Klarinet Archive - Posting 000506.txt from 2003/01

From: Georg.Kuehner@-----.de (Georg K=?ISO-8859-1?B?/A==?=hner)
Subj: Re: [kl] Reed design using cnc machines
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 12:15:34 -0500

>=20
>>=20
>> At the time I=B4m redesingning my "personal clarinet" reed. I use a (cnc)
>> computer controlled milling machine. As anyone of you experienced someth=
ing
>> in this field and can give me some advice? I want to make a model of a r=
eed
>> 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.
>=20
> 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.

Sorry but I don=B4t think it is possible t omake 100% copy with the reedual
(the version I know!)

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

It=B4s not easy but I think I can handle the cane problem by having directly
from a grower in France or a special company which is specialized on cane.

> When I used a reed copy machine, I used it to only get close. In other wo=
rds,
> 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 always have to do a little work on the reeds when they are ready because
each reed is a natural material which are slightly different.
>=20
> 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 t=
han
> duplicating the same measurement over and over.

I think that it should make it easier for me to have a reed which is very
close to the dimensions I prefer and I only have to a little work on them
afterwards.

> When I was at the University of Michigan, I studied with John Mohler. Whi=
le 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!

Working on your reeds makes your ear work listen to the "little things". I
studied with Hans Pfeifer (Germany) who also does his reeds by himself.
=20
> 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 respond=
ed
> beautifully.
>=20
> Using this cane, I thought I was quite the reedmaker!
>=20
> Then Mr. Alliaud notified us that he was reserving his cane for oboe and
> bassoon reeds only.
>=20
> It was so sad. I have still never seen cane as good as we got from that
> source!
>=20
> Walter Grabner
> www.clarinetXpress.com
> soprano, eb, and bass clarinet mouthpieces

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