Klarinet Archive - Posting 000248.txt from 1998/02

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: BREAKING IN REEDS by DANIEL BONADE (part 3)
Date: Thu, 5 Feb 1998 04:42:24 -0500

At 08:56 PM 2/3/98 -0600, Roger Garrett wrote:
>On Tue, 3 Feb 1998, Bill Hausmann wrote:
>> All reeds (of a given brand and style) are cut to the same thickness. Then
>> they are graded for strength. Denser reed blanks will have produced firmer
>> reeds, less dense blanks softer ones. A heart will not be too thin, but it
>> may be too soft.
>
>
>While there may be some kernel of truth to the idea that density of reed
>determines (to some extent) the strength - hardness or softness of the
>reed) the idea that all reeds of a given brand and style are cut to the
>same thickness is not accurate (sorry Bill!). Take a micrometer and
>measure at the shoulder of the reed, the heart of the reed, and the butt
>of the reed. A rico 1.5 is a different thickness from a Rico 4.5...and
>the same with a Vancoren V-12 2 vs. a V-12 5. The basis for reed making
>is the thickness of the cane at a given point.......while the BLANK may
>start out the same, the dimensions of thickness from the heart out to the
>rails determine the strength.....and so does the tip. I can prove this
>simply by making two different reed from the same tube.....same density
>cane and width length.....the difference is in the thickness of the tip to
>the heart to the rails.
>
I believe the information I presented came from this list, as quoted by
someone from a Vandoren representative. Admittedly hearsay, but it did
make sense.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.