 The Oboe BBoard
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2016-11-16 12:20
Lately I've been having the common problem with Oboe reeds being too resistant for comfort most times. This is both with reeds that I purchase and those I make myself using pre-shaped cane. Back a number of years ago when you could buy the famous (or infamous) Rico Oboe reeds I generally had a fair bit of success with the orange threaded ones. The green threaded Rico reeds tended to be a bit more resistant. I know that those Rico Oboe reeds were mostly disliked by most Oboists (mostly amateurs of course)(I know professionals never used such reeds) but I miss them now as I"m finding that even reeds made by KGE ect always have too much resistance to them , even the moderate to 'soft' resistant ones. Even after I work on the purchased ones a bit , most of them never seen to become light to play on even when I finally work the tip down to translucent in thinness. I"ve also worked on the 'shoulders ' ect . I'm wondering if it's because of the quality of cane these days. Or just maybe it's my Oboe ( a Howarth S55c Dual System) having a fair bit of resistance itself. Back in the Rico times I was using a plastic Bundy Thumb Plate which was probably more reed 'friendly' I'd very much like a few opinions on this subject.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jhoyla
Date: 2016-11-17 11:58
Reed resistance is not always a function of tip thickness. In fact, in extreme cases a very thin tip can be more resistant than a tip with a bit of stiffness. The tendency of extremely thin tips to close up can prevent them from taking enough wind.
I find that the two main factors that influence reed resistance are:
1. The overall balance of the scrape
2. The opening at the tip.
Balance is an art. While there are all sorts of rules - I invite everyone to chip in here - I find that the evenness and symmetry of the scrape, and its overall proprtions front-to-back and side-to-side dictate largely the ease of play. An uneven scrape, an asymmetrical scrape or a tip-heavy scrape will be unlikely to play with ease. Extending the back and dusting the sides of the heart can loosen up a reed, but be sure to dust, not scrape, with a sharp knife (always).
Regarding the tip opening, both too closed and too open will cause the reed to be resistant - too closed because it won't accept air, too open because it is struggling to vibrate. Tip opening is a function of cane hardness, staple geometry, thread tension and accuracy, gouge, shape and scrape - in that order, more or less. There are descriptions (even vids) online on how to squeeze down a stiff reed, but be careful - you can easily crack your reed, and once it has lost its resilience your only recourse is to clip and re-balance.
I am not a big believer in wire, but some people swear by it. Occasionally I will wire a reed for a day, play it in and then remove the wire - this is surprisingly effective.
Perhaps your first investment should be in a shaper - order cane shaped on different shapers and try making reeds until you find the shape you like, and don't be surprised if it turns out to be wider than you are used to. Wide shapes are often easier to play and are definitely easier to adjust.
Hope this helps,
J.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2016-11-17 23:25
No two oboe players seem to have the same results! Many years ago, I used cane that was too narrow and never really could make a good stable reed. It was suggested that I try a -2 RDG shaper tip and that helped a lot, making the reed wider and more stable which helps the pitch. Since, I've tried other shapes and understand that many people like narrower shapes, but have always come back to the -2 RDG, regardless of the source of the cane. Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2016-11-18 04:28
Jeremy and Wesley. Thank you for the imput. It's much appreciated. I'll keep these details in mind. One of the things I remember when the Rico reeds (orange thread) where available is that most of them were ready to be played on after soaking in water for 5 minutes or so. Out of , say three of these reeds , two were quite usable on average , and the other was not good. And they lasted for a while with the occasional adjusting. All where wired. Sometimes , out of a batch of three , they all were quite usable with generally a good sound. So whoever was making these Oboe reeds for Rico must have been doing something right most of the time. At the moment I'm working on several K.GE reeds, none of which were playable for me at all at first. I'm having some sucess but none of them still play as good as some of the Rico reeds that I once had.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2016-11-21 13:09
In my latest thread it seems that I've got it up without a subject heading. It was typed in but has now vanished. I entitled it " Special cane for professionals only ?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oboist2
Date: 2016-12-05 08:38
Dear Barry - Just a thought - you might find it productive to try some American scrape reeds - these generally have considerably less resistance to them. The scrape is long and they are not wired . You could start with student ones and if they suit, then you could get slightly harder ones. I have been playing on a modified version of this scrape for the last 20 or so years. You do need a lot more relaxed embouchure though, and your lower abdomen is from where most of the adjustment is done. Those Rico ones, from memory were mass produced by machine, and blowed with very little resistance. if you could get a good sound with those, hats off to you. Kindest regards from Cabramatta.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2016-12-05 19:05
Hi Geoffery. Yes. that's what I was thinking as the way to go. Sounds plausible to me.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-12-06 03:29
My opinion is you shouldn't have given away your Reed making equipment :p
If I come up in January, I could bring my Tom sparked oboe, and u can see if it just an instrument resistance issue?
Is it not possible to sand down the kges like u would a clarinet Reed?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2016-12-06 08:18
Hi Sarah. Yes. I hope you can drop in and visit us on the way to the Armidale Recorder players gathering I assume. By all means bring your Oboe with you and we'll test out the resistant differences of both Oboes. I do work on the KGE reeds with mixed results and I've just ordered several Oboe reeds from a professional reed maker (Bernard Girard) who is in Melbourne. Should have them in a fortnight. I asked him to make me reeds that are not too resistant.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2016-12-06 08:21)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-12-09 07:15
I am told Cecelia Craig makes nice reeds too. I think she is in Adelaide?
Can't wait to see you both again
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2016-12-09 14:27
Yes Sarah. I can easily imagine that Cecelia Craig would make excellent Oboe reeds as she's one of the most skilful Oboist in Australia at the moment. Her husband, Richard Craig is Australia’s most respected double reed technician.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
