Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2012-04-09 21:48
Yes, you got it. There is another reason: I just don't get time to scrape reeds as often as I would like. I usually bind about 20 reeds at a time because I like to compare of different gouges, shapers, staples, cane characteristics... I differentiate them with thread colors & patterns and keep note in a book.
In the German technique, it's formally part of the process to wait at least 2 weeks before scraping. But I have also been told this by several other Euro-school and American-school pros back when I was a student.
Cane is a plant, and it seems to "settle in" to the torque of the thread and the grains seem to get seated. So it's not so much closing as much as possible as it is a matter of the grains finding their favourite spot. They do "work" over time with changing temperature and humidity. I have noticed a difference in quality, behaviour and longevity between reeds scraped right away or let to rest for a while.
On the whole, I have found that the older the cane, the better the reed. Even with softer/harder cane, age seems to make it better. After binding, I scrape off the bark from what will be the blend and the tip later on, this allows the cane to breathe better.
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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