 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2012-07-13 16:22
Here are my findings based on 30 years of reading, reedmaking and experimentation. I am an engineer by profession, a skilled craftsman and a detail person, so I hope I have something to offer here.
The single most important factor when purchasing staples and cane, and shaping and tying-on is that the blades seal against each other all the way to the tip. This ensures that the vibrations begin at the tip and nowhere else.
The second critical factor (as Robin pointed out) is that the blades be free to vibrate in sympathy, there is no constricting cord around the throat of the cane, in other words: don't EVER wrap above the end of the staple.
Everything else pales into insignificance.
What are the forces that press the blade-edges against each other? Three factors here:
o the shape of the staple at its tip
o the tightness of the thread at the tip of the staple
o the shape of the cane (throat, belly and tip)
The shape of the staple at the tip imparts a "twist" to the sides of the cane, and along the 23 mm of blade this twist gradually unwinds almost to the unstressed natural curvature of the cane.
The thread must be tight enough to impart the twist, but loose enough that cane fibres are not seriously damaged/cut. If the thread goes over the top of the staple it chokes the reed making it unresponsive. If the crossover wrap is just below the end of the staple and a fraction looser, the reeds seem to have the best results.
The shape of the cane governs how the twist unwinds along the blade - is most of the springy pressure imparted near the throat? the belly? Ideally, you want it to have an even closing pressure all along both edges of the reed, to the tip.
And so (finally) to the subject of the thread [groan]
If you tie too long (overall length) a gap can form between the blade edges where they meet the staple. You can seal it with saran-wrap/plumber's tape but if it is not sealing properly from the start, the blades are not tight against each-other.
If you tie too short there can be a lot of overlap between the blades. Some players like this, but I don't. I think it alters the volume of air inside the reed, changing the dynamics and playing characteristics. Worst of all it will be inconsistent - it is much harder to get a "consistent" overlap than it is to get a perfect seal with no overlap.
Okay, it was a bit more than 2 cents this time, but I hope, helpful?
J.
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mjfoboe |
2012-07-12 21:53 |
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cjwright |
2012-07-12 22:48 |
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RobinDesHautbois |
2012-07-13 01:05 |
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mjfoboe |
2012-07-13 01:26 |
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RobinDesHautbois |
2012-07-13 10:03 |
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jhoyla |
2012-07-13 16:22 |
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HautboisJJ |
2012-07-14 01:26 |
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GoodWinds |
2012-07-31 19:58 |
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The Clarinet Pages
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