Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-07-02 05:02
WhitePlainsDave wrote:
> Here's another device
>
> http://www.reedwizard.com/PerfectAReed.html
>
Right. That's the one I mentioned, although I spelled it slightly differently. It's one of Ben Armato's products and does a useful job of locating imbalances in reed thickness from one side to the other.
> I like this one because you can note the near exact point at
> which a measurement is taken with respect from the tip or butt
> of a reed, or either side.
>
> (A measurement's only as good as knowing where you took it,
> right?)
The problem with PerfectaReed as well as the gauges on the Reeds 'n Stuff site Klose mentioned is that it's time-consuming to take each point one at a time. Also, I think the grid that Armato set up between the fixed distances along the length and the fixed positions marked to position the needle across the width are too far apart to make a really accurate, detailed description of a reed's profile.
>
> That said, and with the caveat of admitting no knowledge of
> where you intend on taking this measuring Karl, I'd like to
> offer my 2 cents that I think reed duplicating (from a profile
> standpoint) machinery, (not measuring machinery, which Karl
> seeks) for those seeking to buy such things is a hunk of junk
> with respect to making copies of reeds that play identically.
>
The problem with reed duplicators is that they only account for thickness but can't reproduce the cane's density in any given area. You need to know both to have any chance of duplicating a reed's response mechanically. But measuring the thickness in detail and recording it into a visual map would show the manufacturer's or designer's <i>intent</i> irrespective of the variability of the cane itself.
> Witness Vandoren cutting each reed of a brand (notice I didn't
> say strength) the same, within the tolerances of a human hair,
> likely better than the fresh blades of such a purchased machine
> can do, especially since manufactured reeds are always being
> cut quality tested.
Oh, I wish I were sure about the quality testing. Does anyone actually play those things at the factory?
> In short, the metaphorical "canvas" on which the reed cutter
> "paints" is different each time, as mother nature incorporates
> variability into cane.
>
Yes, I completely agree, but, still, it might be useful to know what they intend to "paint."
I'm not even sure what use could be made, at least by the player at the consumer level, of the information you'd get from 21st century scanning pf the sort I'm thinking about. But until it can be done, there's no real way to know.
Karl
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
