Author: huboboe
Date: 2011-12-07 04:27
For what it's worth, one of the ways I achieve consistency is by use of a dial indicator. For many years, each time I found a terrific reed I noted the dimensions (thickness - I've made all my reeds 70mm with a 4mm tip, American style, for most of my career) and over time found that most of the best ones were within .01 - .02 mm of each other. When a reed gave me trouble, I checked with my dial indicator to see if the numbers were what they 'should' be. This will vary somewhat with the cane, of course.
Over time one develops 'micrometer eyeballs' - things that look right usually are - but the dial indicator will solve mysteries and keep you honest.
One of the most important things, though, is symmetry, both side to side across the spine and blade to blade. This produces 4 even quadrants that will vibrate evenly at whatever frequency the instrument is asking for. An imbalance means that not all parts of the reed are vibrating in the same manner, producing inconsistency in the response.
A judicious use of flat, raking light both lengthwise from the tip (and sometimes from the back...) and crossways will highlight lumps and bumps, and will define the architecture of the reed beautifully.
My 2 cents for the day...
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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