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Re: Reed strength

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-09-01 22:14

Good question!

From what I've read here and elsewhere, I think it depends on the manufacturer. Some of them seem to use some kind of machine that tests how far a reed will flex under a given pressure. Others seem to test the density of the cane at some point along the reed's length that, again I think, varies from maker to maker. I have a gauge made by Ulh that tests the flex at the tip and another little device from years ago called a Reed-o-matic that tests the same thing in a slightly different way.

The important thing to get from the numbers used to indicate strength by the various reed makers is the comparative difficulty of making the various strength reeds vibrate within one manufacturer's specific model. So a #2-1/2 V12 should be easier to make vibrate than a #3 or #4. It isn't necessarily true that the relationship exists across brands or even models of the same brand - it comes up all the time that a #3 Vandoren Traditional (blue box) does *not* present the same resistance as a #3 V12, nor, IMO is a #3 56 Rue le pic equivalent to either one.

However the strength of a reed is determined, it's probably the density of the cane that causes the differences. The relationship among numeric strengths exists for one model of one brand, and if understood that way, it probably doesn't matter if Vandoren tests strength by punching something into the cane to test its density and Rico flexes the tips of its reeds.

Karl

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