 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sue
Date: 2000-08-22 23:15
I'd like to know what would be the best book to buy that has how to adjust reeds in it. There are a few out there and they are hard to find. I'd like to know what the best one is and where to get it. I've had it with reeds that don't work and trying to figure out how to adjust them. I found a reed adjustment chart on a sax site but nothing else on what to do to fix reeds. If anyone has a favorite site with information or a favorite book I'd like to hear about it! Thanks!
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-08-22 23:46
I do not know the best reed book either. However I can talk about how I felt for the reed book I bought. It was by Charles Steer's one. Frankly, there was nothing new in this book. Maybe this is because I am seeking a black magic and is not the fault of the author.
By the way,it seems serious reed adjusters have a serious measurement device and keeps a record of precise dimensions for his/her favorite reeds.
The book I am seeking for may contain followings:
1.Basic Knowledge
0)the meaning of cane quality
What is the difference between Var region cane and others?
1)effect of aging
Some say the longer the better. The reed manufacturer
Prestini says its maximum aging is 2 years at a reed
symposium for double reed people. Whis is correct?
2)how to store.
International bassoon organization says
too much dryness is bad and 75% relative humidity is the
best (with fresh air supply?).
3)Reed design meaning:german cut and french cut relative to
reed vibration. Morre reeds were german cut and it
enhances reed vibration. The meaning of thicker heel
should also be addressed.
4)Tip symmetry. Vandoren tips are unsymmetrical. Why?
Some say it considers right hand thumb rotation force.
5)Meaning of watering. What happens to cane?
2.How to adjust reeds
1)Typical German and French cut profiles(detailed
dimensions)
2)Tooling
I think ordinary way of sanding is too rough.
Is there any minute hand machine to sand just like a
electric eraser? Precise profile measurement device will
be necessary for serious reed adjusters.
3)Surface curing such as by nail
3.Trouble shooting table with ratinale.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-08-23 00:06
Hiroshi,
It appears you're askinbg for absolute in a sea of opinions. I have a number of books with absolutely opposite advice from one another.
Sue,
The Larry Guy book isn't bad and is available from http://www.vcisinc.com (Gary VanCott's Clarinet Books). Gary's a Sneezy Sponsor which is why I steer people that way.
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Author: joevacc
Date: 2000-08-23 04:03
Sue,
I think what Hiroshi and Mark is saying quite correctly is that there is not one book that will answer your question. There are many books that will answer the question but all of them will be slightly different in their approach. Two books that I favor are The Art Of Clarinet Playing by Keith Stein and The Clarinet And Clarinet Playing by David Pino. These books have helped me a great deal in the reed department. Both books are available at Amazon.com and if you go to that site via Sneezy, I think that will help the cause as well. I am going to try the Larry Guy book that Mark suggested and I can't wait to see more posts.
The best of luck...
jv
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Author: Roger
Date: 2000-08-23 09:09
Thank you so much Sue for raising this topic. I am also looking for some hard copy info on this subject to give me some direction with my reed fiddling. I will be following this thread with great interest.
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Author: William
Date: 2000-08-23 14:47
After years of trying to hand-adjust all of my reeds, I bought a Reed Wizard (out of curiosity [and, I got a good deal]}and was amazed at the results from its use. It seems to give a commercial reed ( I use VD #4-41/2) the correct profile for best performance and, with a few minor adjustments (via Glenn Bowens methods), I am now able to use every reed out of the box. On the average, six out of ten are excellant, the others are good. Before, I was lucky to find two reeds that worked well and usually resorted to discarding over half of the average box as "unusable." Knowing how well the Reed Wizard works, I would now gladly pay the full price for this device. I also recommend Ben Armatos book on reed, instrument and mp adjustment.
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Author: Sue
Date: 2000-08-23 18:21
I just got the info on Reed Wizard. Seems like it's kinda pricy. Is it necessary to get the PerfectaReed measuring device with the Reed Wizard or does the Reed Wizard make a copy of what you have? I'm not sure how it works. All I know is I'm tired of dealing with reeds that don't work. I can fiddle with them and guess until the cows come home. It just takes so much time that I don't have to mess around. Even if the Reed Wizard gets them in the ball park of what I want them to do that would be great...but $250 would buy a lot of reeds. It's an expensive little device.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-08-24 01:56
I too am interested in ReedWizard. But it seems to rob me of my pleasure.
I have Keith Stein's famous book. Since this is a little old, I recently ordered 'The Cambridge Companion to the Clarinet'(Colin Lawson - Editor). It will reach me a week from now. I would post if there is anything interesting on reed adjustment.
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Author: Sue
Date: 2000-08-24 17:06
Thanks! I'll be interested in what your new book says about reeds. Seems like there is a variety of things you can do with them out there. I noticed someone is asking questions about Reed Wizard in a different thread. I'm going to be following that thread with interest also.
Do you use a reed gauge? I've never seen one but if you have to manually adjust reeds I can see where one would be handy. I play single reed instruments from Eb clarinet to bari sax. I'd have to have something that could accomodate all the different sizes of reeds I use. There is a chart on a sax site that is pretty straight forward about what to adjust for different playing responses. If you don't mind a sax site check out www.saxgourmet.com . There is a reed adjustment chart there. It's not a bad guide for manual adjustments.
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