 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Joseph LeBlanc
Date: 2009-04-15 17:43
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Hermann Uhl has just come out with a Reed Strength Gauge. It measures the strength of any reed using grams of pressure. This is also the same concept used to measure and sort reeds at the factories. Vandoren has even been known to sort and sell very fine substrengths to certain artists. It's oretty simple to use. Make sure the RSG 20 on a flat surface, place the tip of the reed on the measuring plate, press down on the center of the reed which will flex the tip slightly and measure the resistance. It's helpful to hold the machine steady with one hand as you measure. Also, during my testing process I noticed it's important to let the reed rest between measurements...though in real world conditions you would rarely measure the same reed more than a few times in a sitting...
As a reed maker it can be very time consuming to play test the reed between each clip and this device eliminates the need for most of that process. With the RSG 20 I clip my reeds to about 10 grams under strength and then refine the clip with play testing. It also comes in very handy when making reeds for another player. It may also be possible to sort new reeds among friends with this tool, similar to what happens at the Vandorens artist centers, though for me a proper strength V12s did not always equate to better reeds overall!
Hermann Uhl also came up with the idea of using the device to check for balance(see last picture) and from my experience it's very effective. Traditional means of testing for balance are still just as useful of course, but it can be interesting to actually quantify that difference.
Cost is 67 Euros and they begin shipping in May. More info here:
http://www.uhl-technik.de/rsg20/index.html
-Joe
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-04-15 18:42
Hmmm. Ingenious, but €67 is $88.29 plus shipping.
I long ago learned to flex the tip of a reed gently against the top of my thumb nail. You learn to gauge the strength pretty quickly, and of course it's free.
To check the balance, put the reed on the mouthpiece and twist the instrument 45 degrees each way in your embouchure. Again, it's free.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2009-04-15 19:52
Don't be a spoil sport, Ken; it'll make a nice anodyne for those of us afflicted with Gear Acquistion Syndrome! I can hardly wait!
Think of the hours that can be passed toying with it...measure, adjust, measure, adjust, measure............
Clarinet Redux
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-04-15 20:18
Does it come with a free Ginsu knife (slices, dices, purees, juliennes, all that stuff)?
Why the infomercial?
All ranting aside, I have yet to find any truly useful single parameter (physical or cosmetic) that predicts how well a reed will PLAY. The only reliable test is to play the reed.
You can have your gadgets. What the heck, it stimulates the economy.
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Author: Dileep Gangolli
Date: 2009-04-16 01:06
I kind of have to agree with David here. By the way, I thought the Buffet Mafia had taken you out a week ago. Glad to know that the witness protection program is working.
I have yet to find the real advantage to using dial indicators, reed wizards, etc when the real test is in the playing and adjusting of the reed using feel, sight, and sound.
Each piece of wood is different. If you treat each one as the same as the next, you will ruin some good prospects and throw out some that could be adjusted but do not fit the mold.
I have played on reeds that should not have played but yet actually do. I have had to throw out reeds that looked great, measured great, were balanced, and still sounded bad.
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Author: Joseph LeBlanc
Date: 2009-04-16 03:15
I try to choose my words very carefully when posting online as things can sometimes be misinterpreted. At no point did I imply that this device can find you the perfect reed, or that the right strength reed will always be a good one. Just want to be clear on that...
As I wrote I use it mainly to save time during my reed making process, though there can be other uses for it. For me, it's a nice tool to have at my disposal, and it does what it does quite well.
I put the post and pics up here because I figured some people might find it interesting.
Best,
Joe
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2009-04-16 03:20
Joe,
Thanks for sharing your reedmaking equipment finds! It's nice to get a review and information on all these new and interesting devices.
Best wishes,
Christopher Nichols, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
University of Delaware
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Author: Hermann
Date: 2009-04-16 08:17
(Disclaimer - I am the manufacturer of this tool)
I think I have to say something here. The tool was not especially developed for reed makers. It shall help every clarinettists and saxophone players to:
- pre-select the reeds without playing it (hygiene)
- find the personal reed strength in a standard unit (gram or oz)
- select the personal strength with a higher precision than 2... 2 1/2... 3...
- compare the reed strength of different brands
- monitor the change of the reed strength over the lifecycle
Hermann
Post Edited (2009-04-16 09:55)
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Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2009-04-17 07:37
This tool looks ABSOLUTELY amazing and I GOT to get one of these to toy and play around with. Where will they be available. Straight from the manufacter or from like retail stores? I cannot wait!!!
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Author: justme
Date: 2009-04-27 09:15
Dileep Gangolli said:
" I kind of have to agree with David here. By the way, I thought the Buffet Mafia had taken you out a week ago. Glad to know that the witness protection program is working." ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
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