Growl… Graf Machine
Wednesday July 11 2007
My Graf machine worked great for Alliaud and Bonazza cane, which I would classify as a medium hard cane and a medium cane, but now that I ran out of that and switched over to Ghys, which is usually a medium hard cane, but I think this batch is particularly hard. In any case I am very unhappy with the results. Sigh, maybe I should just use it on my other Graf machine which gouges thicker, and use softer cane on this machine.
Speaking of Graf machines, I think they are some of the best machines available. They’re very flexible, and have persevered over the years. There is currently a Graf machine for sale on the IDRS… website for $385 (a steal in my opinion) but I don’t have any extra $385 to throw around. Three machines for me is enough.
So, as a reedmaker, I’m faced with this difficult decision. I spend a lot of time adjusting a gouging machine to be just right for a certain kind of cane, and then POOF… I run out of that cane and have to switch to another kind of cane. Do people buy mass amounts of cane (more than 4 pounds?) and use it forever? Or do you buy a pound at a time and play around with variety?
The best kind of cane I have used is Mr. Weber’s Grimaud, which has a hard texture to it which makes it easier to get thin tips and better definition, but a softer sound to it which gives more warmth and depth. I love it, but it’s expensive, so I don’t work on it much unless I have a big concert coming up. But meanwhile, I have all this other cane that just sits around. For example, I have a pound of this Rigotti which I think is horrible. What am I supposed to do with it? I can’t sell it on good conscience.
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