Goal: sharper, easier to play, more free blowing
Plan: You’re in trouble, but if you have to play on this reed, narrow the flare on both sides using sandpaper. The rails are too thin too far back and this treatment will make them seem thicker compared to the spine.
The reed will seem stronger and be sharper and more resistant, but you should probably just give up on this reed and start a new adventure with another.
The material in this learning module comes from The Banana of Life: Peeling Away the Mysteries of Reed Making for the Bassoon by Rian Craypo and has been edited for clarity by Jessi Vandagriff. Please do not share or distribute this information to those not using the decision-based learning model. Used with permission.