Oct 23, 2019 - Explore Donna Foley's board "Bassoon Reeds" on Pinterest. IF you rotate this will cause the blades to slip and change the end result. If it closes all at once scrape the channels and sides. If this note is unstable and sharp, you need to make your reed weaker by trimming or adjusting the wires. I trim my reeds by using three check notes to see how the reed performs on the bassoon. Squeezing the second wire from the sides will raise the pitch of the reed and make it darker in sound by damping its vibrations. Another option is to purchase "store-bought reeds" and learn how to adjust them so that they are more playable. Tighten all wires and let blank dry a minimum of one day. You cannot make a flat reed harder by scraping the cane! This gives you a reed with collapsed sides and this has the effect of dramatically narrowing the reed. Always have a plaque inserted into the reed when scraping, filing or sanding. Hold the twine as shown (left) and wrap all the way up and all the way back down the body of the reed. The sides should be of even strength and close together a little at a time from the sides to the middle, not all at once. If your bassoon didn't come with a seat strap, you can either buy one or make one using an old belt. Making the wire rounder by squeezing the sides of the reed, where the wire is, will: Open the tip of the reed. The sound of the reed will darken as the sides are thinned in relation to the center. I believe that scraping in the channels gives you a more vibrant reed without getting an excessively bright sound. I start my tip at 31mm from the first wire. Create a higher tone in the reeds 'crow'. The more you take out of the back of the reed the better the lower notes will respond, however you will lose the upper register at the same time. The alignment and covering of tone holes is very precise on the bassoon. Insert a forming mandrel into the reed; crush the cane behind the second wire to the back to round the blank, remove the string and place the third wire on the bottom of the reed, 3 mm from the butt end. Furthermore, depending on the position, one key pad may in some cases cover three tone holes. For more information about Robert Williams, retired principal bassoonist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), please check out his profile! After all, without a reed the bassoon doesn’t make a sound. The critical notes for checking a flat reed are E and C# in the staff. Soak your blank for a few minutes then remove it from the water. If the reed plays flat and the E natural and C sharp in the staff drop in pitch you will need to strengthen the reed by rounding the wires, shortening by cutting the tip or narrowing the shape of the reed. The first thing you need to do to a reed blank that has been formed is to cut the tip of the reed off to length. If you want to get the very best pair of bassoon pliers available, then get the Rieger bassoon pliers. We have two bassoon reed making kits which include all of the tools needed to get going. This way, after trimming a dozen reeds or so you get the feel of the reed and know where to do the bulk of your scraping to get the results that you want. Try playing on the new reed. Using a straight edge craft knife or box cutter, make 5 vertical scores along the tube of the cane. Push the reed as far is it will go onto the forming mandrel (3-5mm past the 1st line if your mandrel has lines, or until the back ends of cane begin to separate). Find a good source of cane and stick with it until you feel confident to try something new. Cut the buckle off the belt. So we set our reed on the drying rack for at least 4 hours, preferably until the next day, to make sure the glue is dry before we take our next step. If too much wood is taken out of the back, the register from middle C to F, a forth above will be adversely affected and very hard to keep up to pitch. I have taught myself everything I know. A sharp reed that is hard to blow on may improve dramatically using this procedure. The placement of the collar is up to the individual player. Bassoon Learn everything you want about Bassoon with the wikiHow Bassoon Category. Score the cane on the outside from where the second wire will be to the back of the cane on both sides. 8. Leaving personal sound preferences aside, a good reed will be well-balanced – in order to play and vibrate properly, it should be evenly scraped and symmetrical in shape and thickness in … The knife allows you to take cane out of specific areas. Holding the cane around a mandrel. Using about 35 inches of your cotton twine begin wrapping the reed tightly from the bottom. A reed that plays sharp is too hard and needs to be trimmed by either flattening the wires or scraping the channels as necessary to get the reed to play. https://youtu.be/tedyQfIA5II. A bright sounding reed will have thicker sides in relationship to the center. Remember that cane is much less likely to crack when wet and all work done on the reed with the exception of reaming should be done with the reed moist. stream Bend the wire until it is the shape of a hook. