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Re: Gougers

Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2010-07-09 16:03

Baroque repertoire RULES!!!!

For sure, the actual equipment required is as follows:
(1) Gouging machine : around $1500 USD
(2) Pre-gouger : from 100-500$ : cheap is good enough for me
(3) cane splitter (3-way): I use an arrow head from a hunting goods store
(4) micrometer based on a comparator: many models (be sure to ask for metric!)
(5) radius gage
=> and a trustworthy supplier of "tube" cane. In the past, I had been pleasantly surprized with California Cane (obtained from Brian Charles Double Reed Supply). With the French, quality really depends on the vendor.

Yes, (2) is important. Sometimes I split my cane in 2 with a knife, so the pre-gouger is crucial to preparing the cane for the gouging-machine.

The only piece that's of any concern is (1). I don't know the available machies at all, you might want to contact Cooper directly at his shop - some of his replies to my questions were really useful. One thing you need to consider is the ease/difficulty in adjusting the monster - they are a real headache! Forrest's shows many models. I'm hoping that #H-32 is as good as it looks: it looks like a one-piece unit with the adjustment machined-in. Otherwise, they all follow the same principle of screws and bolts to change the relative orientation between the bed and the blade-plane on all 3 axes.

Cooper mentioned single and double radii (radiusses?) machines - I don't know anything in this respect. I reshape the blade myself, but I really discourage others from doing it: in my case, its because my machine is so old and I've tweaked it so much that no one else will touch it!

If you can get a used (1), you might be able to fix-it up or find someone willing. You can send out e-mails to stores and see if they can help you with that.

(4) comes in 3 models: (a) with 2 rods touching tip and another (b) with a sideways sliver on which you put your finished reed. I don't use (b) at all because I just don't believe that measuring finished reeds can construct a reusable model..... but many will disagree with me. (a), in my opinion, is more useful for gouging, but others might explain if (b) can be used too.

I built by own base for (4) which means I paid 50$ for the dial back when comparators were around 150$. BUT, sensitive task to ensure precision: its all about trigonometry!

Instead of (5), I just use my calipper (which I find very handy for tying too). The important thing about selecting cane before gouging is flatness (more than radius) which you test on a table.

I like the service from Roseau Chantant, but I don't see any problem with Forrest's or RDG or oboe-shop.de. Of course, anything made by Kunibert Michel (Germany) is great.

http://www.oboe-shop.de/catalog/index.php?cPath=52_67&osCsid=7534c9600775b543b46ec2b5976d5fdb
http://www.forrestsmusic.com/gougers.htm
http://www.le-roseau.ca/products_reed_en.php?secID=31

Best of luck!

Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music

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