Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-09-18 14:56
I've used peroxide, which removes some of the grease and makes a slight, temporary improvement.
Scrubbing the vamp with a toothbrush and a tiny amount of toothpaste can have a similar effect.
Reeds often get an imprint of the window on the bottom. If you can see or feel it, put the reed on 400 grit wet-or-dry (black coat) sandpaper, press down firmly on the bark and sand the bottom flat and shiny. Then put your fingers very lightly on the vamp and sand the bottom just enough to remove any imprint of the rails. You'll probably have to clip the tip a bit.
Then put the reed on, tighten up the ligature very snug and back off the screw(s) 1/4 turn.
You can revive an old reed for one more day, or maybe two, by using a reed knife to take off a thick shaving about 1/4" long from the bottom at the butt end. Other people take a coping saw and cut 1/4" off the butt end, or cut the corners off, which has the same effect.
As Ben says, it does no good to cut off the tip and re-cut the vamp. Once the tip has gotten worn out by vibration, the rest of the cane is also dead. I've tried cutting off the entire vamp and re-profiling what's left, leaving just barely enough bark to let the ligature hold. No joy.
I've switched to a Legere for practicing.
Ken Shaw
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