 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-11-27 17:09
Although this has been only briefly discussed before, this product is an excellent choice for all-around reed adjustments. For those that do not know, it consists of an abrasive glass wand and a thick piece of glass (abrasive on one side, smooth on the other). Barring breakage by dropping it on a hard surface, this item should last indefinitely.
There presently are a number of excellent reed adjustment tools on the market (Ridenour, Armato, etc...) as well as differing opinions on equipment to be used (knife, sandpaper, rush, etc...), I have found this to be the absolute best tool to use for its simplicity and over-all convenience. The enclosed basic intructions, for the novice adjuster, are an excellent primer.
Using a combination of a reed knife and very fine sandpaper and/or rush I have never had any trouble adjusting commercial reeds. However, since acquiring the Vandoren reed resurfacer kit, I have even much more control over fine adjustments for balancing and voicing.
A number of my students are using it with excellent results after having just a bit of brief instruction on the principles of reed adjustment from me. I find that a common mistake that most people make in the early stages of reed adjustment (especially when using a knife) is removing too much material, thus severly altering the profile of the reed. With the reed resurfacer kit, since there is absolute control over the amount of material removed, this is not a problem.
An added bonus - unlike a knife, which must be packed separately for airline travel, this item can stay in your case at all times.
It is available at all on line retailers, such as WW/BW .
http://www.wwbw.com/Vandoren-Glass-Reed-Resurfacer-i110195.music
Although Vandoren often gets the brunt of criticism for their mouthpieces, reeds and other accessories, credit should be given them for an extraordinarily fine product.
...GBK
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Author: Nathan
Date: 2004-11-27 19:27
Thanks for the tip GBK. Does it come with instuctions? I've never attempted any reed finishing work before and wouldn't know how to use it if it didn't come with them.
Thanks,
Nathan
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-11-27 20:07
I tried one of these that a friend has. I thought it is well designed and worked very well.
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Author: jez
Date: 2004-11-27 20:14
Can I second GBK's opinion of this product, not on my own behalf (I never adjust reeds) but on my wife's. After watching her messing around with bits of grubby sandpaper I bought her a resurfacer and she seems delighted with the results.
Nathan,
the instructions seem clear enough.
good scraping
jez
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Author: beejay
Date: 2004-11-27 23:27
A great product. Tip: store the wand in a thermometer case.
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-11-28 07:26
i have posted on this topic before- i introduced this product to the Principal Clarinet of the NZSO, and is now owned and used regularly by about 50% of the orchestral players in NZ (ie very popular with PRO players).
beware- the resurfacer is very tough (i have seen a Vandoren rep throw one around to prove that it won't break)
but the "reed stick" (also called "reed wand" some places) will shatter easily. Being round, it will roll off a table etc
donald
ps - Attempts to make a "reed stick" by sandblasting glass rod were relatively unsuccessful. Vandoren have made a great product worth paying full price for...
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2004-11-30 02:09
I must admit that I have not tried the Vandoren product but I have had great success with Tom Ridenour's ATG system and have not touched a reed knife or other equipment since getting it. The savings in salvageable reeds is worth the price of the product IMHO - you pay for the knowledge behind it and the instructions on how to use it properly, not the product itself.
The Doctor
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-11-30 04:42
Yikes! Didn't think about getting wrestled to the ground over a REED knife!
Allen Cole
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Author: studioline
Date: 2004-12-01 16:47
I use a reed knife and sandpaper and seem to be fairly successful. However, the main problem for me is that the reeds last what seems a very short time- about a week or 2, if I'm playing each day.
Is there something I should do to give the reed a longer life span?
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-12-01 17:09
beejay:
good tip - but where do you store the thermometer?
also, I'd recommend sterilizing the thermometer case first.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-12-02 01:44
Studioline, are you rotating between a bunch of reeds? Doing so usually helps them last longer.
And also, a longer break-in period usuallly amounts to longer life. If you just start playing them day to day without going through some sort of breakin period, they'll crap out on you sooner.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: joeclarinet
Date: 2004-12-09 22:33
The Vandoren product works well with the ATG system of Ridenour as the glass plate which comes with the vandoren sytem is great for unwarping a reed and the flat side you need anyway for the ATG system (vandoren being a very portable size glass plate)
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Author: OmarHo
Date: 2007-07-02 17:03
I'm considering purchasing this product but I'm just wondering..will the glass wand start to get dull after a while of using it?
Thanks
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-07-02 17:37
they clog up with dust. so you just occasionally wash them off with soap and water, using an old toothbrush, being extremely careful - they shatter easily if you drop them.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
Post Edited (2007-07-02 17:38)
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Author: joeyscl
Date: 2007-07-02 19:57
OmarHo
Though i'm not expert at reed adjusting, I can tell you that glass is an extremely hard material... so they shouldn't get dull much over time, after all, you're just shaving off some wood right?
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2007-07-02 21:27
Am I correct in assuming this system works on bigger reeds? Sax? Bass clarinet?
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-07-02 23:01
ditto to everything. though it is a little pricy, it is a good investment. maybe even moreso then a reed trimmer
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: bcl1dso
Date: 2007-07-03 14:10
If you want reeds that last a super long time and don't change, make them. Honestly once you get good at it you can have a reed that will easily last 3 months, not warping, and no changing. ; )
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-07-03 15:10
Me make reeds? Yes I would like to learn how. . Please point to some sources on how to do it. thanks
richard smith
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-07-06 18:13
I enjoyed my vandoren reed stick until i left it in a practice room at university and never found it again. someday i may buy a new one. it works similar to rush, but doesn't wear out and has a point at one end so you can focus on a small area. I also use the ATG system for larger areas, and to thin the tip if needed.
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Author: 2E
Date: 2007-07-07 03:24
Ive been torn between the Vandoren and Ridenour reed fixing systems for some months now. Sounds like many of you are using both, would this be a wise investment for someone just learning reed adjustment? Or is one better/more recommended than the other? Ease of use? Price? Which to get is the question hmmm ...
2E
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2007-07-07 16:20
I've about 30 boxes of reeds, different sizes, different brands etc. hanging about the house.
I've used every device known to man preparing them; the Reed Wizard,
Vandoren Glass Resurfacer, reed clippers, half a dozen different knives,
dutch rush, myriad grades of sandpaper etc. & etc.
The last thing I tried was the Ridenour ATG system. It's like a miracle worker (for me). Using it I can make any reed playable and some superb. It's expensive but worth it. That's my personal experience, no doubt there's world's more. Tom knows a thing or two about reeds.
Clarinet Redux
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