 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2004-12-09 13:08
Short of high precision caliper measurements, how does one detect and diagnose reed imbalance?
I saw mention of a "side to side" test in the archives but couldn't spot what it was.
Once diagnoised, I presume a little scraping or sanding (or Vandoren glass rodding) will fix things - carefully. Very carefully.
JDS
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Author: msroboto
Date: 2004-12-09 13:21
The side to side test is done by dampening one side of the reed and sounding an open G then do the other side the same way.
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2004-12-09 13:26
Oh...Kay...
Could you define (for a beginner) "dampening one side"?
Then what? What do I listen for? And then which side needs the scraping?
(You're dealing with inexperience here - in case you hadn't noticed!)
JDS
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2004-12-09 14:01
Let me throw a wrench in the works here: Wouldn't a perfectly balanced reed perform badly when you have an imbalanced mouth? Don't most of us have a weaker side of our face? In that case wouldn't it make more sense to recognize that and find out if its better to have a reed that's slightly less resistant on one side than the other in order to fit our embouchure strength? Perhaps if we take a reed that works extraordinarily well for us and measure that one, we'd find how "unbalanced" it really is. Has anyone done this kind of measurement?
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2004-12-09 14:22
There is a complete description of the side to side test on Tom
Ridenour's site. http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/articles/adjusting.htm
I use this method and it works great for me. I also like Ridenour's ATG system that he sells on the site. (I do not have any connection to the business)
John Gibson, JB Linear Music
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-12-09 14:32
You do the balance test as follows.
Play an open G.
Rotate the instrument clockwise in your mouth so that the vibration on the right side of the reed is damped and the left side vibrates with almost no pressure on it -- just enough to keep air from leaking -- and play the open G.
Then rotate the instrument counterclockwise and do the same test.
If one side feels harder than the other, then the hard side should be taken down so it balances the soft side.
You can also hold the reed up in front of a lamp or window and judge the balance by the relative opacity.
You can also hold the reed between your right thumb and forefinger with the reed tip to the left; hold your left thumb horizontal with the nail on top; and press bottom of the reed tip gently on your thumb nail, comparing the bending resistance on the left and right sides.
When you scrape the strong side of the reed, be very careful to keep the taper of the edge of the reed continuous from the heel to the tip. It's very easy to make the edge look like a playground slide, and this ruins the reed.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2004-12-09 14:55
After correctly positiong the reed on your mouthpiece, tip it slightly off center to the right and play G4-C4. Then, tip it slight off center to the left and play the same notes (Retighten the lig each time you repostion the reed). If either side playes with more resistance or sounds "dead", that indicates that your reed is not in balance with the facing of your mouthpiece. To achieve "balance", you need to scrape the opposite side of the reed and try to equalize the strength from side to side. Ex. if the reed plays best (or seems "harder") when tipped to the right, that indicates the left side of your reed is stronger and needs to be sanded or scrapped to become "in balance" with the weaker right side. Caution, remove only a small amount of cane at any one scapping as once removed, it cannot be put back. For adjustment, I use a reed knife for scrapping and a Reed Wizard for profiling. Other clarinetists use sandpaper or reed rush. .
Ideally, you want your reed to play best when precisely centered on your mouthpiece, but there is nothing worng with playing a reed slightly off-center if it plays best in that position and cannot be adjusted.
For learning how to adjust reeds, I recommend: 1) the Opperman book, "Hand Book for Making and Adjusting Reeds"; and, 2) the Ben Armato book, "Perfecta Reed, and Beyond" for additional reed adjustment methodolgies (and great reading). Although I have not personally seen it, the Ridenour "ATG" system is also recommended by many on this BB for learning the art of reed adjustment. In any case, proper reed adjustment is a skill that must be learned via trial and error over time. Read up on it and good luck!!!
Post Edited (2004-12-09 14:57)
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2004-12-09 16:21
I use the diagnostic technique that is included with the ATG system because it is simple and empirical. It takes into account any mouthpiece, embouchre, or reed imbalance since all those things are used in the test.
I've found several different ways to correct the imbalance. If there is a large imbalance, I use the ATG system.
If the imbalance is smaller, I use the Vandoren reed resurfacing wand.
If the imbalance is slight, I reposition the reed to the right or left (move it toward the side that tested stuffy) and test again.
Off topic but related:
I found that I was usually adjusting the same side of most reeds.
I had read about asymetrical facings, and also about an expensive system of shims designed to change the characteristics of a mouthpiece without permanently changing it like refacing does.
I experimented with placing vinyl tape in varying thicknesses and placements on my mouthpiece table. I found that by placing a thin strip of tape on one side of the table, near the contact point of the heel of the reed, most reeds now pass the balance test with little or no adjustment.
I know this sounds like sacrilege since so much emphasis is placed on having a perfectly flat table, and on sanding the bottoms of reeds so that they are pefectly flat, but "hey" it works for me. Like I said I like empirical tests.
Warning your milage may vary.
John
Post Edited (2004-12-09 16:23)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-12-10 03:39
If your mouthpiece has an asymmetrical facing, balancing reeds is much more difficult ...GBK
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2004-12-10 10:54
Hmmm, since you brought it up, is there a "test" for asymmetry, other than looking closely, or placing the mouthpiece on a flat (glass) surface and trying to slide pieces of paper under the edges, etc? Will an asym mouthpiece rock back and forth, or side to side, when placed face down on glass? Or do I get out my micrometer?
JDS
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