Klarinet Archive - Posting 000723.txt from 2003/02

From: b1rite@-----. Rite)
Subj: Re: [kl] Reed Knives...
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 11:35:23 -0500

<><> Rob=A0Wynne wrote:
Which is the most popular brand?

Rigotti is a well-known brand in the medium-to-low price range, but I'm
sure that you can find people who swear by other more expensive knives.

<><> What can I expect to pay? Etc?

$20 per knife (there are two types - see below). The sharpening stone
is the more expensive and probably more important item after you've used
the knife for a while.

<><> I'm also left-handed, that a problem?

There are two types of knife. One type ("bevelled edge") is bevelled
to an edge on one side only, and the 'bevel' is a flat surface. The
other type ("hollow ground") is ground to an edge on both sides and the
ground surfaces are curved inwards a bit.

The "bevelled edge" comes in both left-handed and right-handed models.
(Draw a picture and you'll see why.) Since the "hollow ground" knife
is symmetricaL it comes only one way.

I bought both kinds of knife in a moment of enthusiasm, but I almost
never use my hollow ground knife. The hollow ground knife cuts larger
chunks of material, but if you're only adjusting reeds (rather than
making them from scratch), you don't want to make drastic cuts.
Rather, you use your knife more as a scraper.

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