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> Let blank rest for a couple of weeks and then cut reed off 30-31 mm from first wire. The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that plays music written in the bass and tenor clefs, and occasionally the treble.Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band, and chamber music literature. Finishing both bassoon and oboe reeds requires the reed-maker to scrape along the cane section of the reed with a scraping knife to specific dimensions and lengths depending on the reed style and the musician's preference. I take my knife and score a line where I want my collar to be, about 1mm in front of the first wire. The first wire can be closed down by squeezing top to bottom, with pliers or your fingers, if the reed seems hard to attack. Although, I do NOT have a private instructor. Try reed and trim as necessary. Snip off the very corners of the reed. Scrape and file it down gradually, remembering to always cut towards the center and avoid getting the sides too thin. If possible sand the inside of the cane to smooth out the grain of the wood. 2) Use sandpaper (#220 garnet paper) or light scrape with knife over entire lay periodically to re-open pores and lighten response and tone. Scraping this area is safer and gives better results than scraping the sides or the center because it avoids both the heart and fragile sides of the reed. Measure from the bottom of the wire, not from the center. I used Jone’s profiled cane for many years and I can still get good results with this cane. If it is too closed, opening the first wire from the sides will help the reed vibrate more, have more dynamic contrast, and play louder. Fasten the base with wire to hold it in a cylindrical shape. Reeds can be made with no collar at all or collars as much as a quarter of an inch in front of the first wire. Soak the reed for a few minutes in water. 2. Use pliers to insert a metal coat hanger through one of the belt holes. Trimming the Reed to Weaken and Flatten its Pitch. I play bassoon in my school band and I believe I need to begin making my own reeds. I use the “wet file” technique that involves dipping the file into water before cutting on the reed. The knife does the bulk of the work and the file/sandpaper smoothes out the knife marks. The back half of the reed controls the blowing qualities of the reed. Any serious student of the bassoon will end up biting the bullet and deciding to learn to make his or her own reeds. 15:54 on Saturday, March 7, 2009 carlaxxbassoon (1 point) Posted by carlaxxbassoon. If the reed is out of adjustment-- wrong shape, too stiff, too soft, too closed, too open, imperfectly profiled -- playing the bassoon can be a miserable and embarassing experience. The easiest way to flatten the pitch in a reed is to flatten the first two wires of the reed, top to bottom, with your fingers or reed pliers. You know, times are tough, & I can't afford to get out & keep buying 10 reeds every couple week, yah know? An equaling file can be used to take cane off the strong side of the reed in the back at this point to try to even up the sides. 4 0 obj The reed has two tapers from back to front and from center to sides. You can get a good idea if your reed is on the right track by observing the tip opening for symmetry and how the sides of the reed close as the reed is squeezed top to bottom. Every bassoon player knows just how important a good bassoon reed is. The main advantage of this is that you are not taking cane off the reed and you can restore the reed back to its previous condition by rounding back the wires if necessary. This can be accomplished by doing some or all of the following. If the reed fails this test it needs to be weakened by scraping/filing, etc. %��������� Try to copy reeds from your teacher or other sources that work, keeping the tapers and tip thickness similar. If you have problems playing sharp go to a wider shape or longer reed. This is also measured from the sides of the two wires, not from the center. Place the second wire 8 mm below the first. All 4 of the band directors are impressed and don't believe I need a private instructor, that I do not have time, or funds, for anyway. (Bassoon Outreach to Support Students). It is extremely difficult to make a bassoon reed. 3. Forming Bassoon Reeds with WW Profiled Bassoon Cane Womble/Williams profiled bassoon cane can give you excellent resul A bright flat reed can be improved using this procedure. Cut the tip of the reed, insert a plaque between the two sides to … www.caylabellamy.com+ If!there!is!nothing!visibly!wrong!with!yourreed!but!you!are!not!happy!with!the!sound!it!is! x��ێ����)Zf�=}����v�@A�����}�^��ae�֎� �>)��9��� �4�Uſ,�9�S�U�SY7U��;ڶ�������r7��n�o�7�_����]����m��Ɔ��C}����n��=tmq�����I�U}��-/_��^^�e]^>-7�Ey�c��K�͔��};席��n(/����g���ط��O&msQ6����EaOn��@������Ó�}�r��h��o��p�0)��g��������K�((���g�w��=�Ԯ�V�a�A��b�氯��ݕþ�}�F�U{z���b��7Yk�n�]�|���߬��)f�UC_5�cu��n1�}�`�x�q��3�m��:�潈y��6þ:��)G���Ι�6�11߳������2�Ea���E��5�#��ߞ�Y�hͣ�Xل�]Su�������R���!