Enclosed, is a recording of Eamonn Dillon about 20 minutes into his Master class. Aside from this being a fine example of a master musician who can improvise complex new shapes In the context of an old tune w/o ruining the tune itself, this excerpt is a recording (kindly given to me by individual who was in the audience), will allow us to hear what the adverse affects of high heat and humidity can have on a wooden reed.
At any rate… check it out for yourself
If that reed is dying, then I have 2 thousand fingers!
Sounds good to me imho. I am afraid to pipe in the heat. 
I have just started to learn reed making. Should I learn to make a wood one?
I have been told by the gentleman who gave me the recording, that he arrived late to the master class. So we are hearing the reed after about 50 minutes into the class/playing in those conditions.
…the answer to that?
Well, I would refer you to the signature at the bottom of my posts! Seriously, focus on Being able to make and the adjust good cane reeds.
If it was very hot and humid, then you cannot discount perspiring fingers and hands 50 minutes into the set, which have the effect of making you slip notes. I don’t hear anything particularly amiss with the reed or the technique. That’s why I hate playing under spotlights; it doesn’t affect my reeds, merely my hands.
Here’s a question.
How does the reeds octave reliability behave in these hot and humid conditions.
Here’s why I ask.
I’ve been touring a lot this year with a show that performs in all kinds of venues. They vary from Fox Theatres, out door arenas and hockey stadiums WITH the fecking ice still on the floor but coverd in plywood, so temperature and humidity levels change hugely from venue to venue.
Anyway I have a slow air to play in the show and the second part of the tunes has loads of high B’s and octave jumps too.
In fact there is a clip of me plaing this tune out there in youtubeland. The show was at the Mann Center in Philadelphia, an outdoor arena, and that day it was about 78 - 80 degrees and because it rained most of the day the humidity was through the roof! Maybe 80 - 90%
Anyway, long story even longer, I use a cane reed. The tuning was ok. Not perfect but ok, but the octave was a bitch to control and I dropped the octave on the second high B.
So basically could Maple reeds avoid the symptoms that would keep a more reliable octave going?
I’m quite sure this isn’t a yes or no question but all suggestions are welcome.
Maybe I’ll make some and see what happens.
Tommy
Tommy,
Try a narrower reed…just by a wee bit.
Again, I think the idea the gen. idea about maple…for me is… the material is way more predictable. It’s more resistant to climate changes, but it’s not perfect. Having said that, I have not gotten a chance to lacquer one yet.
There’s so much more research that needs to happen and at this juncture, I have no time to do so.
…soon enough…
Try a narrower reed…just by a wee bit.
Now thats exactly what I did. Funny though, I made a new reed at the end of the tour and I made it almost 1mm than the previous spade that I was playing.
Now it’s so responsive I can’t keep the octave down. Ok I’m exagerating but the narrower head does make a difference alright. There’s very little pressure difference between 1st and 2nd octaves.
the material is way more predictable.
Great stuff.
Now where did I put that Maple…
Tommy
great minds stink…em…THINK alike!
