Klarinet Archive - Posting 000501.txt from 2003/01

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Reed design using cnc machines
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 10:53:19 -0500

In a message dated 1/26/2003 3:13:57 AM Eastern Standard Time, Georg.Kuehner@-----.de writes:

>
> At the time I´m redesingning my "personal clarinet" reed. I use a (cnc)
> computer controlled milling machine. As anyone of you experienced something
> in this field and can give me some advice? I want to make a model of a reed
> out of brass to use it in a reed copy machine.
> I have the whole surface of several reeds and have about 500 points in
> 1/100mm and design a programm to mill the surface of the
> reed.

As anyone who has ever used a "Reed-DuAll" can tell you, it is not enough to be able to exactly copy the dimensions of a given reed.

Unless you have cane of the same density of the reed you are copying, the results can be very disappointing.

When I used a reed copy machine, I used it to only get close. In other words, I let the machine do the "grunt work" then finished the reed by hand. I finally gave up on the reed machine as all the sawdust flying around was more of a nuisance than using a knife and files to get to the same point.

I do agree that it is VERY worthwhile to understand what reed dimensions work well for you. However, the quality of the cane is almost more important than duplicating the same measurement over and over.

When I was at the University of Michigan, I studied with John Mohler. While he did not insist that his students make their own reeds, he did teach many of us how to make reeds. I don't remember him ever playing on a commercial reed! BTW- he was a WONDERFUL clarinetist!

Anyway, we used to get reed cane in the form of blanks from Alliaud. This was the best cane I had ever seen, and I still have never seen its equal. It was a creamy white, worked well with tools, and made a reed that really responded beautifully.

Using this cane, I thought I was quite the reedmaker!

Then Mr. Alliaud notified us that he was reserving his cane for oboe and bassoon reeds only.

It was so sad. I have still never seen cane as good as we got from that source!

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
soprano, eb, and bass clarinet mouthpieces

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