Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2022-01-07 22:50
How much you take off will depend on how much too soft the reed is, and whether it is due to the reed geometry or the resilience/elasticity of the reed itself, or both.
Generally, you should take only a fraction of a millimeter, perhaps 1/4 mm (e.g., about the thickness of a fingernail) so that if you still haven't achieved the strength you want at first, you can still remove more.
There are other considerations though.
The first is that the Cordier trimmer will probably have a different tip shape than your reed, i.e., it will leave a tip looking more like a Vandoren Traditional reed than a V12. This can alter the reed's playing characteristics in addition to changing its strength. I have thought about getting the Vandoren Reed Trimmer because of this possibility, but (1) they are expensive and (2) none of them has the tip shape of the Pilgerstorfer reeds that I use.
Second, some Cordiers (e.g., MINE!), do not cut a symmetrical tip. To do this I must push the butt of the reed to the side before clamping it in in order to orient the reed at an angle to the cutting blade so that it cuts symmetrically across the reed tip. This may take so practice and skill if you have such a trimmer.
Finally, be aware that trimming the tip causes the entire reed to be positioned closer to the tip of the mouthpiece effectively making the reed stronger along the entire vamp, and changing its response/tone characteristics across the all octaves. This in turn may require adjusting the vamp with reed rush, knife, Reed Geek, etc.
Using a reed trimmer to easily/quickly get the results you desire will probably take some experimentation and practice. However, learning to do this will undoubtedly save some (latently) good reeds that you might otherwise throw away.
Good luck!
Bob Barnhart
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
