Author: Jessi Vandagriff

The default clipped blade length is 28mm from the top of the first wire to the tip. Leaving the blade longer than 28mm widens the shape of the reed and weakens the lever action created by the wires and internal bevel, requiring a rounder tube to prevent the tip opening from collapsing. This may cancel […]

“We make our reeds for intonation and response in the context of fundamentals and good practice habits.” -Ben Kamins That being said…  Tone is subjective. Resonance is debatably objective. Unify the resonance of your instrument by matching the less resonant notes to the same quality of resonance as the most resonant notes. Make your reeds, […]

Goal: more free-blowing while maintaining intonation, response, and strength Plan: remove very little cane here:  

Goal: better resistance while maintaining intonation, response, and strength Plan: Create steeper tapers overall, working closer to the rails. Remove very little cane. Suggestions for Finer Work Is the second wire snug? Can you round the tube? Check the tip bevel Return to the DBL model to see more tests that can be performed.  

Goal: more stable intonation, stronger, better resistance Plan: Your reed needs steeper tapers for all elements. Work closer to the rails, and according to the quality of the cane and the reed’s natural break-in period. Suggestions for Finer Work Is the critical point the correct thickness? (60-61 hundredths of a millimeter OR 24-25 thousandths of […]

Goal: sharper, stronger, better resistance Plan: Your reed needs steeper tapers overall. Work mostly in the front third of the reed, toward the rails, and according to the quality of the cane (which is likely to be soft in this instance) and the reed’s natural break-in period. Suggestions for Finer Work Is the critical point […]

Goal: flatter, stronger, better resistance Plan: These are not complementary objectives. The must likely culprit is bad quality cane. RIP. Return to the model to begin your next adventure.  

Goal: more stable intonation, easier to play, better resistance Plan: Remove cane for ease and create steeper tapers overall for stability and better resistance. Work mostly in the middle and front third channels towards the rails and according to the quality of the cane and the reed’s natural break-in period. Suggestions for Finer Work Is […]

Goal: sharper, easier to play, better resistance Plan: To improve all elements of the reed, remove cane in steeper tapers. Work mostly in the middle third of the reed, closer to the rails and according to the quality of the cane and the reed’s natural break-in period. Suggestions for Finer Work Is the reed the […]