 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Drenkier_1
Date: 2005-09-30 03:03
Does anybody here have any past experience with the reed wizard by ben armato? I got to try it out at the OU symposium but I think it was fredrick fennell, he ruined my reed!!!!
Kevin Collins
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Author: redwine
Date: 2005-09-30 10:58
Hello,
I swear by the Reed Wizard. That and sanding the back of the reed flat with 1200 grit sandpaper on a piece of glass are all I do to reeds.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-09-30 12:30
i'll email HeatherK and get her to post for you- she's just got one, and by now will have spent a few days messing with it....
donald
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Author: HeatherK
Date: 2005-10-01 01:47
yes, Donald I am indeed a proud new owner of a Reed Wizard, but I don't think I am using it right yet so can't say one way or the other if it's extremely useful. It seems like you can really scrape a lot of can off if you need to but you can also take off very little and I'm working on finding the right balance for these Rue Lepic 56's. I'll keep you posted on my success though.
Heather Klenow
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Author: William
Date: 2005-10-01 14:42
Using my Reed Wizard makes almost all of a typical box of V12s usable. I still only get a few that are "concert" quality, but most of the remaining reeds are useful for rehearsals or practice. The only reeds that the RW will not improve are the ones that are initially too soft or lacking in "heart".
However, the RW is only a profiler and does not make the use of a reed knife, rush or sandpaper obsolete. You will still need to balance your reed for optimum performance on your mouthpiece.
Ben Armatos book, "Perfecta Reed" is also a good read [pun alert sounds] for interesting stories and innovative reed adjustment techniques.
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-10-01 21:24
the Reed Wizard will profile the "back end" of the reed (to a pre=determined profile that is not adjustable, but does work for most reed types). This is extreemly useful and can have a huge effect on the tone/response of the reed.
the Reed Wizard will NOT make adjustments to the "blade end" or tip of the reed (unless something has changed since i used one of these in the 1990s)- these adjustments would still have to be done using other tools.
two comments
firstly, as with every reed tool or adjusting machince etc you still have to be able to test the reed to decide what adjustment it needs. True, to some extent the RW will "find the spot" for you, but to get the most out of it, it is best if you test the reed and make an informed decision on what you're going to do.
seccond, it's a pretty efficient way to adjust reeds, but if you try to use it in a hurry, or try to take too much material off at once, there's a good chance it won't do a good job.
i don't mean this to sound too discouraging as i think it's a great tool and i certainly wouldn't mind having one on my desk.
keep playing the good tunes
donald
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-01 22:15
I like the newer design of the reed wizard much more than the old one (I have both). Ben redesigned it about 2 years ago and it's great - the cutter doesn't get "loaded" and it profiles better too.
I use it to start out the reed with and finish the reed with the Ridenour ATG system. The combination of the 2 work really well for me.
To me both are worth every penny.
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Author: Drenkier_1
Date: 2005-10-02 01:14
haha, sorry i dont know why i said frederich fennel, my fault! the man did look an awful lot like him though, thats probably why i thought that was him.
Kevin Collins
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-10-02 05:28
ummmm maybe it was David Dworkin? he was helping Ben A out at the OU Symp, i think.... it's about 10 years since i played under Maestro Fennel so i can't remember what he looked like (if he looked like Mr Dworkin)
donald
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Author: redwine
Date: 2005-10-02 14:27
Hello,
That's it. David Dworkin does look like Frederick Fennel, although Mr. Fennel died recently, didn't he? So I'd say David is looking a lot better these days.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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