Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2011-04-02 12:14
It seems I love to play the Devil's advocate because I KIND-OF have to agree with you on that, Mike
Listen, first off, the fact that we have these sophisticated tools makes our lives easier, period. However, I get the distinct impression that modern reed makers are trying to scape-goat something --- anything --- for the inconsistent results we get with reeds.
On Twitter during the holidays, someone had linked a museum-library artifact of a baroque oboist in some French court requesting the Duke (or whatever noble) purchase at least 6 dozen reeds a year for him because there is usually only 1 good reed per dozen. The tools certainly make life easier, but we're still hearing complaint after complaint.
For my part, I really have to wonder how trustworthy the difference of 0.01mm is on a very living material. Profiles and curvature description, yes for both gouge and shapes, I have seen the difference, but overall measurement... absolutes don't cut it in my mind.
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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