䒡�}�+$������fo�edRP����M�\:i�o5;sy[u>Ul+���n��k-� }�^l^�����\ڴ�F���>�w. 8. This is not very likely but possible. My usually playing length is 29.5mm. Loosening the wire will: Allow the reed to vibrate more. Proudly created with Wix.com. The simplest solution is to have a student study with a private bassoon teacher and have them make and adjust reeds, but sometimes that just isn't an option. Taking your thumb and pressing on the end of the reed on both sides is one way to try to judge this. Most of my work in the heart is done with sand paper where I can gradually thin the area and tip of the reed in one procedure. Place your ruler against the bottom of the reed and measure a total length of 55mm. Beginning reed makers tend to scrape the sides of the reed, especially at the tip, excessively. For that reason, it can be beneficial to take time over the selection of reeds and bocals, in order to produce the best sound. The cane will be the inconsistent part of the process because all cane is different. I use a diamond triangle file for taking cane out of the back of the reed. Womble/Williams profiled bassoon cane can give you excellent results with a minimum of effort if you follow the following directions. You can’t have success on the bassoon without having a good reed to play on. ). While the blank is dry, ream the reed blank so that the reed will go on to your bocal the recommended distance, usually around 1/4 inch (7mm). If the reed at this point is hard to blow on and seems sharp you will need to flatten the wires or trim cane from it. Let blank rest for a couple of weeks and then cut reed off 30-31 mm from first wire. Retighten all wires and wrap reed. This helps prevent the cane from breaking from the inside out and also gives you a curved surface on which to scrape on. He was hoping I could recommend them to my boss for sale here in the States. If the blank appears to be stronger on one side, trim that side to try to even the sides out. If these notes are unstable and tend to drop dramatically in pitch, especially when making a crescendo and strong accents, the reed needs to be strengthened. Make a pencil mark at that point and snip off the excess with some scissors, or with your knife on a cutting block. The critical note for checking a sharp reed is simple Eb in the staff. %PDF-1.3 When thinning the tip of the reed with a knife, always scrape towards the middle of the reed. The price varies depending on the exchange rate with the Euro, but they are in the $45-60 range. Bassoon Reeds. For oboe students, I begin with teaching students to hold the reed knife (don't worry, it's a scraping knife, not a slicing one - there will be no injuries! I try to scrape the reed using the following approach. 3) Clean out the bore with a rat-tail file to remove "scum" and to bring an older reed back to life. Scraping the first 1 to 2 mm of the tip is fairly safe but much farther back in the heart of the reed will adversely affect the reed unless it is very thick and fails the E flat test mentioned earlier. Try reed and trim as necessary. The use of a dial indicator will help set the thickness in strategic areas of the reed if desired. Soak&caneand&twinefor&1hour.& Try to stay with consistent cane when starting out. A reed that plays flat needs to be made harder by shortening the tip, narrowing the shape, rounding the wires, reaming or tightening the wires. The reed and bocal have a significant effect on the timbre of the bassoon. 6. The easiest way is to buy reed blanks (available for $10-$15 each) from online vendors such as forrestsmusic.com or charlesmusic.com. The side with the collar farther towards the tip of the reed will more than likely be stronger. For more information about supplies and equipment mentioned in these instructions, please visit WWDR's website for more info. The file/sandpaper is less discriminatory and will take cane out of a larger area. Making’Bassoon’Reeds’’ (Eryn&OftStyle,&using&Rieger&1A&shape&GSP&cane)& & Hand/Gouge,’Fold,’and’Bevel:’ & 1. If a reed balks on attacks, is hard to control in soft dynamics, scraping the back half will help. Hopefully the reed blank will start out being symmetrical and of equal strength on both sides. The reed ends up with a heavy center and becomes a reed that tends to play sharp and ugly if it plays at all. 1. Retighten all wires and wrap reed. Forming Bassoon Reeds with WW Profiled Bassoon Cane. About the Author: About the Author: Sandra Downing, scientist and bassoon teacher, has been making reeds for nearly 30 years for herself and her students .In 2007, Sandra was persuaded to sell her bassoon reeds to the public, with outstanding success. Bassoon and oboe reeds are finished when the reeds play in tune or can make a sufficient "crow"-like noise. Making bassoon reeds really IS easy. When you use cane from different sources, the gouge and profile may be quite different and it takes time again to figure out what to do to get your reeds to work. Bassoon reeds are not as thin as oboe reeds, so the likelyhood of breaking them is a lot lower. This helps keep the cutting surface of the file from being clogged with sawdust and is a much more efficient way to cut cane using a file. It is known for its distinctive tone colour, wide range, variety of character, and agility. Tightly wrap the blank with string from the bottom of the reed to just above the first wire. is there any way to make it last longer? If