Klarinet Archive - Posting 000371.txt from 1996/09

From: "Fogle, Bill" <bill.fogle@-----.COM>
Subj: adjusting reeds (was "burning")
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 15:50:27 -0400

Stan Geidel wrote (with the assistance of his nurse):

>I rarely trim my reeds for any reason...one of the many benefits
>of being an old-timer is that after all these years I've finally figured
out
>a reliable method for adjusting reeds. I bet all you youngsters are dying
>to know...what's the secret??!! Well, okay, here it is...practice
adjusting
>reeds for many years, and by the time you are an "old-timer" you will have
>the trained eye and light touch required to successfully adjust your reeds.
>Now, it's time for my nap...

I've had tremendous success lately first by sanding the lateral sides
of the reed (favoring the weaker side) then c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y sanding the
tip with #600. I don't know whether it's that my tips are turning out more
like my mouthpiece tip, or what, but this "personalized" adjustment is
turning out some *great* plays for me. -----Bill Fogle.