Klarinet Archive - Posting 000245.txt from 1998/10

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Grooves on old reeds
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 01:35:44 -0400

On Sat, 3 Oct 1998 LeliaLoban@-----.com wrote:

> These reeds have deep horizontal grooves (usually 4 of them) all the way
> down the rounded sides of their heels. [.......] that begins with the
> letters "Vib...." followed by about 5 or 6 more letters

Vibrator.

> What was the reason for the grooves down the reed?

According to the manufacturer, the grooves were supposed to free up the
fibres in the reed so that it would vibrate more readily. I never saw any
evidence that it worked.

> Does anyone make reeds this way now?

Haven't seen anything like it in perhaps 25 years.

> If not, when was this design discontinued?

At first I thought you were asking *why* in was discontinued. The main
reason was that the reeds generally weren't very good, and they became
known as an example of what a reed should not be. So, no serious players
would buy them.

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu

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