 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: poopsie
Date: 2004-05-14 02:25
Has anyone ever invented a grade scale for reeds? What I mean is when you are deciding what reeds to play on in a new box, is there a way to scale the best from the worst besides just listening and putting the reeds in order from best to worst? I have a hard time choosing what reed to use as my primary reed. I guess I am just asking what to look for in a good reed. Thanx ahead of time!
Useless quote:
"A stitch in time confused Einstein." (hehe)
~Unknown
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-05-14 02:54
Sounds good, feels good...
Not much more advanced than that...IMHO
Katrina
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-05-14 04:44
Even though it is Patent Pending (2004),
I will divulge my:
"Universal - 10 Point Reed Grading System" ™
1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 ®
All rights reserved
Copyright 5/14/04 ©
•••GBK•••
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Author: jack
Date: 2004-05-14 05:35
Really now GBK, shouldn't it be called a "Universal - One Reed Grading System With Ten Levels"? Because it shouldn't matter whether grading "Ten Reeds" or One Reed". Or maybe you meant to say a "Ten Reed Grating System for Grating Ten Bad Reeds". Here again, I would suggest that it would be more accurate and less confusing to go with just "One Reed" at a time.
I only go into such a long explanation in order indicate to you the illogic and confusion caused by the need within your system to consider 10 reeds at a time, when it can be seen that the one reed at a time method neccessarily has fewer variables.
Finally I would mention that upon trying a new reed: if it sounds good.....something must be wrong; if it sounds bad....then you'll know that everything is OK.
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Author: bnanno
Date: 2004-05-14 08:57
GBK,
Have you tried the new 56 (or was it 46) reeds by Vandoren.
The ones that come in individual hermetically sealed wraps, and
the box looks like swish Belgian truffles or something?
Let me know what you think.
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2004-05-14 10:17
I make my own reeds but have tried he new "56 rue Le Pic" reeds from Vandoren
I am not impressed with the cane quality, consistency of cut or consistency of fibers -- which of course affects playability and sound.
Tom Piercy
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-05-14 12:21
bnanno wrote:
> GBK,
> Have you tried the new 56 (or was it 46) reeds by Vandoren.
> The ones that come in individual hermetically sealed wraps, and
> the box looks like swish Belgian truffles or something?
> Let me know what you think.
Last July, I wrote a review with my impressions:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=121293&t=121293
Since that time, my opinion has not changed...GBK
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Author: Sartre Heidegger
Date: 2004-05-15 03:24
Um...I see that some people are not helping at all...or just not understanding the question. I believe you are asking how to choice a reed BEFORE playing.
What I do before playing on a reed is that I look at it while holding it to a light source.
It should have a parabola shape to it (reflected over the x-axis  ), vertex being at the center of the reed.
Of course, choosing a reed has to be through playing however, this helps when you are looking for a good box or just a good reed.
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Author: Karel
Date: 2004-05-15 03:53
Larry Guy's book on "Selection, Adjustment and Care of Single Reeds" goes through the process of estimating the quality of reeds prior to working on them.
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-05-19 17:45
Reed grading is not an accurate science, but checking for the following may help:
colour - should be golden yellow, may have brown flecks. Avoid
greenish, greenish-white, or grey cane. When the heel end is
wet, there should be an orange or light brown line just under
the bark or skin. The line should not be green or yellow and
it should not be missing. The bark or skin should be shiny.
texture - fibers should be consistently straight and fine to the
tip of the reed.
Arch - the arch of the bark caused by the natural curve of the
cane should be high, indicating that the reed was cut from cane
of small diameter, which will tend to have a good distribution
of hard fibres and soft cells.
Maturity - the golden yellow colour indicates maturity, as does
a sweet taste and a hard bark. Immature bark can be scored with
a thumb nail.
When held up to a strong light, the shadows in a well-made reed
will look like approximately a 60 degree "V" pointing to, but not
quite reaching, the tip.
If the flat side is rough or uneven, it should be smoothed by
drawing it lightly over fine sandpaper in the direction of the
grain.
Post Edited (2004-05-19 19:12)
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Author: woodwind650
Date: 2004-05-19 18:26
i've had people telling me what they do since i've been in junior high. even my band director then was telling me put the reed up to the light, upside down and check for blah blah and blah in order to make sure that there's eveness blah blah and blah blah.
everyone has been saying the things others have said, and from very credible sources. the science is all there, but in the end, when you play it, it may still play like crap, even though it had an even vamp and tip and whatever else you're checking for.
ultimately, katrina had it right.......
"Sounds good, feels good..."
which again is by playing them. i think it's all you can do.
--steve--
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-05-19 18:32
Quote:
Um...I see that some people are not helping at all...or just not understanding the question. I believe you are asking how to choice a reed BEFORE playing.
What I do before playing on a reed is that I look at it while holding it to a light source.
It should have a parabola shape to it (reflected over the x-axis ), vertex being at the center of the reed.
Of course, choosing a reed has to be through playing however, this helps when you are looking for a good box or just a good reed. However some of my best reeds have been the least parabolic shaped ones I've EVER seen.
Then again, it also depends on your climate, how broken in, and atmosphere. Your best reed today, or in New York, might not be your best reed tomorrow, or in New Jersey. I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll ever trust an eye test. That'd be like trying to judge the quality of a professional clarinet by how it looks in the store window. And considering that the best clarinet can sound horrible with a bad setup (reed/mouthpiece), I'd say judging a REED by looks or brand alone is an even WORSE idea!
Ultimately, it's whatever sounds the best.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2004-05-20 13:25
Tom Ridenour's ATG method gives several specific tests to evaluate and adjust reeds- one for matching the response of the right vs. left tips and rails, and another for optimizing the response through the low through high registers. These simple tests work. Try it, you'll like it.
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Author: Tim P
Date: 2004-05-20 15:52
I have to totally disagree with GBK. I know that he is held in high regard with this BB, but here is my system of grading. It always produces reeds with a nice *DARK* sound. Also, I did not patent mine so everyone can fell free to use it.
A-----B----- C-----D----E----F----G-----H-----I-----J-----K-----L.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-05-20 17:36
Right now i have about 6 reeds which work and play beautifully.
I believe a good reed must vibrate with ease and yet have some resistance in order to create a good tone.
Last night I picked a # 4 V!2 out of a box prior to the concert and it worked so well I used it in the concert!
I also find that with the changes in atmosphere the player must be careful as to what they are using. There are no secrets in the world of reed preparation...just different methods.
Avhram Galper played on reeds straight from the box with no adjustment as well and he always sounded fantastic!
I myself will do adjustments...but only with a reed knife.
David Dow
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