Reeds for Jillian Camwell

Tuesday July 03 2007

Several days ago I began making reeds for Jillian Camwell, author of Prairie Oboe Companion. I don’t mind making reeds for other oboists who are curious about my bloggings and what not and want to experience them first-hand. Well, in particular, I believe she was curious about my June 3rd posting on Xanga regarding my 3 different gouges and 3 different shaper tips. Well, I starting making some samples and I ended up with 9 reeds. Not only did I end up with 9 reeds, but there are a LOT… of variables in them. A list of them

Currently using 2 gouging machines. My Opus 1 machine is back with Mr. Driscoll being updated.

In order from left to right, Reed #3, Reed #2, Reed #3

Reeds 1-3 shaped on a Weber 1-B shaper tip.

Reed 1×Graf gouging machine #2, Weber staple (gouge sides thinned a bit from Reed 2, which was made 1st)

Reed 2×Graf gouging machine #2, Weber staple (gouge thicker, made 1st)

Reed 3×Same as reed 1

In order from left to right, Reed #6, Reed #5, Reed #4

Reeds 4-6 shaped on a Weber 1-C shaper tip.

Reed 4×Graf gouging machine #1, Weber Staple

Reed 5×Same as Reed 4

Reed 6×Graf gouging machine #1, Chudnow Corkless staple E

In order from left to right, Reed #9, Reed #8, Reed #7

Reeds 7-9 shaped on a RDG… 2 shaper tip.

Reed 7×Graf gouging machine #1, Chudnow S staple

Reed 8×Graf gouging machine #1, Chudnow E staple

Reed 9×Graf gouging machine #1, Weber staple

Currently, I have my Graf machine #1 set to gouge the sides quite a bit thicker than my Graf machine #2, so it works better for wider shapes.

From Left to Right: Chudnow S tubes, Chudnow E tubes, and Weber tubes

Now, what was interesting for me was that for some time, I’ve been using the Weber staple because I find that they are much more stable than the Chudnow tubes, which are wider and have a bigger opening. When I compare my Weber staples to my Sierra Brass, Sierra Silver, and CA silver staples which range from $3.25-4.95, the Weber staples almost always win out in intonation. Chudnow’s corkless staples also have the same intonation issues as the others, which I particularly don’t like, specifically:

• -a sharper high G and A that tends to “get away” from me because it doesn’t feel focused
• -a sharper middle E,
• -a spreading C and Bb,
• -and a weaker low F

However, the corkless staples have some slightly different qualities to them. For instance, the corkless E staples (skinnier looking ones) have incredible “ring” to them, and less resistance to them. In fact, they feel like some of the most “freeblowing” reeds I’ve ever made. (Not that this is necessarily good, SOME… resistance is good.) Some would also say this “ring” isn’t necessarily good either, and produces a brighter tone. But making reeds with the E staple, and with the slightly wider 1-C with a heavier gouge turned out to be a fantastic combination, and I’m anxious to experiment with this setup again. I decided to make a couple reeds with the E staple and the RDG… 2 shape, since the reeds I make using the RDG… 2 are always VERY… beefy. Much to my surprise, the massive “ring” in combination with the fuller tone I got from such a wide shape was VERY… interesting. One of the reeds was clearly the best reed in all of the 10, until it cracked. (Isn’t it always the way?)

When I visited Martin Schuring at ASU… a couple months ago, he told me the S staples are the only kind he uses. We both agreed that they definitely kill more vibrations that enhance, and I think they work well for him because of his unusual setup. He takes a LOT… of reed in (it looks like he’s down to the string) but he actually covers the reed with his big lips, so that the amount of reed exposed in his mouth is actually a very small amount. Furthermore, he plays on a covered Howarth XL, and finally makes his reeds using Chinese “Golden Bamboo” cane, which is known as some of the single hardest cane out on the market. The hard cane in combination with the deadening staples would probably counteract each other in an interesting way.

Meanwhile, this time about in the experimental spirit, I also made a reed using Chudnow’s S corkless staple. I’ve probably made close to 30 reeds over the past year, and have had absolutely no success whatsoever. However, this time around, with the RDG… 2 shape, the S corkless staple made a decent reed, which I was surprised. It seems that the RDG… 2 shape produces enough vibrations to counterbalance the S staple, thus producing a decent reed. I don’t think that it’s as good as the other two, but it was interesting that I FINALLY… made a decent reed with the tube.

By the way, if you wish to buy the Chudnow staples Oboe Stuff and Singin’ Dog Reeds both sell the staples for $0.25 per staple cheaper.

Finally, one last note, regarding gouging machines. I have two Graf oboe gouging machines, but would love to trade one for an English Horn double radius gouging machine (Jeanne, Graf, Kunibert, or other brands acceptable). If anyone is interested, please contact me!

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