Does anyone know any good craft/hobby forums out there?

Does anyone know how to shave a reed or know of any websites or forums that teach you how???

• does anyone know how to shave a reed or know of any websites or forums that teach you how???

• Answer:

  Trimming & Shaving Adding Strength The longer you play a reed the weaker it gets. To give it back some of its strength, take a reed clipper (or scissors if you have to) and clip part of the tip off. To know where to cut, look at the tip on the inside (the part that faces the mouthpiece). The part that is worn will be lighter in color. Cut this off, but do not go past it. Finally, take some fine sand paper or a nail file and gently sand the reed in a one way motion towards the tip while increasing pressure as you approach the tip. Reducing Strength Often reeds seem too stiff when first played. Before sanding try soaking them or playing on them a bit. The reed may just need to be broken in. If you have tried all of this or just don't have time, take some scissors, a nail file, or sand paper (depending on how bad the problem is and what tools are available to you) and gently shave towards the tip and sides on the outside of the reed (the part facing away from the mouthpiece). Remember: You can never take too little off, only too much. Balancing You may be able to tell if a reed is unbalanced by placing the reed on a flat surface and looking at it from all sides to see if one side is thicker (if not, just guess). If one side is thicker than the other, balance it out by reducing the strength (see above) on only the thicker side. Low Range Help If you have problems reaching lower notes, it is very possible the reed's heart is unbalanced. Shave inward and upward on the outside of the reed (from the sides to the hard and away from the tip). Make sure not to break the tip and, as always, take it slowly. Good luck to you