Klarinet Archive - Posting 000839.txt from 1997/03

From: George Fulton <gfulton@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: ReedDuAl
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 14:56:07 -0500

jay.seifried@-----.COM wrote:
>
> I found this 'article' about ReeDuAl which includes info on the company.
I've
> snipped out extraneous stuff. The prices, of course, may have changed since
> this was posted. (It's written by a basoonist, but he really doesn't say
> anything bad about us!)
>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> About two and a half years ago I first heard of this motordriven reed
> duplicator, which is made by RABCO of North Miami, Florida. Some professional
> clarinetists frustrated by a recent increase in the price of VanDoren reeds
in
> the U.S., were using the ReeDuAI to copy their good reeds and standardize the
> cut of their commercially purchased reeds.
>
> I immediately saw the advantage of this machine for single reeds. Not only
can
> a player copy the exact conformation of a successful model (thicker or
thinner
> if desired), he can also test the reed and return it immediately to the
machine
> if too much resistance is met. By using a strip of shopping bag paper in
place
> of the sanding strip a high polish can be imparted to the finished reed. And
> slightly damaged tips can be negated by first trimming back the tip length
and
> then recutting the lay on a slightly shorter length reed.
>
> At first I thought the machine impractical for our more complex curved
profile.
> But after experimenting with one or two machines and then learning of Bernard
> Garfield's pleasure with his ReeDuAI (see article), I decided to buy a
machine
> also. I am now convinced that the ReeDuAI is a breakthrough for many
> bassoonists who 1) wish to make many similar reeds and 2) also
> wish to maintain or improve overall playing quality.
>
> <...snip...>
>
> The big advantage of the ReeDuAI, to my thinking, is not having to commit any
> one model of profile to a metal cam or guide. A bassoonist using this machine
> can employ any reed of his choosing, can change his model for every reed if
he
> wishes, and can vary the cut on a given reed by adjusting the tracer head
> forward or back during the cutting process. For example, a thicker tip or
> thinner back can be "programmed" by stopping short of the area to be altered,
> moving the tracer, and continuing. Special models could be constructed from
any
> soft or hard material (although previously used reeds work very well for me).
> Also if a student is successfully using a reed model not suitable to the
> teacher's preferred breath pressure, etc., the student's reed can be
> copied in a very short time and he will not have to undergo a long break-in
> period.
>
> The machine is available in three different versions for bassoonists: I) For
> bassoon reeds only (cutting each blade individually) $158.00 plus $3.00
> postage; 2) For bassoon reeds only, but one side prepared as above, and the
> other side set up to profile blades at one long sweep - $ 173.00 plus the
> postage; and 3) For all single reeds and bassoon reeds by individual blades
(as
> in 1). 4). $170.00 plus postage. The company offers a 21-day free trial
period.
> You can contact them for information on this.
>
> The RABCO firm also offers hand reed tools and an unusual kit for the making
of
> self-sealing plastic pads for all woodwind instruments. The price of this kit
> with instructions is $15.00, and the name is FORMASEAL. Perhaps we will have
an
> article on its characteristics and advantages in another newsletter.
>
> Address of the company is: Mr. Sol Roberts, RABCO Products, P.O. Box 782,
North
> Miami, Florida 33161, Telephone
> (305) 9474540.
>
> Subject: Re: ReedDuAl
> Author: pmflewis@-----.net at internet
> Date: 3/24/97 5:29 PM
>
> Lori Lovato wrote:
> Anyone know of any published information regarding making reeds on the
> ReeDuAl? Anyone have any handouts they're willing to share? I've
> dusted
> off my old machine and am finding out that i am rather rusty! Thanks!
> Lori Lovato, SantaFe Sym.
>
> .............
>
> Lori,
> I don't know of any published info, but you could try contacting the
> company. I got a new machine in 1987 or 88, when they began production
> again, and after a quick look through the box I couldn't find any info
> that was sent with the machine. Whatever I got mostly had to do with
> care, sandpaper recommendations, ect. anyway. The manufacturer may have
> some use and tips info available now.
> All I can remember is you have to watch what type of sandpaper you use.
> I believe they recommend 220 (I'd have to look again), but the actual
> paper thickness is varied depending on what lot you use! I also found
> that the printing on the back can interfere if the ink was too thick.
> This wouldn't affect the sandpaper in ordinary uses, but the tolerances
> are too close on the DuAl and it can really make a mess of things. The
> manufacturer does have a reorder system for sandpaper strips. I highly
> recommend this.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Denise Gulliver-Lewis
> Principal Clarinet
> Elkhart Symphony
>
> PS - say hello to bassoonist Sue Collins for me!

There was an article "The Successful Use of the Reedual" published in
Volume 11, No. 4 (Summer, 1984) of "The Clarinet." It was written by
James Heffernan who also happened to present the same subject at I think
the same years ClarFest. Perhaps a back issue is available from the
International Clarinet Society. Sorry I can't give you a link to then,
but I just got on the internet and haven't learned all the ropes yet.
Good luck.