|
Fault |
Area |
Tool |
Remarks |
|
|
|
Too soft |
Tip |
Trimmer |
Clip small amount. Test after each clip. |
|
Buzzy or edgy |
Tip |
Trimmer |
Same as above. |
|
Lack of resonance |
1 & 2 |
Dutch rush |
Balance. |
|
Dull sound when playing softly |
1 & 2 |
Dutch rush |
Balance; take more off both sides if still too
hard. |
|
Blows hard |
2 |
Dutch rush |
Thin both sides and balance. |
|
Lower register lacks resonance |
2 |
Dutch rush |
Balance and thin if necessary. |
|
Tip too thick after clipping |
Under side of tip |
Sandpaper |
Lay sandpaper on glass and stroke lightly with
grain on the flat table side of reed to about
3/8 of an inch back from tip. |
|
Reed whistles |
2 |
Dutch rush |
Balance. |
|
High tones hard to attack softly |
2 & 1 |
Dutch rush |
Thin gradually with light stroke. |
|
Thin high register |
3 |
Dutch rush |
Test after each few strokes. |
|
Lacks projection in upper register |
3 |
Dutch rush |
Move three back from the tip.(This may shorten
the life of the reed.) |
|
Lack of resonance in middle register |
4 |
Dutch rush |
Lightly on 3 also. |
|
Heavy low register |
6 |
Scraping knife |
Finish with Dutch rush. |
|
General lack of resonance |
7 & 8 |
Sandpaper on glass |
Sand rails of reed if reed is too wide for
mouthpiece. |
|
After balancing, reed plays well but blows hard |
6 - 5 - 4 - 3 |
Scraper |
Thin evenly all indicated areas. |
|
Table not flat |
Table |
Razor blade |
Stroke lightly towards tip. |
|
Table not smooth |
Table |
Sandpaper on glass |
Rub lightly back and forth, always in the
direction of the grain. |
|
You can substitute 400 grit sandpaper for Dutch
Rush. Dutch Rush is a tall plant found alongside
rivers and streams. It has vertical ribbing that
runs the length of the stalk. It can be
purchased at
some music stores and catalog stores.
|
