Klarinet Archive - Posting 001441.txt from 1997/10

From: "Diane Karius, Ph.D." <dikarius@-----.edu>
Subj: Reed Strengths - a question
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 20:44:33 -0500

I have a stupid question: How does a machine (such as the
Reed-O-Meter mentioned in the post below) determine the strength of
the reed?
I had assumed these machines measured resistance to
deformation in the direction that the reed would vibrate in,
but was recently told that these machines merely measure the
thickness of the tip of the reed. The latter is consistent with the
large variation in perceived strength between reeds of the same
numerical strength - but it seems to me that there are more
direct/accurate ways of measuring strength of the reed (or maybe
that's just the mind of a scientist being lost and befuddled?:-).

Rich wrote:
> About different brands having different strengths: You can get a
> rough idea if you buy one of those Maccaferri Reed-O-Meters. You'll
> have to buy reeds by the box as stores that allow you the chance
> to select from an open box of reeds will not want you sticking their
> new reeds in your germ infested Reed-O-Meter. Using this rather
> simple device I have not found there to be much difference in a
> box of reeds. However it does a good job of indicating the strength
> of an unknown reed.
> Rich Lahrson
> tripspud@-----.net
>
>
Diane R. Karius, Ph.D.
Department of Physiology
University of Health Sciences
2105 Independence Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64124
email: dikarius@-----.EDU