I’m a Snoop. I admit it… I love to look through other people’s medicine cabinets. I love when people forget to close their curtains and I can sneak a look inside. Here is my bassoon equivalent- a SNEAK PEEK into MY REED BOXES.
Recently, I’ve started organizing my reeds by ENSEMBLE and BY DATE. Previously I had organized them ONLY by DATE: Oldest to Newest- Left to Right. By Organizing by Ensemble, too- I was better able to pick out patterns. What type of CANE, SHAPER TIP, and PROFILE was ending up in each VENUE.
CHAMPIONS:
Here’s what I have found. My box of “CHAMPIONS” as I call them OR reeds that I use for Principal Bassoon, Solo with Piano or Robust Chamber Music are most often:
DANZI CANE
RIEGER 1A SHAPER TIP
RIEGER PROFILING MACHINE: dimensions set by the company and I have never altered them.
These reeds require more Scraping- they start out HEAVIER.
The cane is usually Harder.
Best High Note Reeds.
Great Level of Projection.
LOTS of Playing and Scraping, BEFORE Extreme Dynamics are Achieved.
FEATHERS:
Here is my box of “FEATHERS”. These are my lightweight Reeds for 2nd Bassoon in Orchestra and matching Clarinet diminuendos in Chamber Music.
RIGOTTI CANE
FOX 2 SHAPER TIP (this is ever so slightly more narrow that the RIEGER 1A)
POPKIN PROFILE: I set this to “Clip the Tip and Play” on it Dimensions
The reeds start out BRIGHT because they are so LIGHT but DARKEN nicely with Breaking In.
The cane is usually Softer.
There is great low note response. Rarely, there is a gem with AMAZING High Notes.
Overall these reeds are narrower at the tip and the throat by at least a full millimeter. And as there is less flare at the base, these reeds require less beveling.
GET TO KNOW ME REEDS:
My “GET TO KNOW ME REEDS” are the box where all reeds START and is a Mish-Mash. So No Label in the Door of the Reed Box.
These are Reeds that I am Breaking In and Trying Out.
Typically these “YOUNG ONES” are Bright and Need both Playing and Scraping (usually for a full month) before they make their Public Debut.
On the agenda is to buy a larger reed box for the Mish Mash as I am trying out a new style reeds!
This box has Started to Contain my Reeds from the MD Profiler and Shaper!
Be sure to Check Back Later for more on that.
Hope You Enjoyed!
erynoft 