 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-12-02 18:45
Since the Reed Wizard is one of the supporters of this BB, I took the time to look at the very interesting site. How many of you have used this gadget? and does it perform as remarkably as it's supposed to? I guess the bottom line is whether it would pay for itself in the reduction of thrown-out reeds.
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2003-12-03 01:29
Brenda...
I've always wondered about this "marvelous" machine, yet never had the opportunity to use it, or get the money to buy it. I wish someone was nearby so I could borrow it and see for myself. From what I've heard from others it is a pretty nice gizmo. Then again there's another machine called the Reedual or something like that, which I understand works like a key duplicator. It actually copies your "best" reed perfectly. Then again it costs about $1500. That would sure buy a bunch of "good" reeds, no matter how many you had to throw away.
jg
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-12-03 12:33
Hi Brenda,
I don't know much about the Reed Wizard or the Reedual mentioned by John but I do know that I really like the ATG System by Tom Ridenour. In a few short minutes, I have made so-so reeds really respond and I have brought many others back from the dead. Tom's approach is totally different; there are some threads on the BB about it.
I know the system has really paid for itself already and I feel very much in control that I can really make a reed work much better than I ever have before. I have no business interest in the ATG or in Tom's company but perhaps you need to look here as well before dropping a large amount on the Wizard.
HRL
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Author: William
Date: 2003-12-03 15:04
The Reedual will copy the profile of any reed that you chose--presumably your "best" reed--but, due to variances in cane density and xylum uniformity (array) which cannot be copied, the reed that it duplicates will not play the same as the "model". All reeds need their own individual tweeks for optimum performance and no "automatic" machine can do that.
The Reed Wizard is a reed profiler--simple as that. It holds the reed on a table at slightly tilted angles and the action of the carbide glider across that table produces a uniform slope from the cut to near the tip on both sides of the reeds "heart". It workds particularily well if the reed is slightly too hard and needs to be "shaved down" a bit to be playable. After this, the reed still must be "balanced" to your mouthpiece, as usual, and may or may not become--as Ben Armato says--a "talented" reed.
I use the Reed Wizard and for me--a klutz who can hardly whittle a decent point on a hot dog stick at the campfire--it works wonders for my reeds that are too hard, initially, and need the profile adjustment that I cannot do with a knife or sandpaper. It really makes almost every reed from an average box of ten V12s playble for practice or rehearsal, and helps produce more *talented* reeds that are of Concert Quality. The only reeds that the RW cannot help are those that are too soft already or lacking a heart--I still need the "circular file" for those. But, as I start with reeds that are one-half strength stronger than I need, I find very few reeds that are too soft to work with. My mpc specs: (real) Chicago Kaspar #14 with V12 3.5 or 4.0.
Bottom line: the Reed Wizard works for me and is always on my desk, ready to go. It is easy to use and fast, usually requiring only a few seconds to perform its "magic". More reeds from every box are usable--for me, almost all. And, it works on my bass clarinet and sax reeds as well.
(Ben Armato does not ask me to say nice things about his RW, nor does he pay me in any way. I just like his machine)
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2003-12-04 02:17
William...
Thanks for the info. I don't care if you're "paid" or not as long as what you say is true. Always wanted to know more about the "wizard" and you've provided it.
JG
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2003-12-04 02:35
I bought a Reed Wizard at the ClarinetFest in New Orleans.
I use it on all my Bb and Alto reeds and I think it helps alot.
Some reeds still play better than others
but I never have to throw a reed away anymore; I get use
out of all of them. For me it was money well spent.
Michael
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2003-12-04 16:11
Mr. Armato sold me one at the ICA convention in Columbus, OH in 1988, by successfully adjusting a dud Fibercell reed, which lasted quite a while, perhaps 20 weddings. "Duds" are reeds that just don't seem to vibrate correctly, no matter what I do to them. I take all the duds in each box (of cane reeds) and run them through the Reed Wizard, and usually get some that are at least useable as practice reeds.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-12-04 16:22
Like any other discipline the key to success is repetition and execution.
If you buy the Reed Wizard, stick to the method Ben offers in the companion text.
FWIW - I have one (purchase secondhand, of course) that is used less than
I would have hoped. Nothing like sandpaper and a Rigotti Gold...
... or a Legere, sans adjustment.
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-12-05 20:31
Thanks for your input, guys! It appears that not too many use these things but that they're really beneficial. Now I have to decide on this or the ATG System - there's a long posting about that one here on the Board, too.
The pros that I know don't use these, so if and when I purchase one I'll let them see it. It's like the SmartMusic accompaniment program - nobody knew about it but there was a write-up about it on the Board. I bought it and am thoroughly impressed. My teacher at the time thought it would be tremendously expensive, but was amazed at the reasonable cost in comparison with all the neat things it lets you do with it! So maybe I can sell them on the Reed Wizard or the ATG System, too.
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-12-06 07:23
Brenda, the ATG system is relatively new, so few pros are likely to have them as yet. The fact that they don't have them should not put you off trying one. Inexpensive and effective.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-12-06 14:30
About using the ATG or Reed Wizard devices, it is amazing (to me, anyway) how many pro players I have talked to or read about who do very little, or no, reed adjustment. Larry Combs said, "I don't have time. I just dump a box in a glass of water and if the reed doesn't play, I toss it." Charles Niedich just "pops open a new box of reeds, picks the first one and plays a concerto". John Bruce-Yeh says, when asked about choosing the reed for a performance at Mid-West a few years ago, said, "I just got lucky, I guess". No wonder the great, late, William Stubbins--legendary Michigan Professor of Clarinet--used to scream at his students, "Play the reed--don't let the red play you".
On the other hand, Ben Armato--former clarinetist with the NY Met--was legendary for his reed adjustment skills and has a few amusing stories in his book about that.
Legere, anyone?????
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Author: martin
Date: 2003-12-07 19:45
Working full time and playing as a hobby there aren't enough hours in the day to practice and spend time adjusting reeds. The RW is quick, mechanical and cuts alot of time out of adjusting reeds. I view it not as a money saver... for its price you could certainly by a few hundred reeds...
but as a time saver, getting marginal reeds to play decently if not better.
Martin Shapiro
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