Has anyone ever used a reed plaque to shape or protect chanter reeds?
Thanks, Richard
Yes.
Bob
From what I know about other double reed instruments , every instrument seems to have its own reedmaking techniques and traditions . Uilleann pipe reedmaking traditionally doesn’t use a plaque. Maybe someone else may be able to shed some light on why that is so.
RORY
I’ve never seen anyone use a reed plaque for uilleann pipe reeds. Chanter reeds are very thin and fragile. Inserting a plaque would pose a high risk of breaking the reed.
I don’t know much about oboe or bassoon reeds, but since they are mouth-blown, wouldn’t the reed be thicker and more sturdy?
First: I’m not that great a reed maker.
Second: The plaque I used was made of .015 in. spring steel shim stock. There was very little risk to the reed. The plaque was as
thin as card stock.
Third: I wasn’t as happy using it as I thought I might be; that is to support the tips of the reed as I sought to scrape the very ends.
Fourth: I found my solution in using an extremely sharp curved scraper and a very light touch to touch up the tip ends.
YMMV.
Bob