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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000023.txt from 2004/01
From: PhilFrei@-----.com
Subj: [DR-L] Plastic reeds
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2004 01:24:25 -0500
Out of curiosity, I called a plastics molder today. The fellow specialized in
small runs and prototyping. It seemed like the basic cost of creating a mold
($500 to $1000) was a little high. But the cost of mounting the mold for a run
($100) and the tiny per item cost of plastic for individual reeds were more
reasonable. I was thinking about trying different types of plastic strengths on
a shaped and fairly extensively profiled piece of plastic, rather than
attempting to mold a finished reed, on the theory that experimentation would be
necessary. (Not that I have the $$ for making the mold.)
Unfortunately, once the fellow saw the piece of cane, he decided that it
would not work, as the dimensions of the mold would be too thin for the plastic to
properly fill, and that the plastic would probably be too weak. He suggested
that the type of plastic one should use should have reinforcing fibres, a la
that used in fibreglass fishing rods, skis, etc.
A couple years ago, I tried scraping on a fibrecane reed, to make it more
"Philadelphia style." But it just didn't help much. It seems possible, with a lot
of work, to play an individual note with a decent tone (with a plastic reed),
if you really cover the reed with the embouchure, but forget playing in tune
or soft low notes, and the air resistance is all off, too.
But I can't help but wonder what a plastic reed with "Philadelphia style"
contours would be like. I hear that it is possible to purchase tubes of plastic
of varying thickness. Has anyone else been crazy enough to try buying tubes the
size of arundo donax--splitting and gouging and shaping them and trying to
make a super durable reed?
One can dream. What would folks pay for a reed that could be counted on to
play well on a daily basis for six months or a year? I could see spending well
over $100 if it responded well, had a decent tone, etc.
Phil Freihofner
Oakland
