Klarinet Archive - Posting 000912.txt from 1997/03

From: Roger Lewis & Denise Gulliver-Lewis <pmflewis@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: making your own reeds - cheaper?
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 22:05:59 -0500

Kenneth Chin wrote:
> Is buying reed cane and making reeds yourself cheaper? If so, I want to
> try. Please let me know.
>
...................

Well, it depends on what your time is worth! You will have an ititial
investment in cane, tools, ect. also. A ReeDuAl is one of the best ways
to go, but can be very expensive. I bought one new, from Rabco, in 1987
and paid about $600.00. I understand they are somewhat cheaper now, due
to improvements in manufacture. Since they were just starting up
production in 87, I was on a waiting list. It took about 9 months for
the machine to arrive...kind of like waiting for a baby! It was another
year before I was turning out consistant, playable reeds that I was
satisfied with. At that time I was able to get about 8 good reeds out
of every 10 blanks. A pretty good record.
Unfortunately, I have had a lot going the last 3 years or so and have
had to pack the machine away and go back to good old Vandorens. I would
like to make my own reeds again, but lack of time prevents me from doing
so. Any free time I have now I'm practicing. But learning to make your
own reeds can GREATLY improve your reed adjusting skills. I feel that
it is an important skill that every serious clarinetist should attempt
to learn.

Denise Gulliver-Lewis
Principal Clarinet
Elkhart Symphony