Klarinet Archive - Posting 001042.txt from 2000/06

From: Clarguy3@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] V12
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 22:04:01 -0400

In a message dated 6/25/00 8:26:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
gkidder@-----.org writes:

<<
>I think this may be a little confusing to some. The "density" of the cane
>is a given. Nothing can be done about it. That is the way it grew. Each
>piece is a little different. Cut to a specific thickness, whether V12 or
>Traditional, the density and thickness then combine to give the reed a
>certain stiffness, which is then measured, sorted, and boxed as 2, 2 1/2,
>3, etc.
>
As I see it (and as I said before): Reed cane has a gradient of density
from the hardest just under the "bark" to a much lower density adjacent to
the hole in the middle of the cane (where the density is that of air!).
That, as Bill said, is the way it grew. The reed is cut as a flat section
from the curved cane, and therefore has its highest density under the
"bark" (the uncut section) and a lower density at the tip, since some
material has been removed from the "bark" side. If a thicker blank is
used, as on the V12's, the tip is necessarily being cut from less dense
material, all other things being equal. (And I hasten to add that I have
no knowledge that all the other things ARE kept equal in making a V12.) So
there could very well be a difference between V12's and the corresponding
regular reeds due to this alone.

This same geometrical/botanical reasoning suggests that on any natural cane
reed, there is a higher density of cane toward the outside of the vibrating
tip, and a somewhat lesser density in the center of the tip. Is this
perhaps why we shape our reeds by removing material from the outside, to
equalize the product of density times thickness across the reed? Or, in
fact, is it better to have harder edges and a looser center? Could this be
why some of us (myself included) do not find synthetic reeds (Legere) to
our liking, since this gradient is not present in the plastic material?
Food for thought. >>

I just got in on this thread, so I might sound a bit redundnat. But the
above post shows some real understanding of the single reed tip. Yes, the
xyla are more dense at the outside edges of the commercial reed than in the
center because of this botanical/geometric phenomenon. There is an
additional factor--if the reed tip is manufactured flat (which is generally
the case commercially and is certainly favorable with a handmade reed), and
the curved shape is applied to the tip, then the cane at the edges is thicker
because the end is farther up the incline than that in the center.

This is not only natural but it is highly desirable. Greater strength in the
corners than in the center of the tip of the reed gives a consistent darkness
as we play higher above the staff--as opposed to brightening as the
fingerings get shorter. Additionally, we get color and projection with these
more dense (and thicker) corners, as opposed to the dullness that one gets
when one thins the corners of the tip to match the center.

There are many other factors which are impacted by tip demension, not the
least of which is the fact that thinner at the center of the tip is darker,
not brighter, and a tip over .005 inch in the center is not only brighter but
it won't speak well in the altissimo. I went into much greater detail in my
article in THE CLARINET about a year and a half or two ago.

Good luck to all.

Chuck West
Virginia Commonwealth University

btw--Guy Leger and I had several e-mail exchanges about the differential
between thip and center of his reeds after the Columbus convention. He was
real receptive and open and we had some satisfying discussions, and I have
the impression that he has spent some time thinking through these ponts
already.

Oh, and finally, V12 refers to the blank thickness at the shoulder-- .12
inch thick, give or take a gnat's eyebrow or two.

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