Author: Matt74
Date: 2017-07-21 02:24
I think the suspicion that just about anything could be in a given box fuels the discontent as much as experience. In may cases you can pick out at least one or two reeds that are duds simply by looking at them in the light. The tip may be clearly darker on one side, the cut looks wonky, or the grain is not parallel to the center line. You may not unreasonably infer that they are including bad reeds, either intentionally, or by negligence. When someone claims to be "the standard", or is simply understood to be, they will be judged more harshly.
I have wondered if it is possible to shape the reeds as precisely as they let on. Wood changes shape from the time it is cut until it wears out. The shape it was finished in won't be exactly the same as when you get it. Also, because different stalks will have different variations even within themselves, some may cut very well, others will resist cutting, and others will squish and spring back under the blade, all resulting in irregularities. Manufacturers don't publish stats on that sort of thing. Even if they are the same, that doesn't account for one side of the reed being harder than the other. And, even if they are still the same hardness, they may prefer to move one way rather than another.
Reed manufacturers could do their customers an immense favor by classifying the type of cut (in easily understood terms) in each box. For example "thin tip - thick vamp" etc., or by intended use, "for open tipped mouthpieces with a short lay". (Of course then you would have to expect them to describe the mouthpieces more objectively....) They could also grade cane like "Premium cane, Var Region", or "Raw bamboo refuse from someone's backyard". Manufacturers seem to think it's best to keep their customers ignorant and fool them with phrases like "free-blowing", rather than attract them with useful descriptions. More openness and honesty in sales would go a long way to eliminating customer suspicion. (Lower prices for what is essentially a mass produced object would also help.)
- Matthew Simington
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The Clarinet BBoard
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