Klarinet Archive - Posting 000757.txt from 2000/08

From: "Tony Wakefield" <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Stiffening up a Legere
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 05:42:42 -0400

Subject: [kl] Stiffening up a Legere
Posted by Neil Leupold.

> Which list member was it who prescribed a method for making a Legere
> reed a little stiffer, and what exactly did he say? I believe it was
> one of you helpful Brits out there.

Not guilty I`m afraid Neil.

But what about the traditional Vandoren Reed Cutter - (guillotine). If a
minute piece is cut off, in my experience it`s possible to hone the reed to
perfection. Cutting and scraping has always been the norm hasn`t it. I can
understand the desire to experiment, and what has immediately sprung to mind
is the TV prog. I saw a couple of evenings ago. I now diversify - sorry, but
I was enthralled and I must relate this story of how a piece of wood can be
transformed.

A reconstruction of a Carib journey across the sea back to the northern
shores of South America. A huge straight and tall tree was felled and hand
hewn to build the boat. The rough shape was then transported to the shore
where it was "finished". The next technique was quite remarkable. Hot embers
were placed into the "shell" of the boat. These hot embers did not burn into
the shell base, but over some considerable time, (I`m not sure I can
remember, it might have indeed been many months), they actually expanded the
width of the original tree trunk to make the shell of the boat much larger
than what it was originally. Possibly 4 persons sitting abreast as opposed
to
2. It didn`t affect the length, only the width.

I now pause for a moment to listen to you all utter what the H - - L HAS ALL
THIS TO DO WITH REED STRENGTH. Well if nothing else, it could mean that by
treating the reed with hot embers, as opposed to hot water, it could, after
it`s useful life on clarinet has ended, become a baritone sax reed.

Seriously though` folks, what are the feelings re: pros & cons of the reed
cutter. There does`t appear to be many other alternatives to choose from.

See Ya,
Tony W.

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