 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2009-11-04 23:06
Hi,
I have been experimenting with reeds to go with my new Marigaux. I am making long scraped reeds with a soft W (more like to connected U's) as the base about 5mm from the thread - and a tip 3mm at the sides and 2mm in the center from the blend to the tip and basically a faint hint of blended windows towards the base - and no rails above the W. There is only a hint of a spine above the W. The heart / back blend / windows is pretty much continuous without defined windows. The tip - heart blend is a triangular - semi circle.
The sound is warm, rich and vibrant with a pleasant ring.
Anyone out there have experience with this type of scrape? American or European.
Mark
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2009-11-04 23:52
I believe Alex Klein makes his reeds in a similar way. I think he would not remove the rails though and that his gouge is actually quite thin, even at the sides. (Perhaps this facilitates the lack of windows?) What is your gouge thickness and side ratio? I have always been curious how a reed like that would play.
Regards,
Howard
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2009-11-05 00:44
Howard,
The center gouge is .57 - .58. The edge / side measured before shaping is around .42 - .43. Measured wet.
Mark
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2009-11-05 07:59
I make reeds like that; very limited rails, scrape starts aprox 4-5 mm from thread, although sometimes if the reed is sharp (typical for a Gordet oboe) I will scrape lower. The 'windows' on reeds for my jarde oboe tend to be deeper and the reed length shorter.
Because I take what I can get thickness and density-wise in cane, though, my reeds vary quite a bit. Like I've said many a time before: I was taught to 'scrape the reed so that it plays'. Not very specific but it's worked for me, going on 30 years now.
I still think that you have to make reeds for your particular needs, which is why I admire people (like Cooper) who can make good reeds for other people. I sometimes give reeds to my students who are quite happy with them, but overall I'm just not consistent enough to make a 'standard' reed.
GoodWinds
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2009-11-05 11:34
Actually, that was what i heard Alex Klein does as well! I believe he prefers even thinner sides...very interesting! Is the tone you try to achieve similar as well? Not having a gouger with such American specifications i would very much like to try such a reed....Who makes a reed like that that sells them commercially?
Howard
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2009-11-05 20:02
I wrote to a friend of mine who is studying at Oberlin.
Alex Klein:
1. Does not gouge thin in the center, nor does he gouge thin on the sides. Instead, he uses a normal gouging setup
2. Does not make reeds that crow a Bb. They crow a C, and he scolded my friend who makes flat reeds.
3. Does not bite up his reeds. He scolded her for biting as well.
4. Uses a RDG 2 shape, and doesn't understand how the rest of the American oboe world can use such narrow shapes.
5. Can not jump over buildings with a single leap.
6. Can indeed play an entire beethoven symphony, all orchestral parts, simultaneously, in one breath, with just his oboe.
Cooper
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2009-11-06 00:34
Cooper, your friend should change no.6 to everything in the repertoire, even those that haven't been written yet.
Howard
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2009-11-06 14:37
Hi,
I have begun to increase the definition of the windows -although very slightly, as I moved to shorter staples. The aim is for flexibility, pitch stability, and warmth of tone.
My reeds now have a more visible spine through the blend. Clear channels from the back to the front. Slight windows at the base blended through the channels and a more defined tip with very thin corners.
Mark
If I get hold of a camera - I'll post pics for discussion.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2009-11-08 04:40
Mark, you seem like one of those people who would like to come to a 'reed party', where 2-3 players spread out their tools on the table and compare and contrast and learn from one another!
GoodWinds
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2009-11-08 12:37
Goodwinds,
A Reed Party- I am ready - with the right music, food, people, and atmosphere!
In all seriousness - I have learned much new reed making information this week. I have contacted a well known Margaux Oboist by email - who responded very graciously more than once in my quest to find the perfect reed for my Marigaux. I have experimented with staple size to good results, and I have improved my knife technique and tip construction to create a better stable reed and pitch.
Now, I have done this all because my Loree and Marigaux have very different characteristics. Their pitch center is different as well as their scale strengths and weaknesses. So - I have had to improve and expand my reed making skills.
So far - so good. I am still a having some adjustments made on my Marigaux - as I play it more and become more in tune (no pun intended) with the instrument.
My daughter played the Marigaux the other day - she hasn't touched an Oboe for many years. Boy - she sounded fantastic - the Marigaux core sound is built into the instrument!
Interestingly, I am shifting slightly my conception of sound - as I play the Marigaux and make new style reeds - But the sound production is very consistent.
As the thread states - I am experimenting with success - with a reed style which has more defined long channels and less if any well defined windows in the back.
Mark
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2009-11-08 23:54
Please ignore - go to my next post.
Post Edited (2009-11-09 00:16)
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2009-11-09 00:04
Attachment: long scraped reed.jpg (126k)
Hi,
Here is a picture of my long scraped reed. It performs quite well. You can see long channels and only the faintest back windows. The sides of the tip are 3.5mm.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2009-11-09 01:02
I'm with you on 'makes'. My Jarde oboe takes shorter reeds with shorter tips and more deep 'windows' in the back. I'm still trying to find the 'perfect' scrape for my Gordet, but am returning to what I used to do for my Marigaux.
Reed parties are fun, and the time flies. I would NOT recommend a reed party with alcohol, because it would be way too easy to scrape the reeds into ruin... Herbal tea works well, though. 
GoodWinds
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Author: justme
Date: 2009-11-09 01:12
Goodwinds said: " Reed parties are fun, and the time flies. I would NOT recommend a reed party with alcohol, because it would be way too easy to scrape the reeds into ruin... "
I also imagine that with all of those reed knifes shaping reeds that there might be some fingers missing as well!
Just Me
http://woodwindforum.ning.com/
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