 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-03-30 02:06
I have got my reedmaking to a fairly consistent point now, and I am interested in experimenting with various shapes.
Currently I am using K.Ge cane (gouged and shaped) as it is very consistent in our climate and easy to work with. This means I am also using K.Ge's own shapes. I have been experimenting with their two shapes and I am beginning to gravitate towards a particular kind of shape now, and I know what gouge thickness works for me.
I would like to work with other types of cane, but I have no idea what other shapes are used by those who play short scrape. All I know is that the short scrape reed tends to be wider than the long scrape.
What are the main 'short scrape friendly' shapes out there? What are their characteristics? What should I measure on my own cane to find other shapes that are a similar proportion to mine? Is there a good website anywhere that compares shapes?
Thanks again,
Rachel
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2014-03-30 15:34
Bob Hubbard has a great deal of information and quite possibly the most consistent shapes out there.
His comparison charts are here.
what I like about this chart is that he takes the 5.1 mm point as "zero", since this is the width that closes at the end of the staple. This makes far more sense than measuring width at the wide end of the shape (which depends on how accurately you remove the ears and will be clipped off anyway).
I use a short-scrape, I recently made several successful reeds using a RDG 1 shaper which is a good compromise, I have found. YMWV. I have a P. Angelo shaper on permanent loan from a friend that is marginally superior, but I have not found its like elsewhere.
I like the Brannen X as a good all-rounder shape as well.
J.
Post Edited (2014-03-30 15:38)
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-03-30 18:10
Thanks, J. Some good information there!
The measurements supplied on Bob's site, are they taken from the shaper tip or from the cane shaped on it? I only have my already-shaped cane to measure, no tip, so if the measurements were of the tip itself, it's possible that the cane measurements could be out by a fraction of a millimetre...or am I completely overthinking this?
Looking at the chart and from what I can tell of my own cane, the Brannen X would be close in proportion, so I am glad to hear that you find it to be a good all rounder.
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2014-03-31 10:02
Bob is often here on the board, so I'm sure he'll chime in. His measurements are of his shapers, not of the cane. You are definitely not over-thinking this!
There are a lot of other factors that affect the eventual width of the cane:
Do you angle over the shoulders of the shaper as you shape?
What blade do you use?
How sharp is it?
How many strokes do you take?
How wet is the cane when you shape it?
For these reasons, many people nowadays prefer straight shapers. these close over the flat cane like a vise, and you then trim excess cane from both sides (middle to end). This ensures a perfectly repeatable shape with perpendicular edges every time. The vise scores a line or notches across the centre point so it folds perfectly as well. But you REALLY need to know what shape you want!
I think Udo Heng (reeds 'n stuff) and Hortnagl make shaping machines with built-in shaping blades with shapers like this - oh, there is no end to the amount of money you can spend shaping your cane to within a micron of its life ...
From my perspective - find a shape that works for you, develop consistent technique, make lots of reeds and play them. Bob Hubbard offers a replacement - buy a shaper and don't like it? He'll swap it for a different one.
J.
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2014-03-31 17:04
I just began using a straight shaper template (Reeds N' Stuff) shaper machine.
I hated shaping by hand. I could not get consistent results and there were always some micro imperfections.
Since I began using the shaper machine with its straight template ... my reeds are superior and of course there is 100% consistency. The reeds tie perfectly/beautifully and the opening is just great~!
The only downside is that the machine is obscenely expensive.
I have no regrets ... worth every penny.
Mark
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2014-03-31 21:15
I will indeed chime in here, but only to say that I am a long scrape guy and can't offer any advice on what shapes work best for short scrape reeds.
Measurements on my chart are, in fact, the tip measurements. If you angle your shaping blade your results will be narrower.
I can confirm that Westwind offers a 30 day trial, so you can try a tip, swap for another until you find your best match or simply return it for a refund if nothing works for you.
There are so many variables; you, the instrument, climate/altitude, etc that it's not easy to find the best tip, but we try to make it less painful...
Regards,
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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