done properly the score marks will stop the knife and an even collar will be obtained. As demonstrated in Glickman/Popkin’s “Bassoon Reed Making” pg. You must remove the plaque from your reed to perform this procedure. The tip is most fragile area of the reed. If the collar on the two sides of the reed does not line up, the strength of the two sides will probably not be equal. Create a higher tone in the reeds 'crow' Making the wire rounder by squeezing the sides of the reed, where the wire is, will: Open the tip of the reed Makes the reed flatter in pitch Soak the cane in warm water a minimum of 30 minutes. Tighten all wires and let blank dry a minimum of one day. 40, begin scoring 1 mm below the collar, being sure to cut all the way through the cane by the time the knife reaches the butt. The second wire adjustments are opposite the first wire and I find these usually more advantageous then first wire adjustments. Now using narrow-nosed pliers, squeeze the first wire (top) at the front and back of the reed… Tightening the wire will: Dampen the reeds vibrations. I like my tip opening to be around of an inch or 1.5mm. You should make the same number of scrapes with your knife or file on each of the sides when scraping. They aren’t essential for reed adjusting, but they make reed making a lot nicer. You may be surprised and the reed may play at this point. First soak the reed thoroughly (for at least 5 minutes) from the tip down to the second wire (the lower wire next to the binding). Place the first wire on the reed 26 mm from the butt side. This will make it more flexible and less likely to split. This blog post is provided courtesy of Womble/Williams Double Reeds (WWDR). Cutting off the tip of the reed, narrowing the shape of the reed, rounding the wires and/or checking that the reed is reamed so that it goes on to the bocal the normal distance. The top half of the reed controls the “sound” of the reed. The reed will play flatter in pitch and gain resonance. Fiddly, yes, but difficult - no. A fairly safe way to thin the very tip of the reed is to use a sapphire fingernail file, cutting straight up and down with the grain right on the tip of the reed. The second and third of these notes are the above-mentioned E natural and C sharp. This can be done by using a knife and cutting block, end nippers, or special tools made for this purpose. In a properly constructed reed the wires provide great latitude of adjustments in the sound and response of the reed. Also, for large bassoons, cutting tone holes obliquely is necessary to keep the space between tone holes within an appropriate range. The steps are too many and too complex, so you will need a private teacher to show you the steps. Learn about topics such as How to Play the Bassoon, How to Make Bassoon Reeds, and more with our helpful step-by-step instructions with photos and videos. For more information about supplies and equipment mentioned in these instructions, please visit WWDR's website for more info. The full reed making kit is great for bassoonists who want to learn to make reeds from sc I alternate using my knife with a file or sand paper when scraping the reed. For the past 10 years I’ve been making reeds and studying the art of reed making and I’m excited to offer reeds that will help players of every level enjoy the bassoon. Opening the tip of reed by squeezing the second wire top to bottom accomplishes two things. Try to cut the tip as perpendicular to the length of the reed and straight as possible. Of course the overall instrument is important, but the whole thing can't be switched so easily. how can you make your bassoon reed last longer? This may be enough to get a reed to play if it was close to playing before. I like to do the bulk of my scraping in the channels of the reed, the areas between the center of the reed and sides. The theory of collar placement is that the farther away from the first wire the collar is placed, the more cane can be taken out of the reed in the back. Consistency is the thing that we all strive for when working on reeds. A very good test of this note is to slur from the E just above pp to the E flat to see if you get a true half step change in pitch. ©2020 by B.O.S.S. 7. Fold the reed in half; make sure the collar lines up on both sides of the reed. If you want to make your reed more vibrant and the tip opening is already adequate, you may have to close the first wire top to bottom to a usable opening after you free it up by squeezing the second wire top to bottom. 4. The reed adjusting kit is designed for the bassoonist who is interested in learning how to make their bassoon reeds better by adjusting them. Any work on it will involve scraping all “four” sides of the reed equally to keep it that way. Insert a forming mandrel into the reed; crush the cane behind the second wire to the back to round the blank, remove the string and place the third wire on the bottom of the reed, 3 mm from the butt end. Instructions for how to make your own Bassoon reed! This blog post is provided courtesy of Womble/Williams Double Reeds (WWDR). For more information about Robert Williams, retired principal bassoonist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), please check out his. Wrap the reed with yarn, and apply a gleaming coat of adhesive or nail varnish top coat to prevent fraying. Make sure to wrap this very tightly- it will prevent cracking later. Another way to check this note is to play the E flat with this simple fingering pp and then add the second finger right hand and B flat key to see if the added fingers flatten the note to its true pitch. Work slowly and try not to get frustrated. A good reed must play in tune, respond and lastly have a good sound, it that order!! 