 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: ClariTone
Date: 2006-07-11 19:04
Hello All!!!
I just received my first batch of new reeds!!! They are from the Edmund Nielsen Company. I ordered two green thread (American Scrape); size: medium hard. I played them each for about 10 minutes today after soaking them in warm water for 5 minutes. The reeds are the perfect strength for me (they play easily with a nice bit of resistance), however I can no longer play above a top space G (The lower register is gorgeous though ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif) ). On my other reeds I could go up to the Eb above the staff!!! I am fingering the notes right, but the lower register notes are all that speak. There is nothing mechanically wrong with my oboe (got my other reed out and the high register popped out easily...) so I guess its the reeds. I've never played on American Scrape reeds before, so maybe that is it??? The tip openings don't appear to be too far open, just a little wider than my other reed if anything. Any thoughts???
Thanks!!!
Clayton
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-07-11 20:12
How does the reed feel? Is it springy in the center, to the touch of your finger? If so, you might want to try the squeezing down technique that I mentioned on the other thread.
Basically, I'd just let the reed alone for a couple of days -- play it in, and then see where you are say, on Friday. Reeds change.
If things haven't improved by then, a couple of things come to mind. There are reeds that just don't do high notes well -- I hope that's not the case here.
But my teacher taught me a little trick with new reeds. You just take the (wet) reed, and draw it quickly a couple of times (upper scraped part only, from top edge of heart to tip) over a piece of VERY fine sandpaper or a fine emery board (like the big padded nail files that women use -- that's what she uses). Do it on each side. This modifies the slope from the heart to the tip just a wee, and it also thins out the edge of the tip, which is what may be making your high notes balk.
You can also take your reed knife and *carefully* scrape off just a little, little bit from the "ears" of the tip (all four sides -- whatever you do to one, do to all).
In adjusting reeds, less is more. Test the reed each time after you do anything. If it improves the response, then you know you are working in the right direction, and you may want to do it again. But it is all too easy to go too far -- which is why a lot of "storebought" reeds (even the handmade ones, or possibly especially the handmade ones) need just one more pass with the sandpaper or reed knife -- the person who made them was conscious of not going too far.
Let us know if anything works.
Susan
edit: here's a good page with reed adjusting info (and a good site, in general): http://www.public.asu.edu/~schuring/Oboe/Reedguide.html
Post Edited (2006-07-11 20:13)
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Author: oboeblank
Date: 2006-07-12 03:34
Your response is so piercingly intelligent, cogent and illuminating.
I do not think that I am understating the obvious when I say that with that one rejoinder you have firmly established yourself as the pre-eminent oboe sage in North America.
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Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-07-12 04:00
You know...
Us oboe players are pretty nerdy. I will admit it...I am a full-on reed scrapin' dork!
I won't say what I would like to say... but when someone searches out the Oboe BBoard forum in their spare time and then posts really unhelpful, rude comments, you know...somehow it makes me feel like less of a dork...
;)
D
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-07-12 04:11
[ Boys and girls: Let's get the thread back ontrack, without the ad hominem attacks - GBK ]
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2006-07-12 04:53
Clyaton, does it sound as a low G or it doesnt even squek at all? Listen to Susan's advise and wait a couple of days to see if it gets better, it might well be the opening, but i cant be sure without a picture. Update with us with the reed yeah.
Howard
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Author: ClariTone
Date: 2006-07-12 14:10
The notes come out as the lower register notes, as if I am not depressing the register key at all, no squeeling.
Susan-
Thanks!!! I'll implement your ideas on the reeds and check out the reed adjustment site.
Clayton - simply trying to "learn how to play"
Post Edited (2006-07-12 14:20)
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