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Re: Gouge thickness

Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2012-03-31 16:52

What a question.

Bart Schneemann gouges .50, yes, 50. The reed is WIDE with a 42mm staple that results in a 69-70mm length. As if that does not make the reed close enough, he makes the staples extremely round to add to the closing. He then puts 2 wires to prevent them from overlapping and collapsing. Needless to say, the scrape is less than 8mm. You would assume that the super short tip compensates. No it does not, and this is where Loree oboes come in. A huge can of worms is what you have opened!

I use a .55 gouge. With thin sides, this results in a naturally more closed reed despite the 10mm diameter. However, my scrape resembles most typical short scrape templates, e.g. K. Ge's, with a scrape length of 10.5-11.0mm. But indeed, thinner sides results in a better tone and response, with a downside of a collapsing high register and crucial notes. The extreme tip has to be shorter and in general with 45mm staples this reeds will almost always come to a length of 69mm+-. Scrape until the response is correct and the sound is good. Flat? Clip the tip and go on. Repeat until ideal is achieved!

K. Ge cane is sometimes too soft. Although theoretically a thicker gouge allows for a longer scrape, i find everything is about give and take. You complain of losing warmth with a longer scrape. In fact, a longer scrape should INcrease warmth. What you are getting is perhaps a result of overlapping, among other factors. You say all layers of bark, does that mean an act of lengthening or simply scraping away? With short scrape reeds it is a fine balance of the heart and tip with no windows but a gradual extension from the edge of the scrape towards the tip. Take 10.5-11.0 diameter cane and create a formula where you have to cut as little as possible to maintain a small enough opening. Keep scraping from there on and you will find the length which supports this method.

Perhaps you are expecting the same type of reed response as American long scrape reeds, short scrape reeds simply do not work in the same manner. I have been working on 42mm staple reeds which are similar to Bart's but with a .60 gouge and doing the opposite of scraping very long and adding windows but with a tip that looks rather European (no clear spine and with a standard European gouge). A wire helps produce a better opening. They are beautiful but i have yet had courage to play them in public! (Soon)

Try gouged and shaped cane from Le Roseau Chantant instead. I love K. Ge's products, but variety helps in learning. Jordanov produces good quality cane. (forget about his reeds though.)

Good luck!
(A moment of Bart inspires all: http://youtu.be/f-0mfXi1zV8 )

Post Edited (2012-03-31 17:12)

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Gouge thickness new

WoodwindOz

2012-03-28 03:48