 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: johnwesley
Date: 2022-01-07 06:05
I have some #3 reeds (new) that are a bit "soft" and was thinking of getting a Cordier to trim the tops. Problem is I don't know how much to trim. Is it hit and miss? Or do I take off a sixteenth of an inch? I'm sure many of you have done this and can provide instruction.
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2022-01-07 06:30
You have to try an eencie bitsy cut at a time until it works better. You will cut too much off many times before learning how much is best. Save your old reeds to practice on.
A 1/16th inch on a #3 reed may make it a #8 reed. Clipping the tip also changes the slope, shortening it and making it play differently - maybe better and maybe not according to your mouthpiece facing.
It is also best to get a few clippers and and pick the one with the nicest curve and return the others. Some have poorly shaped cutting edges.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2022-01-07 12:03
Just make sure your reed trimmer actually trims the reed tip cleanly and doesn't bruise or fold it over as some often do.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2022-01-07 22:50
How much you take off will depend on how much too soft the reed is, and whether it is due to the reed geometry or the resilience/elasticity of the reed itself, or both.
Generally, you should take only a fraction of a millimeter, perhaps 1/4 mm (e.g., about the thickness of a fingernail) so that if you still haven't achieved the strength you want at first, you can still remove more.
There are other considerations though.
The first is that the Cordier trimmer will probably have a different tip shape than your reed, i.e., it will leave a tip looking more like a Vandoren Traditional reed than a V12. This can alter the reed's playing characteristics in addition to changing its strength. I have thought about getting the Vandoren Reed Trimmer because of this possibility, but (1) they are expensive and (2) none of them has the tip shape of the Pilgerstorfer reeds that I use.
Second, some Cordiers (e.g., MINE!), do not cut a symmetrical tip. To do this I must push the butt of the reed to the side before clamping it in in order to orient the reed at an angle to the cutting blade so that it cuts symmetrically across the reed tip. This may take so practice and skill if you have such a trimmer.
Finally, be aware that trimming the tip causes the entire reed to be positioned closer to the tip of the mouthpiece effectively making the reed stronger along the entire vamp, and changing its response/tone characteristics across the all octaves. This in turn may require adjusting the vamp with reed rush, knife, Reed Geek, etc.
Using a reed trimmer to easily/quickly get the results you desire will probably take some experimentation and practice. However, learning to do this will undoubtedly save some (latently) good reeds that you might otherwise throw away.
Good luck!
Bob Barnhart
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Author: kdk
Date: 2022-01-07 23:57
It's probably obvious and saying it will seem trivial, but when you use a clipper, you need to watch where the reed comes up from behind the cutter, not from the vamp side. Then you can see when the thinnest crescent of cane comes up beyond the cutting edge.
Karl
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Author: johnwesley
Date: 2022-01-08 00:15
Bob Barnhart, thanks for the info. Holy s**t, that's a bunch of stuff to think about. Not just cutting the tip!! Maybe I'll just buy some new reeds.
kdk, I appreciate the heads up. After reading Bob Barnhart's post, I'm gong to take a nap!!!
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-01-08 05:40
In addition to what is mentioned here, it is also worth thinning the very tip with a knife, sandpaper or whatever you are comfortable with. Some do it prior to clipping and some do it after. I would usually do it after as it will depend on how much you take off. Clipping sometimes makes the very tip just a hair too thick which then affects sound and can make the reed feel somewhat unresponsive. It may sometimes need a little rebalancing as well.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2022-01-10 22:24
First practice on some old bad reeds to learn how to use it and then always do just a bit because it's better to do it 2-3 times than to much the first time. With that said, check my website and read my reed pages. I offer some good advise.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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