 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-10-30 01:00
Just a query about the making of reeds. I only know of three types: cane reeds, plastic reeds and composite reeds. For the sake of simplifying what I'm talking about let's assume that Legere, etc. are plastic but I don't really know what they are made of.
Has there been any attempts to make reeds from other materials, metals, for example, that might retain or replicate the vibrancy of the cane but cancel out the problems of cane, such as the frequency of the cane being too great for the instrument? If so, what were they and were any ever commercially available?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2011-10-30 13:35
The vibrational modes of a reed seem to require a semi-random fibrous structure, which a homogeneous material such as metal certainly does not have.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-10-30 14:05
I hope this follow up question doesn't seem far afield but, since you mention 'semi-random,' is this the fundamental theory behind asymmetrical facings for mouthpieces?
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2011-10-30 15:55
I read in method book that somebody tried to make 'reeds' from silver and ivory but none of these materials were satisfactory. I also raed there were some attempts where the cane reeds were put in different oils to make them more durable.
Regarding asymmetrical facings, I can imagine certain cases, when the player's embochure is asymmatrical and a certain amount of asymmerty in the facing can compensate this. However, it would be easier to simply adjust the reed.
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Author: Elkwoman46
Date: 2011-10-30 19:03
Dear Tony, I have never heard of metal reeds for clarinets, but my evaluation would be just like the metal reeds in Harmonicas, if a clarinet reed was made of some kind of thin metal, it might easily warp??? And because it is metal would possibly already ring of some note when blown on? I don't know.
But the idea is great in my opinion...just need to be mixed with some other materials, maybe? Some combinations of plastic and metal, I have seen in harmonicas and they too sound awesome.
I own a Suzuki harmonica that plays when blowing on it even as much as two inches away! Amazing.
Metal has to be gently warmed up and cared for in other ways. I just wonder how that would sound. Interesting.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2011-10-30 19:05
lThere are, of course, plastic coated cane reeds that many players like because they are brighter sounding. I've added liquid metal to cane reeds to give them a metal surface but did not prefer the resulting product.
In addition, there have been the physically modified cane reeds such as the ones with a hole drilled in the butt or the "Vibrator" cane reeds with longitudinal grooves cut in the butt. Vandoren V12 are still my preference.
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-10-31 04:04
Thank you everyone for your replies. The suggestion of metal was just that, a suggestion. I accept that metals might not be suitable. Certainly any analogy with a harmonica won't stand up because the mechanics of tone production are so different. But plastic reeds don't have a semi-random fibrous structure, do they? And all sorts of qualities can be introduced into metals or other flexible materials. Imagine a reed that had the same frequency range as the instrument and so would never squeak. I'm just dreaming, I suppose.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-10-31 04:04
You can email me. There's a lot of information I have about every type of reed ever made. Even redwood reeds during world war 2 when players couldn't get cane.
savagesax@aol.com
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2011-10-31 04:06)
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-11-05 23:58
I think that any material within a range of stiffness/density (specific stiffness) can be used to make a clarinet reed that works, but the required shape of the critter might be very difficult to make.
Bob Phillips
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