.
> After purchasing a copy of 'The Oboist's Reed Doctor'
> by Dr. Sandra Downing, I thought I would give it a
> try.
>
> First of all I found that twisting the wires on the
> outside edge of the cane instead of the center works
> much better than in the middle of the cane. I put the
> wire between the top of the lay and the binding,
> sometimes right next to the binding. I believe this
> location will have minimal effect on the vibrations.
> This location also keeps the wires pretty far away
> from your lips.
>
> After the wire is attached, I adjust the opening by
> squeezing the wires between my fingers to open or
> close the reed.
>
> I use two wraps of #20 solder coated wire.
>
> Thanks for the comments,
>
> Cal
>
>
>
> --- Arthur Grossman <artg@-----.edu> wrote:
> > You're the first oboist I've run into who admits
> > that wires, if they were
> > manageable, would not be such a bad idea. Have you
> > tried different metals
> > as well as thicknesses of wire? I have only in the
> > past few years become
> > aware of the considerable differences in how
> > different materials affect
> > vibration. I have tried the usual (for basooninsts)
> > annealed brass and
> > also copper and stainless steel. The steel was, in
> > my opinion, useless,
> > the brass continues to be best for bassoon, but
> > oddly, I like the cooper
> > on Heckelphone. This refers to the 1st wire only.
> > The material used for
> > the 2nd and 3rd wires seems to have no noticeable
> > effect. There is also
> > some controversy over the best diameter of wire. I
> > continue to use 22
> > gauge for both bassoon and Heckelphone, 20 gauge for
> > contra. I have not,
> > myself, found any advantage in the hard-to-find 21
> > gauge wire.
> >
> >
> > Arthur Grossman, Professor Emeritus
> > Bassoon, Heckelphone and Contrabassoon
> > School of Music
> > Box 353450
> > University of Washington
> > Seattle, WA 98195-3450
> >
> >
> >
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> > DOUBLEREED-L@-----.edu
> >
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>
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