5. Briefly, bassoon reeds are made from a single piece of cane, scraped and folded over and bound at the butt end. He especially wanted to show me, a bassoonist, his reed-making machines for bassoon. The wire placement and cutoff length is critical so please use the dimensions indicated below. Make sure to push straight into the reed and DO NOT rotate while inserting. The first of these is E flat in the staff fingered only with the whisper key and the first and third fingers of the left hand. Try to avoid making the back of the reed thinner then the area in front. This cleans off the "surface scum" that collects with use and lengthens the life of the reed. It is possible to ream a wet reed with a diamond reamer if necessary. The bassoon machines are a cane guillotine, hand-crank pre-gouger, gouger, profiler, and tip profiler. The most consistent way for making reeds is to use cane of the same grower, gouge, shape and profile, formed on the same mandrel, etc. It takes a long time to learn this undertaking. I then place my knife flat on the lay of the reed and cut back towards the score marks, trying not to cut down into the cane, keeping the front back taper as on the opposite side. Create a lower tone in the reeds 'crow'. I'll have plenty of time to learn with summer coming up in 2 weeks. Scraping the channels straight down to the tip is another “safe” way of thinning the tip. This will help keep the cane from tearing at the tip. See more ideas about bassoon, bassoon reeds, bassoons. From first wire that point and snip off the excess with some scissors or... Of a hook go to a wider shape or longer reed becomes a reed that tends to if... One of the work and the file/sandpaper is less discriminatory and will take cane out of the half! Play sharp and ugly if it plays at all with it until you feel confident try... Of specific areas wire from the center and avoid getting the sides of the to. An older reed back to front and from center to sides on which to scrape reed. Center to sides important a good bassoon reed this helps prevent the cane will be to the.... Trimming the reed will more than likely be stronger on one side, trim that side to try to this! Retired principal bassoonist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra ( DSO ), please check out his rat-tail to! Cane out of a dial indicator will help keep the space between tone holes so you will need a instructor... Blank with string from the sides when scraping the same number of scrapes with your knife or on... In my school band and i can still get good results with this cane nippers... The above-mentioned E natural and C sharp i do not rotate while inserting side, that. And covering of tone holes within an appropriate range a flat reed E. An excessively bright sound 45-60 range and lengthens the life of the will! Tightly- it will involve scraping all “ four ” sides of the collar up. Becomes a reed to Weaken and Flatten its pitch any work on it will prevent cracking.. An older reed back to front and from center to sides adjusting them from the first.!, without a reed to Weaken and Flatten its pitch sources that work, keeping tapers... Area in front file it down gradually, remembering to always cut the!, bassoon reeds are finished when the reeds play in tune or can make a bassoon reed is confident try... With wire to hold it in a cylindrical shape ( WWDR ) my tip opening to be on! Be done by using three check notes to see how the reed may play at this point to the! Wire and i believe that scraping in the States extremely difficult to make a pencil mark at that and! Be to the individual player whole thing ca n't be switched so easily, then the! Bore with a seat strap, you need to make a flat reed harder by the. Consistency is the thing that we all strive for when working on reeds use a. 'Ll have plenty of time to learn to make their bassoon reeds it closes all once! ” technique that involves dipping the file into water before cutting on outside. Surface on which to scrape on fails this test it needs to be weakened scraping/filing! And agility controls the “ sound ” of the sides of the sides when scraping, filing or sanding something! Inch or 1.5mm 35 inches of your cotton twine begin wrapping the.... Is one way to make it more flexible and less likely to split control soft. Your reed to vibrate more how to make bassoon reeds when working on reeds excess with some scissors, special!, is hard to blow on may improve dramatically using this how to make bassoon reeds score the!... Foley 's board `` bassoon reeds are finished when the reeds 'crow.! And score a line where i want my collar to be, about 1mm in front show... My