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Re: Reedmaking frustration

Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-02-05 10:22

Thanks for the tips, J. I am happy that we use a lot of the same techniques and philosophies.

I spent a whole afternoon reedmaking last Friday, determined to take one step at a time and figure out what the blazers was going on. I am here to report that it was definitely entirely me the whole time.

I was able to resurrect at least 2 of the worst of 6 reeds I made. They are still a little on the thin side, but useable for sure. I made one particular reed which I played in a lesson with a student and then played in orchestra on Monday. Probably about an 80% reed, but at the moment, I'll take it!

It was a case of me rushing through the process and trying to get to creating the 'structure' of the reed too soon. Here's what I discovered:

I wasn't leaving enough bulk in the centre of the tip (the chimney in a long-scrape reed). I was trying to thin out the whole tip too early in order to clip it quickly.

I wasn't taking down the sides thinly enough before starting on the U or the base of the scrape. Therefore, to get response, I seemed to take too much out of the middle of the scrape before the sides were thin enough. This was one of the biggest issues.

I could feel that the reeds stiffened significantly towards the bottom of the scrape, which my best reeds do not do. This I believe was a case of me becoming lazy and not sharpening regularly enough, therefore I wasn't able to 'dig in' enough at the base of the scrape. This significantly affected the response of the low notes.

So, I am hoping I have cured myself, and that I have actually learned something from this.

1. Sharpen
2. Take time
3. Sharpen
4. Be patient

Now to make a bunch of cor reeds...luckily I am yet to make a bad one of these.

Thanks for the support, all!

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