Author: hautbois francais
Date: 2010-07-20 08:04
Attachment: English L French R.JPG (11k)
See the following:
Book by Marion Whittow. Talks about making English scrapes, to some detail:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oboe-Reed-Blown-Wind/dp/095180720X
American long scrape anatomy by Schuring:
http://www.public.asu.edu/~schuring/Oboe/diagram.html
Robin Hautbois site on making a French short scrape:
http://robin-hautbois.users.sourceforge.net/
If you can solicit someone to post an English short scrape anatomy with dimensions, then you probably can get on your way to making English Scrape. From my old English scrape reeds, the French scrape is much shorter (see pix). In principle, Robin's site will get you going. From experience, the english(or french) is a subset of the other.
In answer to your questions 1-4, but I am sure other experts in the field of reed making on this site can provide greater insights. So, take this as my imho:
1. Staples - you will need to use the standard and go from there. If there is something you didnt like about the English standard, then you can play with shapes, staple lengths, staple material (brass, Ag etc). Widths, staple lengths, shapes all affect the behavior of the reed. What and how do you want the reed to behave for you ?
2. Cane - you need to specify widths, type of gouge and shape. Plaques, there are 2 types, flat or convex. Both has its uses. Cutting block, to chop off the tip. If you are planning to get just gouged cane later, then you need to get a shaper. Bees wax to lube the thread, a good to have, not a must have. Ruler (must) or caliper for measuring, again a nice to have, not a must.
3. Knives are very critical to making good reeds. You will need to decide on bevel or double hollow ground (DHG) and hardness of the blade. Most American oboist have one for fine scraping and one for rough scraping and never interchange the knives. Landwell for fine work. Phili Herder knife for rough work. You will need India stone for sharpening knives, also a must have. Diamond stone for creating new edges for your knives after prolonged use. And you will need to learn about knife sharpening. There is a book by Darlyl Caswell on sharpening the Landwell in particular. Perhaps, there is a Brit equivalent. The Stanley handiman's knife ? You wont have any control to what you are doing when doing fine work. This wont work to build reeds from the shaped and gouged cane. This involves some precision and fine hand crafting to get the reed to sound the way u want. However, I have seen oboists in desperation, few minutes before curtains, use razor blades for last moment work when his knives were not readliy available.
4. As far as shaped and gouged cane, get the English standard or one that you bought and use that as a standard. You can always ask the maker, the width, gouge and shape. I am sure he wont mind telling you. I dont know what level of experience you have, but it is always much much easier if you get one of your fellow oboists with a number of years of experience in reed making to show you. You will only get so much from reading. In short, you'd be shooting in the dark from reading, because there are many unknowns to deal with if you havent actually seen, feel and experience how reeds are made.
Lots of grief, frustration and patience needed for the never ending quest of the best reed for you. Dont hesitate to trash a reed if it is not working no matter what you do. Welcome to the world of reed making !
Good luck !
Post Edited (2010-07-20 08:45)
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