 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: abstruse_melisma
Date: 2009-10-10 06:32
Hello all,
I'm intent on experimenting with reed design over winter break this year, and I thought I would pose a little survey to the board about cane distributors, brands, types, etc. There are resources in the appendix of David Pino's book but I imagine they are probably out of date by now. Does anyone have favorable experience with a particular variety? French, Argentinian, whatever kind you like is welcome here. My main concern is consistency. What should I ask for in terms of quantity? Do you end up with a lot unusable material? Also, what does everyone prefer in terms of seasoning/prepping the cane? Links to good guides are welcome as I'm starting to amass a collection from which I can cull the best info. Eventually, I hope to establish my own methodical approach that incorporates a diverse base of tested findings.I want to do a broad experiment and may look into getting some research funding. I know several of you strongly advocate making your own reeds, and I've always been curious.
Devin T.B. Langham
Clarinet Performance Major
Michigan State University
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2009-10-10 13:33
Since you're at MSU, you might want to check out Shelley Hanson's doctoral dissertation about her method of making clarinet reeds. Some of her methods are a bit time-consuming, but it was a good method for the 1970s. A copy of it should be in the MSU library. I think Shelley worked with Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr. It might be worth talking to Elsa, and it might be worth trying to contact Shelley (although I'm not sure where she's currently teaching).
Also in the 1970s, someone wrote a doctoral dissertation about good reeds and bad reeds. I once had a copy of it. The researcher contacted top performers from around the country and asked them to send her one of their best and one of their worst reeds. She analyzed them, and came up with some interesting conclusions. If I remember correctly, she concluded that reeds with densely "packed together" vascular bundles worked better than those that didn't. It's definitely worth trying to search for this dissertation, but unfortunately I don't recall the author's name (she wasn't from MSU). Again, you could try contacting Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr because I think she was one of the performers who submitted reed samples.
I moved a couple times since acquiring a copy of this dissertation about 30 years ago, and I'm not sure if I still have it. If I do, I'll provide a few more particulars. If I remember correctly, I think some of the performers submitted Mitchell Lurie reeds.
I used to make my own reeds using Shelley's methods, but I no longer do this. Today I get great results from Rico Reserves. I think Rico's premise that using the lower and more dense part of the cane plant is a very sound (please pardon the pun!) concept.
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Author: abstruse_melisma
Date: 2009-10-14 21:47
A belated thank you to clarinetguy!
I'm going to head to the library tonight if possible. Those dissertations should prove very valuable and time-saving. I've already got quite a bit of information about the steps of the process, but I'm still looking for an answer about what makes certain types of cane better than others (aside from straight grain, even size fibers, etc.). There are other posts on this forum about whether or not Gonzalez reeds are more reactive to humidity than Vandoren because of their cane. Seemingly, the species is the same, but the growing conditions, drying process, or something alters the end result. (Perhaps the Doctor can answer this?? How is your project going?!)
The other questions I still have are: What company sells the best cane (i.e. most quality control in the sorting process) and what are the different growing, drying, aging processes that they use?
As an update: I've narrowed the scope of this investigation a little. Presently, I'm looking for funding to learn with Udo Heng (Reeds n Stuff on Youtube), since MSU may end up approving the purchase of his tools. Probably, we would use the Uhl-Technik profiler with them. Assuming that goes through, I'd then delve into some more esoteric things. But you have to start somewhere, and you can't investigate reed-making without tools. I don't have time to do every reed by hand, so this is probably the best route for me.
Devin T.B. Langham
Clarinet Performance Major
Michigan State University
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Author: hyescot
Date: 2014-04-19 04:15
Hello Clarinet Guy:
I have a question. Is the Shelley Hanson you are referring to (the one that wrote the dissertation on reed making) the same person as Shelley Hanson, the Klezmer clarinetist/composer?
The composer Shelly doesn't look like the Shelly I took a semester of reed making from while at CSU-Fresno. However, I find it difficult to see how there can be two people with the same name and who both play clarinet. But my memory is foggy and you never know. I worked Shelly Hanson the clarinetist who did the Phd on reed making. I remember that she had just completed it.
Can you add any clarification to this?
Thank you
Michael
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Author: hyescot
Date: 2014-05-01 02:14
Hello Clarinetguy:
Thank you for your quick reply. I had a feeling from her picture that it was her. During the year I studied with her, I don't remember her mentioning a Klezmer band. This was in 1980 to 1981 or so at CSU - Fresno.
Thank you again.
Michael
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2014-05-01 03:44
Here is an article from the December, 2012 issue of "The Clarinet" that you might find interesting (even though the lead author has a Ph.D. from that "other" school in Michigan -- you know, the one who's colors are maize and blue).
[Edit: My original direct link didn't work.] For a pdf copy of the article, go here:
http://www.reedual.com/
Then click on "The Art and Science of Reeds" at the top right of the ReedDual home page. When the linked page appears, click on "New Article: REEDS: Good or Bad? It’s in the Cane" to the right of "Some Comments on Single Reeds."
You might also try contacting the guy who operates:
http://reedproject.org/
I don't know whether he is still in business or not. His website is up but there are some obvious glitches and it doesn't appear to have been updated recently. He had some health issues last year that appear to have set him back. He's been making a business out of what you are proposing so he may or may not be willing to talk with you. I will say that I bought a couple of batches of his clarinet reeds last year and thought his cane was quite good.
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2014-05-01 04:00)
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