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 Measurements of Different Reed Brands
Author: jeffreyc 
Date:   2005-08-13 00:22

Hi everyone,

I'm curious if anyone knows of published research (papers, dissertations, etc.) or personal measurements of the different styles of various reed types. For instance a table of measurements or diagrams of different cuts of reeds.

I'm curious about is the physical (rather than subjective) differences of different styles of reeds, particularly for Zonda, Gonzalez FOF, Morre, Vandoren blue box, V12, etc. I realize that this information is at very best slightly suspect, as cane is variable per make and individual reed.

However, it seems clear to me that double reed players have a much better idea how different profiles affect the playing qualities of reeds, and this appears to be very beneficial to their reedmaking skillset.

As I make my own reeds, I realize I haven't found much info about profile styles for clarinet reeds. My goal is to better understand how the physical differences in cut affect the subjective playing qualities of the reed.

If I can't find anything, I'll attempt to do this myself with a dial indicator and will post my results (someday!) if anyone is interested.

Thanks,
Jeffreyc



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 Re: Measurements of Different Reed Brands
Author: jangjiman 
Date:   2005-08-13 00:42

if you mean a reed strength chart, I think you can find one at wwbw.com. Just go to their reed section and there is something that says reed comparison chart. Try that. If this is not what you're talking about, then I'm sorry, it must be something advanced that i don't know about...lol.

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 Re: Measurements of Different Reed Brands
Author: archer1960 
Date:   2005-08-13 19:01

I think reed strength is only one aspect of the things he's talking about. He's also interested in the shape of the tip, the 3-dimensional shape of the body of the reed (as it's carved out of the cane), the reed butt shape and thickness, probably the cane porosity, and pretty much anything else which can be measured on a reed. I'd be curious to see this too...

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 Re: Measurements of Different Reed Brands
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2005-08-13 21:20

"The Clarinet and Clarinet Playing" (a book by David Pino) has a pretty good section on making your own reeds which talks a bit about the physical properties and dimensions of reeds.

Also, you can try emailing those respective companies, or dealers of those respective companies in the hopes that they'll have the measurements (or maybe an 'average' measurement per reed, since as you pointed out, their subject to change from reed to reed without the most STRINGENT of quality control).

Also, if you do some searches on this board, you'll see that most reed 'reviews' will often encompass a physical property review (most of the time I've seen GBK doing them), at the very least relative to another reed.

(example, here --> http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=140260&t=140260 . . . although it doesn't have many dimensions measured out, it holds a lot of comparisons and you can maybe get some data that way or at least be able to place reeds in an 'order' from thick to thin, long to short, etc. etc.)

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: Measurements of Different Reed Brands
Author: donald 
Date:   2005-08-14 03:24

kia ora
i have thought about doing this- for instance measuring every reed in a 3 or 4 boxes of Vandoren V12 3.5s, and then trying to average out the measurements (maybe exclude those that are so far out as to be obviously the "bad reed/s" in the box) to get a really good idea of the "typical reed".....
.... then to do this with several other brands/strengths etc. VERY time consuming (which is why most people who are interested just simply measure the favourite reed from the box and use those measurements as a guide).
i have often wished that there were more/better 3D pictures of reeds. Guy Legere seems to be able to produce these for his promo stuff- i have in the past considered asking him if he could take the time to produce a picture of a V12 etc etc as his computer graphics are really the best representations of a reed i've seen in terms of really showing the contour etc. Most "how to fix/make reeds" books/articles etc have very poor graphics in comparison and don't do a very good or precise job of conveying the true contour of the reed.
Yes i agree- something needs to be done, but unfortunately i don't have the time to sit down with my Perfectareed and do it.
keep playing the good tunes (in 3 hours i'll be in the middle of Schoenbergs wind quintet, so i'd better go and find a reed that works)
donald

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 Re: Measurements of Different Reed Brands
Author: BobD 
Date:   2005-08-14 16:59

Well, I admire your inquisitiveness and wish you good luck. You probably have to identify the variables first including the mouthpieces reeds are used with. I guess that's one variable oboists dont' have to contend with.

Bob Draznik

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