Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-05-18 18:37
It just so happens that I am at the stage where I needed to do this exact thing. Lucky me. So Here's what I did today, and it seems to be working for me:
I started with a finished reed, Joshua +2 shape. Something not too old that was comfortable playing on (actually I started with a lot more than one, but just to explain, lets just say one)
I started at the Throat (and this is a good place to start. Don't start at the tip) I measured 5mm from the thread, and started taking away cane, until the notes below G on the bottom of the staff responded quickly. The trade off is it dulls the sound, and lucky for me, my sound down low was a bit raucous anyhow. Actually, it's good to take in the Throat a bunch, cause those low notes can be hard to control.
Then I moved to the Belly (12 mm from the wrap). I took in the necessary cane so that D in the staff and the surrounding tones responded evenly. Again, this will dull tone, so do it just enough so that the notes respond evenly all the way to the bottom of the instrument.
Finally, I moved to the Tip (20 mm for me, but 23mm for most. The reason for the 20 mm for me is because I shape the tip inward for a few mm at the tip, and 20 mm is the fattest point in my reed). This area will affect response in the altissimo register. Same as above response/tone relationship.
At this point you should have a pretty nicely shaped and playing reed. And it should respond how you like it in all registers. My reeds have a gradual taper, I have not tried a curve.
Funny thing, my reed dimensions seem to be: Throat= 5mm, Belly = 5.8mm, and Tip= 6.5 mm. This is confusing, as this would be the smallest shape in any shaper list. I think what's happened is the cane is drawn in on a curve around the staple, so when I take the cane off of the staple, I'll have to measure again, with it flat on the table. Then I can get a clear picture of what shape is right for me.
Good luck
Drew S.
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
