Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2013-01-02 16:58
In a recent thread I observed that some of my reeds are bowed after playing and drying overnight, and that some come that way out of the box (see the last few posts of the following: Bad Reed?
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=381093&t=381093 )
In summary, some reeds (e.g., Rico Reserve Classics out of the box), when placed on a flat plate, flat side down, are slightly high in the middle, actually lifting off the plate in the center. I should have realized this sooner, since I have been noticing that sometimes 1) My played reed ( and mouthpiece table) will be noticeably wet on the top third to half, and 2) after sanding some reeds the surface near the tale has been sanded noticeably more than the center section of the reed. 3) Finally, when a Rico Reserve Classic needs to be adjusted due to warping, it has to be more aggressively sanded than other reeds to get noticeable results. That makes sense now, since the bowing is preventing the middle from being sanded until a significant amount is sanded off the end. (Note that the pressure exerted on the reed during sanding partially compensates bow.)
So I have the following observations, or perhaps better, suppositions:
It would probably be preferable not to slide the ligature down as far as possible (as advocated by some) on a bowed reed, since it would leave a greater Gap between upper center of the reed and the table.(But note Karl's comment in the Bad Reed? thread about some French mouthpieces being designed with a curve, deliberately creating such a gap.)
Second, a bowed reed requires a different sanding technique, otherwise one might take more off the tip and tale than intended. I usually only sand my reeds below the vamp to avoid tip sanding (by hanging the reed over the edge of the sandpaper), yet I still get excessive sanding on the tale. I will now also try placing my flat sanding plate at the edge of a surface, so that when I sand the bottom half the top portion is hanging over the edge (suspended in air, if you will). In this way the tip of the reed will not continue to hold up the middle, and the middle will lay flat on the paper and be more consistently sanded with the end.
Laurie
(Mr. Laurie J Braaten)
Post Edited (2013-01-03 16:59)
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
