Klarinet Archive - Posting 000374.txt from 1996/09

From: "Fogle, Bill" <bill.fogle@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Bill Fogle's comments
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 17:15:02 -0400

I wrote:

-->> 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.

Neil replied:

-->Bill,
-->
-->Could you please explain all three statements you make in the above
-->paragraphs?
-->
-->1) What do you mean when you say the "lateral sides" of the reed? Which
-->part of the reed is that? Is that the right and left sides of the vamp?
-->The flat back of the reed? What do you mean "favoring the weaker side"?

I turn the reed "up" onto its side and sand away what comprises the width of
the reed.
When turned back and placed onto the mouthpiece, the reed is narrower. I
attempt
to sand that side which is weaker (if there is one . . . often, there isn't).

-->
-->2) When you sand the tip, is it a flat brushstroke against the vamp,
-->where you start back from the tip and make contact with it in a
-->unidirectional sweep? Or do you mean that you hold the reed up
vertically
-->and literally abrade the actual tip - the edge of the reed - where the
-->tongue makes contact? Does this not fray the fibers?

The latter. I abrade the tip as an alternative to the use of a reed trimmer,
which,
I am compelled to believe, cauterizes or damages the longitudial fibers. Yes,
I suppose there is a possibility I am fraying the fibers. Using the #600, I
hope
to minimize this. The procedure is still in "Trying Out" phase. So far, it's
working really well for me.

-->3) What do you mean "the tips are turning out more like my mouthpiece
-->tip"? Do you mean the curve of the tip? This suggests an answer to
-->question #2 above.

Yes, I mean the curve of the tip. I never had good matches between reed tip
shape
and mouthpiece tip shape. Now, the two are beginning to look alike. Possibly,
this
is why I feel an improvement in response. ----Bill.