The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2002-09-09 09:12
I've been reeding Larry Guy's book on reed adjustment and would like to know where is the best place to order/purchase reed knives. Someone mentioned Howarth in London to me. I'm after a bevelled edge knife and a hollow ground knife. I would imagine it will be quite a costly exercise ordering from overseas? Also, where can I buy small glass plaques to place the reed on?
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Author: John
Date: 2002-09-09 14:15
For the glass plaque you can go to a window glass store and tell them you want 1/4 inch glass about 1 1/2 X 3 inches and round off the edges. It shouldn't cost too much.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-09-09 21:22
Nick -
Hollow-ground knives are OK for clarinet reeds, but beveled knives are only for scraping and can't cut shavings, which you often need to do.
The really important thing is whether it feels good in your hand. You absolutely must go to a store and try several of them. I've used a Vitry knife for over 40 years, simply because it has a round, slightly teardrop shaped wooden handle that fits my my hand perfectly. It's a very individual thing and depends on the size and shape of your palm and fingers.
The double reed sections in the big catalogs (Weiner, WW&BW, etc.) list many knives. Any knife in the $20-and-up range will be made of decent steel.
You need to get a sharpening stone, too. It doesn't have to be a razor hone (though I finish up using one). A light touch on the smooth side of a standard artificial material 3M or Bear double sided stone will do fine. Use a little 3-In-1 brand oil on the stone.
Welcome to the knive crew. Nothing like a knife for control and precision.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-09-09 22:28
"Welcome to the knive crew. Nothing like a knife for control and precision."
Oh, Lord! Here we go again.
"Bears eat Goats,
And Pigs eat Stoats,
And little reeds knivey...."
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-09-10 05:32
...whilst Bob A.
from tower of ivory
composeth cutting notes
this thread to keep so lively.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-09-10 06:56
For fixing V-12's,
It takes more than a knife.
All your scraping and shaping,
Won't bring them to life.
Abandon those French reeds,
Go try Argentina.
It doesn't take thought.
Not even a subpoena.
Many players have switched,
They enjoy the free time.
Their new found freedom
Is simply sublime...GBK
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-10 15:05
GBK: If Davie Cane starts printing that sad piece of doggerel on boxes of their reeds, they may face early bankruptcy.
Truly art, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder, but really....
A man named Kantor
Long Islander, yet
For forty years now
Has played great Clarinet
And the saxophone, too,
Which gives him no taint
A musician he is,
But a poet? He ain't.
Warmest personal regards,
John
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-10 15:14
Oh, yeah: I picked up a little plastic knife at Burger King for my Fibracell reed. Does a fine job.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-09-10 15:32
GBK wrote:
> Abandon those French reeds,
> Go try Argentina.
> It doesn't take thought.
> Not even a subpoena.
Without rhyme:
Those V12 "french" reeds were from Argentina until relatively recently.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-09-10 18:26
Some major brands use(d) Argentinian cane,
Thin fibers, bad cutting, is why I complain.
And don't change your tip shape for reasons unknown,
or harvest the cane till abundantly grown.
A knife can be such a remarkable tool.
To adjust a bad reed and make it a jewel.
You must have good cane - it makes sweet ringing tone.
Right now, it all comes from the South Temperate Zone...GBK
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-10 20:14
Now, that's not too bad; it's a much better try
At pulling those words right out of the sky
And arranging them here
To make yourself clear
Vandorens almost make you cry.
You must hope that your words give the emphases
To keep Davie's books out of parentheses
Or as certain as rain
They'll go straight down the drain
And your reeds will all dry up right on the trees.
So do keep reminding us all
"Use Gonzalez and you'll have a ball!"
And as we play the sounds
While making our rounds
You can buy them with just a quick call.
I know that this sounds pretty bad
But it does make me feel rather sad
Just to see GBK
Writing stuff, in his way
For no matter what he would try to do
Still he is no Maya Angelou
So it's goodbye today
To the poetic fray
And that should make everyone glad.
Regards,
John
who would ask for a vote but suspects the winner would be "none of the above"
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-09-10 21:13
If left to me (and little is) I'd give the winning vote to GBK.
Bob A
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-09-10 23:12
Mairzy Doats. A good old straight razor can also used in a pinch.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-09-10 23:55
JMcAulay and I - two poets in training,
Making original verse is getting quite draining.
We're really good friends, even with this display.
He uses Legere, and doesn't play a Buffet.
Alas, he's forgiven, it comes with old age.
He knew when a buck was the minimum wage.
I'll put down my pen, for I'm out of ideas.
Mr Gonzalez and I are going out for tortillas...GBK (who never got past Poetry 101, and it's starting to show)
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-11 15:09
Our outlook does seem to be so much more rosy
With discussions conducted so smoothly in poesy
But the cries of "Enough!"
Are becoming too tough
So I think time has come for us simply to mosey.
Our colleagues are likely by now irritated
Just reading things we think to be underrated
So I'll cut it out now
And leave with a bow
And oh by the way it's a bother to me that I lost the vote even though it was just by 1-0.
Farewell, thread
John
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Author: Phil
Date: 2002-09-11 19:59
To all of my friends......
Your words which have reached me (though not works of art),
concerning my reeds have so gladdened my heart.
Praising the virtues of these small devices,
while making a point of my competition's vices.
Whether in text or through prose (animata poetica),
in Courier, Arial or even Helvetica.
These for which reeds you so dilligently lobby,
it seems have deprived you of a needed hobby.
May I suggest you try Golf, Tennis or Bowling?
just remember to leave lots of time for extolling!
(Oh man.....this sucked! But, I couldn't resist. My first post in this forum and it's stupid. Luckily I don't rely on my wit for a living.)
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Author: LynnB
Date: 2002-09-11 20:20
This is the best thread in a long time! Thanks for the entertainment everyone
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