Author: jhoyla
Date: 2015-03-11 16:06
@Bob,
Okay - you are the reed-shaper-tip king, so I take everything you say very seriously. @Mike - I take you seriously too - next post.
I believe that the most important factor - bar none - in shaping and tying on is that there be a perfect seal all the way from the staple to the tip of the reed.
Yes, it is possible to "fix" a leaky reed in many different ways: parafilm, plumber's tape, saran-wrap, fishskin, wax pencils heated with a lightbulb etc., but all of these adversely affect reed vibration in much the same way you describe - they add mass to all the wrong places on the reed.
IMHO a tiny overlap (a fraction of a millimeter) seals a fraction better than no-overlap since the thread wrapping torque pushes the blades more tightly together. You would be hard pressed to notice the overlap on a finished reed, but it is there nonetheless.
Is this a "compromise" because my reed blade edges are not perfect enough? Because I don't know how to keep razor-blades razor-sharp? Possibly so - but the results of this compromise are excellent.
All reedmaking is an exercise of judgement and compromise. I just played a full programme (Mozart overture, Tchaikovsky Violin cto. and Brahms 2nd symphony) on a reed that had less-than-optimal "cover". However, the reed was fresh, reliable, stable, responsive and in-tune over the entire pitch and dynamic range - more than good enough. I counted my blessings.
J.
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