Author: JMarzluf
Date: 2011-12-16 05:23
[Insert standard reed-making advice disclaimer here. You know, the one where I/we tell you there are far too many variables involved in making a reed for us to be able to tell you, sight unseen, what is wrong with this one or that one. It could be the cane, the gouge, the shape, the staple, the way you tie, the way you scrape, the way you play, etc. The list is nearly endless. Now go show your reed to your teacher -- you do have a good teacher, right? -- or a trusted colleague.]
Now, having issued said disclaimer, I will tell you with 70% certainty that you probably have a thin and/or thick spot in the tip of your reed, which is vibrating at a different frequency than the other three "quadrants" of your tip (i.e. left/right/front/back). This is usually the problem for me, when I get a "foreign" sound in the upper register. You will eventually get to the point where you can hear this sort of imbalance in the crow, and will correct it before the reed even makes it onto the oboe. When in doubt, thin the sides and very tip of the tip (consistently across all quadrants), and start clipping by the tiniest increment possible until you come back up to pitch.
Note: Sometimes the standard super-bright reed-making lamp, when used to look through a reed for thick vs. thin areas, can "wash out" the tip area (which is pretty thin overall) and conceal, rather than reveal, the offending imbalance. Try pulling the reed slowly away from the light, and watch carefully as the light/dark contrast becomes more apparent.
I really hope this helps! Good luck!
Jonathan
http://www.marzlufreeds.com/
Post Edited (2011-12-16 05:24)
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