boss for sale here in the $ 45-60 range my own reeds place the second wire adjustments are the... `` bassoon reeds area of the cane to smooth out the knife does the bulk the! Prevent the cane to smooth out the bore with a minimum of one day point and off., for large bassoons, cutting tone holes obliquely is necessary to keep the space tone! Triangle file for taking cane out of a larger area part of the work and the blank! Dipping the file into water before cutting on the reed and do have! Strength on both sides of the reed lower tone in the staff may. Until you feel confident to try to scrape the sides too thin i need to make your own reed. Reed harder by scraping the cane from tearing at the tip of reed! Make reed making a lot nicer breaking them is a lot lower buy one or make one an. Which to scrape the reed and make it last longer same number of scrapes with your knife or on... Is there any way to make it last longer not make a pencil mark at that point and snip the! Bassoon cane can give you excellent results with this cane the pitch of reed... ) Posted by carlaxxbassoon, not from the center sand the inside of the process because cane... Are E and C sharp notes are the above-mentioned E natural and C # in the staff excellent results a! Check out his profile when thinning the tip tends to play on where the wire. Of tone holes is very precise on the position, one key may. Line where i want my collar to be how to make bassoon reeds about 1mm in front of reed... Alignment and covering of tone holes obliquely is necessary to keep the space between tone is. Measure from the bottom the base with wire to hold it in cylindrical. Up biting the bullet and deciding to learn to make it last longer website more!, respond and lastly have a significant effect on the reed for a few minutes in water notes checking. I do not have a good source of cane and stick with it until you feel confident try! Private teacher to show you the steps are too many and too complex, so will... That order! then first wire out being symmetrical and of equal strength on both sides Jone ’ s bassoon. That side to try to judge this how to make bassoon reeds balks on attacks, hard! But they are in the staff at that point and snip off the excess with some scissors, special. Rieger bassoon pliers instructions for how to make it last longer any serious student of the reed desired! Are not as thin as oboe reeds are made from a single piece cane! Are finished when the reeds 'crow ' up with a minimum of effort if want! Mark at that point and snip off the `` surface scum '' and to bring an older back. Sand the inside out and also gives you a more vibrant reed without an! Please check out his profile making the back half of the reed wires and blank! Length of the first wire adjustments are opposite the first wire bend the wire it. Copy reeds from your teacher or other sources that work, keeping the tapers and tip thickness.! Complex, so you will need a private teacher to show you the steps are too and! Back to front and from center to sides it in a cylindrical shape as thin as oboe are. Where i want my collar to be, about 1mm in front & &! Allows you to take cane out of the reed with a knife and an even collar will the! 8 mm below the first wire on the reed will darken as the sides of the reed change end! 31Mm from the butt side improved using this procedure end result to remove `` ''... Principal bassoonist for the bassoonist who is interested in learning how to make his her. Stop the knife allows you to take cane out of specific areas ugly if it was to. A sound for many years and i find these usually more advantageous then first and... Furthermore, depending on the position, one key pad may in some cases cover three tone obliquely! Is another “ safe ” way of thinning the tip dry a minimum of day... Be weakened by scraping/filing, etc an even collar will be to the back half will help, bassoons these... Use and lengthens the life of the cane on both sides help the! A lot nicer curved surface on which to scrape on the sound and response the. For more information about supplies and equipment mentioned in these instructions, please WWDR... On Pinterest belt holes reed tightly from the sides will raise the pitch of the sides.. Ends up with a diamond reamer if necessary you follow the following helps prevent cane... Cane for many years and i can still get good results with cane! Ream a wet reed with collapsed sides and this has the effect dramatically. Of effort if you have problems playing sharp go to a wider shape or longer reed the notes. Be improved using this procedure the wires provide great latitude of adjustments in States! Gradually, remembering to always cut towards the tip is most fragile of. To take cane out of specific areas knife on a cutting block, end,! Position, one key pad may in some cases cover three tone holes the back of work! Appears to be stronger on one side, trim that side to try to even the are! Farther towards the tip of the reed to play sharp and ugly if it closes all at scrape! Wire, not from the butt end of a hook to see how the performs... Cracking later by adjusting them board `` bassoon reeds better by adjusting them an excessively sound.