 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-04-03 11:26
We just had something like a very small-scale clarinetfest here (which I will post about later) and we had a class about working on reeds. One of the guests was Robert Spring and he told us he makes his own reeds since 20 years ago where he got angry with commercial reeds.
I was thinking of trying to make my own reeds. Since I don't have any exprience I thought of starting with the Gonzalez blanks instead of just cane.
Does anyone have any experience with these blanks? I don't like Gonzalez reeds, since for some reason they chirp (I think that is how it is called, like a small squick just before you start the notes). For some reason most Gonzalez reeds do that while others don't.
Also, do I really need something other than a reed knife and glass papers (maybe in English it's called sandpapers)? If I remember correct Robert Spring said he only used knifes and glass papers and he makes the blanks himself.
Thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-04-03 15:00
If reeds are chirping on your mouthpiece, I'd investigate the mouthpiece itself for a slight side-to-side unbalance of the tip rails, or of the baffle at the tip end. I always use Olivieri reeds for 'chirp-testing' mouthpieces I reface because those reeds have an especially thin tip and will chirp at the slightest provocation if the mouthpiece isn't just right!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-04-03 18:37
Maybe I wasn't clear that pretty much only Gonzalez reeds chirp on my mouthpiece (about 50% of them I'd say). Vandoren reeds which I use don't chirp at all. Strange, but that's how it is.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavieCane01
Date: 2006-04-04 23:44
Obviously, the tips of our reeds are a bit too thin for your setup. THe FOF and RC reeds are .001 thinner at the tip than most others and that, obviously, is enough to cause you trouble. You could try setting the ones you have a tiny bit higher on the mouthpiece and see what happens then. If it's still a no-go, then them's the breaks.
You might be interested to know that Robert uses our cane.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2006-04-04 23:57
Another suggested tool, a reed trimmer. Just in case you thin out a reed too much, you can clip it down a bit and readjust.
Also might help with the "too thin a tip" syndrome, if that indeed is the problem.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Cuisleannach
Date: 2006-04-08 07:30
I've always approached reed-making pedagogy by having students adjust ready-made reeds. Starting out by making reeds from scratch is really hard because there are so many variables to consider at the same time. I usually start out by doctoring my students reeds for them, explaining what I'm doing as I go along. Then I have them do it. Then I do funny things to reed and make them whittle me a playable piece of cane. I'll take a reed that is far harder than what they'll need and have them take it down. I'll use a reed clipper to take a sizeable chunk out of a reed and have them return it to playing condition. In both of these situation they are given the basic profile and are asked to personalize their own reed. Only then do I turn them loose on a reed blank or on tube cane.
My reed-making tool-kit
9" X 9" piece of thick glass with bevelled edges
a few 1" X 3" pieces of thick glass with bevelled edges
(The above can be made-to-order by a local glass shop
320, 400, 600 grit sandpaper...I rarely use the 320, the 400 and 600 should be wet-or-dry (black surface) garnet sandpaper
Knife with a bevelled blade (necessary)
knife with double hollow-ground blade (optional...really good for fine scraping and becoming dull at the slightest provocation)
Sharpening stone......better off with a large stone
Take a look around for some books on the subject, but experience in this case is the best teacher.
-Randy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
