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Re: Reeds: Sanding the flat side.

Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2015-12-09 03:06

I kind of think of myself as a better than average reed guy. I avoid sanding the tips, because most of the time the reed problems are behind the tip area. Often the tips are only 0.006" thick, about the thickness of 2 human black hairs. Not much! Blond hairs are thinner, so that would equal about 3 blond hairs. I know what some of you may be thinking, that's really thin, or Bob is nuts! Probably both. A measuring tool I really like are called calipers. You can pick these up from about $20 to $500. Buy the $20 ones at a place called Harbor Freight. Order online. These are also very good for measuring the rails of the reeds, making sure that the side rails of the reeds are balanced. Get the 6 inch ones.

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-digital-caliper-with-sae-and-metric-fractional-readings-68304.html On sale right now for $15.

I usually use 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper. 400 grit is OK too, if the reeds are a bit on the hard side, or if you plan on clipping the reed after sanding it. I think reed clippers are a great tool to have. So if you decide to sand the whole reed, tip included, using a tiny nick reed clipper will help bring back the thickness of the tip and also keep the reed from playing too soft.

One of the best reed books I've ever read is by Fred Ormand. It's very much worth buying and the price is very reasonable.

These clippers and the caliper, along with Fred Ormand's book will surely solve a lot of reed issues. Hope this helps.

Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces

Yamaha Artist 2015

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Reeds: Sanding the flat side.

knotty

2015-12-08 21:49