 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-07-04 19:46
I've been using the ATG reed finishing system for a little over a week now and all I have to say is WOW!!!!! I also bought 3 new boxes of clarinet reeds. Gonzalez FOF (3's), Rico Grand Concert traditional (3's) and Vandoren V12 (3.5).
After adjusting these three boxes of reeds with the ATG system and breaking them in slowly I am simply amazed at the improvement in playability of the reeds. All 30 reeds play well and that's just something I have never experienced in my 40 years of playing woodwinds.
What's funny is that all three brands now play so well that I'll now have to spend more time deciding which brand will be my favorite. I would be satisfied with either brand but I'll probably zero in on a favorite out of the 3.
I wish I would've had the ATG system 40 yrs ago. I would've saved a ton of money. Not to mention all of that wasted time and frustration fussing with what I thought was useless reeds. Probably wouldn't have went through so many mouthpieces either.
Thanks Tom Ridenour!!!!!! You're an absolute GENIUS!
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2012-07-04 21:00
Great technique. But also, read "Romancing the Reed", which appeared, in two parts I believe, in The Clarinet some 20 years ago. Together one can get the very best from every reed.
richard smith
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-07-04 22:28
rtmyth, I think I will check out "Romancing The Reed" to see what it has to offer. I realize that not every reed is going to become a great concert quality reed with the ATG or any system but the ATG system brings a given box of reeds so much closer to being a good or great playing box of reeds.
I'm thrilled with the results I've gotten thus far with the ATG system.
Richard Crocker
Greenwood, SC
Post Edited (2012-07-04 22:29)
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Author: michael13162
Date: 2012-07-04 23:45
At 90$ however...
I realize knowledge is valuable, but is 90 gold pieces justifiable?
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-07-05 02:43
After using the ATG reed finishing system I find that it's worth every penny I paid for it and more. It's not just a few tools and a bunch of knowledge. It's a world of fantastic results eliminating wasted money, wasted time, wasted energy, and wasted reeds, and all that frustration. If you can eliminate all of these you have really gotten a tremendous return on your investment.
In the past I would spend at least $90.00 on about three boxes of reeds just to get a few of them that played well. Thanks to the ATG system the three new boxes of reeds I just recently bought will not be wasted.
Richard Crocker
Greenwood, SC
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2012-07-05 13:07
Do you adjust the reeds before breaking them in or after breaking them in?
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2012-07-05 13:55
Rick77...
I, too, have had very good results with the ATG system. Like cxgreen48, I'd be interested in knowing how you go about breaking in your reeds.
As I recall, Tom Ridenour advises playing each reed out of the box and then doing some adjusting with the ATG system. Perhaps others go through a soaking/drying process first, playing a little each time, over the course of three or four days or more, and only then turning to ATG.
Can you tell us your procedure?
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-07-05 14:10
Author: cxgreen48 (---.col.wideopenwest.com - (WideOpenWest) Dublin, OH United States)
Date: 2012-07-05 13:07
"Do you adjust the reeds before breaking them in or after breaking them in?"
CX,
I too was curious about this when I bought the system. After listening to and watching the video I caught on quickly as Tom suggested going ahead and adjusting the reeds right away instead of after they are broken in.
But being new with the ATG system I didn't sand too much off of the reeds during the first session with any particular reed. I found that you can do this then continue to fine tune (or adjust) the reeds as you break them in.
The more I use the system I realize that you can actually be pretty agressive with the finishing right off the bat without worrying about damaging the reed.
Play the reed and see how it responds then start working on it according to how it responded. If it played pretty close to how you want it to play then go easy with the sanding. If the reed was very stuffy and unresponsive you can be more aggressive with the sanding.
It's actually quite simple and you will catch on quickly and be amazed with the improvement in the once unplayable reeds. Great results! I couldn't be happier with the ATG system.
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Author: rick77
Date: 2012-07-05 14:26
Weberfan,
My breaking in system is very simple. On day one I take a new reed out of the box and soak the tip end only (the bark end stays dry) in water for a minute or two, no longer if I can help it.
I play the reed for a couple of minutes as another reed is soaking for a minute or two. So I basically soak each reed for a minute or two then play them for a minute or two then set them aside to dry overnight. I repeat this same procedure for about five days and the reeds are broken in.
Of course now that I'm finishing the reeds right out of the box with the ATG system, the break in process is so much easier and less time consuming for each session during the five day break-in process.
The big difference is that each reed becomes playable immediately because of the ATG system. I'm just taking it easy on each reed by not over playing them during the first five days.
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2012-07-05 14:38
Tks, Richard.
I've been handling it pretty much the same way, though I've tried a soak/dry break-in period BEFORE using ATG. I do find that starting with ATG is preferable. And then going back to ATG as needed after the break-in process is complete.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-07-05 15:15
Mark Nuccio talks about his process at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y0Zv3EZ-Ms.
If the tip of the reed gets soaked through and is semi-transparent, I take it off immediately.
I also pay attention to the bottom, using 600 grit sandpaper over a big piece of plate glass, pressing fairy hard over the bark and very lightly along the vamp to get the bottom shiny. For the final polishing, Kalmen Opperman recommended a USPS prepaid blank postcard (the light yellow thin cardboard one, like a manila folder). I've also taken a newspaper and cut a piece without any printing. It's fragile but free and lets me press down fairly hard on the tip without worrying about taking anything off.
Ken Shaw
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2012-07-05 22:42
I, too, use the ATG system and have found it to be a great way to handle reeds. So simple.
Ken Shaw brought up sanding the bottom. From what I have read, this is a common technique. But, for me sanding and/or polishing the bottom has most often resulted in disaster for the reed in question. Does anyone else have this problem? I do it just like Ken says, with a plate of glass, 600 grit, newspaper, etc.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2012-07-06 01:20
I agree with Ken on the shiny bottom, if you will.
I usually use a bastard file, which I keep on my music cabinet. A couple of quick swipes usually does the trick, but the 600 grade sandpaper is just as good.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2012-07-06 03:52
The ATG hardware is not worth very much.
The technique is worth the $68 I paid for mine several years ago.
I'd contribute $90 to Tom's retirement fund if I were to need another ATG.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Buster
Date: 2012-07-06 05:17
Throw some cigarette/cigar ashes (Cuban if possible as they are far more complex in flavor if lacking in construction) onto the vamp and table and rub with some typing paper to seal the reed prematurely; and "shiny."
That's the tweet Bonade sent me from his castle at least.
-Jason
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