 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill_D
Date: 2021-03-06 22:27
I'm interested in purchasing a Cordier reed trimmer for a Bb clarinet. I see there is a Marca Cordier, Cordier 610 and Cordier RT2.
What are the differences or which is the best?
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2021-03-07 20:35
Attachment: Cordier reed trimmer, upright.jpg (333k)
Attachment: Cordier reed profile, Wur 3CS mp.jpg (56k)
I didn't know there are different versions. Mine is none of those, purchased in 2015, and it just says "Cordier L'Unic" and "Brevete S.G.D.G. (whatever that latter means).
The design is robust and it functions well, but I'm not happy with the cutting profile where the "corners" are too steep to match any of my mouthpieces (the picture shows a Wurlitzer 3CS mouthpiece, but also the Vandorens and others I have are similar).
There was another thread not long ago here about "Reeds cut the Wright way", where I understood that Harold Wright had proposed a reed profile with steep corners, so maybe the Cordier trimmer is in that line. For my part I can't say what the benefit is supposed to be of such a profile. Just intuitively I would prefer a profile matching at least fairly well that of my mouthpieces.
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Author: Bill_D
Date: 2021-03-07 21:02
Thanks for the info.
Makes me think I might be better off with the Vandoren RT10 Bb clarinet reed trimmer for traditional reeds, and using their traditional reeds.
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2021-03-07 22:36
I have a Cordier, just like the one pictured by Micke Isotalo. One thing I would say is that, like reeds and mouthpieces, different examples of the same model can be very different. I bought mine in Howarths of London, and they were kind enough to let my try out their entire stock of 5 Cordiers. They all produced a different profile (markedly asymmetric in 2 cases), and I wouldn't have been happy with any of them apart from the one I bought (which I have been very pleased with). I don't think this is surprising when you look at the construction of the machines: they have to break a single bit of metal into the two cutting faces, and there's no scope for adjustment by filing the shape, as the two faces have to mesh perfectly. It's impressive that they manage to get the shape anything close to that of a reed. This is undoubtedly a downside of the modern trend to universal mail order - you don't know what you're going to get. Anyway, bottom line is you could gamble and order one, since there has to be a chance that it will come with the shape you want.
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2021-03-08 00:59
I bought a Cordier in the mid 1960s when there was only one design, and 2 more in later years that did not have good tips. The latter ones are now used for spare parts to keep my original one going.
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Author: JTJC
Date: 2021-03-08 17:31
I thought some people used reed trimmers for larger reeds (tenor sax etc ?) to get less rounded corners on their clarinet reeds? I think they’re supposed to give a better cut as well. If your using a larger trimmer it might also give you the lateral movement to get round the issue John Peacock refers to, and produce a symmetrical cut.
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2021-03-11 01:27
I once bought a cheap Chinese soprano sax reed trimmer, with a very similar profile as that of the Vandoren V12 reeds (which are less rounded than most other reeds). The profile of an alto sax reed trimmer was too flat, as that of a tenor sax - which is usually the same as for bass clarinet reeds.
I eventually bought also a Rigotti soprano clarinet reed trimmer, where the profile is a good match to my mouthpieces. However, build quality and materials which are partly plastic are lower compared to the Cordier, and the adjustment screw design makes it clumsier to carry around.
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Author: tdufka
Date: 2021-03-11 09:11
I recently purchased a Pisoni tenor sax reed trimmer for use on bass clarinet reeds, but it produces a very round corner as well.
What are people using for bass clarinet reeds to match a V-12 tip shape?
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Author: kdk
Date: 2021-03-11 17:49
tdufka wrote:
> What are people using for bass clarinet reeds to match a V-12
> tip shape?
A lot of players seem to use either a very fine emery board or fine-grit abrasive paper. You can make the tip any shape you want.
Karl
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Author: OneWatt
Date: 2021-03-11 20:29
Perhaps being relatively new to reed trimming, I bought a cheap-o Chinese reed clipper online ... and I must say that I've gotten entirely satisfactory results from it, being able to bring reeds with chipped/splintered tips back to full life.
In fact, with proper adjustment after clipping (primarily ATG and a Vixen flat file for the reed back), several of these "post-op" reeds have become awesome players for me.
It may be that a pricey reed trimmer (Cordier? Vandoren? ...) would produce even better results, but without the benefit of such experience it's hard for me to expect a better outcome than from the combination of simple clipping and proper adjustment.
Gee ... I wonder if a large enough toenail clipper might ... ?
- - - - - - - - - -
Israel = Ancient Hebrew for "Wrestles with God"
Klarinet = Ancient Greek for "Struggles with Reeds"
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