Klarinet Archive - Posting 000064.txt from 2004/12

From: orm1ondtoby@-----.net (Ormondtoby Montoya)
Subj: RE: [kl] Re: Reeds
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2004 01:22:59 -0500

Forest=A0wrote:

> and how does that strength number on the
> back relate to the real world???

You can buy a gizmo that measures the force required to deflect the reed
a certain distance. But as we all know, one manufacturer's
strength-number does not agree exactly with another manufacturer's.

I presume that each factory 'measures' their reeds with their own
proprietary tool. One manufacturer may support more or less of the
reed's length while applying force nearer or farther away from the tip,
and so forth.

And there's moisture to think about. Two reeds may measure equal
stiffness at the factory when dry, and hence they may be assigned the
same strength-number at the factory, but they may respond differently to
moisture and they may not feel equal after they've been played for half
an hour.

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