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Reed Tips




ADJUSTING THE WIRES
ACTION RESULTS      
  Back Tip Tone Quality Response
1) Squeeze 1st wire from the sides More arch More open Darker, more robust, less reedy, higher pitch More resistance, reed will feel stronger to lips, tonguing will improve in low register
2) Squeeze 1st wire top and bottom Less arch Less open Lighter, more reedy, thinner, slight pitch drop Less resistance, reed will feel weaker to lips, tonguing will improve in high register, reed will play easier in middle and high register
3) Squeeze 2nd wire from the sides Remains about the same Less open More reedy but not as much as in 2) Less resistance, easier to tongue staccato, low register will not respond to fortissimo
4) Squeeze 2nd top and bottom Remains about the same More open Little darker, little higher pitch Slight increase in resistance, low register will be stronger
5) Squeeze 2nd wire from sides first, then 1st wire from sides next Much more arch More open Much darker, more robust, higher pitch More resistance, reed will feel heavier and stronger to lips, light tonguing will be sluggish
6) Squeeze 2nd wire top and bottom then 1st wire the same Much less arch More at first then less Darker, more robust, less reedy, higher pitch Much thinner and lighter, reedy, pitch will drop
7) Squeeze 2nd wire from sides first, then 1st wire top and bottom Less arch Much less open Darker, more robust, very reedy, thin and lighter than 6) Even less resistance than 6)
8) Squeeze 2nd wire top and bottom, then 1st wire from the sides More arch Much more open Very dark sound, more robust and heavy, pitch is raised Great increase in resistance, reed will feel much stronger to lips, improves fortissimo in low register



IRREGULARITIES THAT AFFECT THE CROW
Part of the Reed Condition Effect Remedy
Tip Too thick Hard attack; sharp, fuzzy tone; inadequate forte Thin the tip
Tip Too thin Raucous, buzzy attack; flat, thin tone; inadequate forte Cut the tip
Back Too thick Sharp, increased resistance in reed Thin the back
Back Too thin Flat insufficient resistance, inadequate tone center Cut the tip
Center Too thick Tone too dark, uncentered Thin the center
Center Too thin Tone too bright, insufficient resonance Thin the sides
Blade edges Too thick Excessive reed resistance Thin the edges
Blade edges Too thin, not parallel Leaking edges, insufficient sound, flat No remedy
First Wire Too flat Flat (especially high register), difficult control, tip opening too small Open tip
First Wire Too round Sharp, (especially low register), tip opening too large Close the tip
Bore Reaming residue Fuzzy tone, increased reed resistance Clean bore with rat-tail file