The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bkmorton
Date: 2006-01-05 14:33
Good Morning,
I purchased a Reed Wizard (by Ben Armato) on ebay and it did not come with instructions. The girl that I bought it from did not know where there were and was not discriptive in how to use it.
ANYHOW,
Would anyone know how I could get my hands on the directions or could anyone send me the specific directions via email? I would greatly appreciate it.
Brian
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2006-01-05 15:25
I'd start here: http://www.reed-wizard.woodwind.org/ as there are phone numbers and e-mails. But I don't take much stock in equipment to make a reed a certain thickness because the cane has different densities that standardizing the size of the reed does not take into account.
My recommendation is Tom Ridenour's ATG reed finishing system. I got it at Music123.com and it includes an instructional DVD that make the system easy to use and requires you to test the reed three ways to determine what fine finishing has to be made to any particular reed. I bought this system based on recommendations from people I respect on this forum.
Cheers.
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
Post Edited (2006-01-05 15:32)
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Author: William
Date: 2006-01-05 15:43
I usually place my soprano clarinet reed right on the edge of the RD table with the tip just slightly over the farthest line. Hold the base of the reed securly with your thumb while useing back and forth motions to shave the reed. When you are done with one side, put the reed on the other edge and repeat the process. Ben recommend shaveing the middle part of the reed first and then using longer strokes to complete the profile. Avoid using too much downward pressure on the bar as you shave the reed. The entire reed profiling process should only take a couple of minutes.
If you wish to take more material from the heart of the reed, move the tip farther over the line. To take less, place the tip before the line. In either case, however, Ben recommends placing the reed right on the edge of the table disregarding the side lines that your RD may have. Be sure that you clean your abrassion bar after each use as material will build up. I also put cork grease on the side slope every so often just to keep the action of the bar smooth and prevent wear. Hope this helps a bit.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2006-01-05 16:44
There shouldn't be any downward pressure at all - only from the sides which is where you place your thumb and middle finger (there are circular ridges which are the finger guide) to slide the cutting edge.
The Reed Wizard works really well - I put plenty of stock in it.
(not a paid endorser either, just a user)
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Author: redwine
Date: 2006-01-05 17:48
Hello Brian,
I know that Ben will send you directions (and I will bet that he will refuse payment for them).
As you do live near me, if you can come over, I'll be glad to show you how I use mine--it's all I use on 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: bkmorton
Date: 2006-01-06 11:38
Thank you all for your help. I did talk to Mr. Armato and he is going to send me a set of directions. What a nice guy.
I will use your directions William and see if I can make it.
Ben Redwine, I will take you up on that offer even with the directions because you probably know tricks with the machine that are not described in the directions.
THANKS TO ALL!
I am excited to try it out.
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