Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-05-18 13:40
>... i turn the reed over periodically so both blades get about equal treatment>
Well, this is an interesting thread.
VB, you are right about the light-tonguing-on-the-underside being difficult to maintain. I'm not sure it is the way to go, except that my teacher (and apparently, also Mr. Sprenkel) mentioned tonguing on the bottom blade, so there must be something to it.
As far as giving equal treatment to both blades, my teacher has apprised me of the fact (?) that not all oboe reed blades are created equal. She states that most good reedmakers intentionally make one blade a hair shorter than the other, with the idea that this somehow facilitates response.
Since she told me that, I have, of course, been minutely examining every reed, past and present, for evidence of this technique, and, whaddya know, she's right (as usual -- I have a very authoritative teacher)! The tip of virtually every (good) reed I have is beveled in one direction or another.
Teach says that for consistency, she bevels toward the crossover side of the thread -- i.e., the side where the thread crosses over at the top, to begin its downward spiral. That's her "shorter" blade side, which she says should be the underside (bottom blade) of the reed, as played.
I asked the question about right and wrong sides of the reed herein a couple of years ago, but don't think I got this answer.
Is this something new, or is this standard-of-practice on American Scrape reeds -- you who know, do tell!
susan
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