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Re: How to Copy a Reed

Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2012-03-21 01:33

Max - I've made reeds on four different machines; a Reedual, a modified Reedual (with an adjustable model reading-head), a Greg James machine and the recent Uhl Technik RPM 68 (http://www.uhl-technik.de/en/pi3/pi7/pd1.html).
The single lesson learned from making reeds on these different machines is that there is no ideal nor perfect set of measurements for a reed, only an ideal density of cane to suit your mouthpiece.
You mentioned that you feel you have adjusted a reed to perfection and that you would like to copy it. My experience suggests that a copy will come close to the original in playing characteristics only if the copy is made on a blank whose density is identical to that of your perfect model. Other reed-makers' experiences I know suggest the same thing.
Reeds often come off the Reedual with measurements nothing close to the model. I have made reeds on the Reedual with ludicrously out-of-whack measurements, yet sometimes they would play wonderfully, sometimes much better than a copy of a reed with "ideal" measurements.
If the cane density is optimal for vibrating on your mouthpiece, the reed will play, more or less. If the cane density is not optimal, neither ideal measurements nor a perfect copy of a good reed will make it play.

Simon

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