Reed-making #1

Omaha Symphony bassoonist Adam Trussell shows us step-by-step how he makes his bassoon reeds. Part 1: Finding the right cane and gouging it... Hear Adam's workmanship in action at an Omaha Symphony performance: call 402.342.3560 or www.omahasymphony.org

Category:

Music

Tags:

• reed
• making
• cane
• bassoon
• oboe
• omaha
• symphony
• adam
• trussell
• gouging
• music
• nebraska
• orchestra

[ArduinoAlan]

what size cane is that?



[andromedarr]

@MercifulMe To find it a bit funny, you have to understand that i dont want to make bassoon (thanks for the spelling check) players look bad, nor do i want to offend anybody, but most people would have a smile over their faces when reading this^^

[MercifulMe]

@andromedarr Did you know that it's spelled bassoon? It's also not really that funny...

[andromedarr]

Great Video :)

Did you know (no offence intended) that the Basoone is called Fagott in Germany? It should have no connection to the faggott in your language, but i think it is funny :D

[CatFlashBlue]

@TSOrocker1 I said it doesn't line up because it doesn't go with the reeds I bought. Their quality really does feel terrible and definitely too thick. The reed itself lines up with the story of this bassoonist I was talking to about reeds. He went to college and got a master's degree in bassoon, so I figure he would know about the standards of reed making.

I wasn't calling you a liar. Your story does sound very realistic and believable. It just sounded odd compared to my experience with Jones.

[TSOrocker1]

@CatFlashBlue Who worked there? You or me? I was with them for just under 9 years, and I was involved in about half of the process of making them, from cutting the cane, to splitting, shaping, gouging, profiling, winding, sanding, etc. As for putting on extra cane, there is no truth to that at all. Whoever told you that is misinformed. As for being machine made, we did use cnc machines for the profiling, but the rest was all by hand. Don't tell me my story doesn't line up, ok?

[CatFlashBlue]

@TSOrocker1 I used to buy Jones reeds, and everyone told me they were machine made. Essentially the reeds were terrible because the product makers decided to put on extra cane, to make up for the bad quality. Your story as a Jones reed maker doesn't line up here.

[TSOrocker1]

I, at one time, was a reed maker for Jones Double Reed Products in Spokane, Wa. The reed making process is very intensive and interesting as well. I was involved in making both oboe and bassoon reeds, and was with the company for almost 9 years. Sadly, I am no longer with them though.

[daverwob]

much much cheaper in the long run to make them yourself, but you need a few thousand dollars worth of machinery and a lot of time and expertise to put into it.

[adamtrussell1]

It takes a long to time to become a self-sufficient reed maker. I would say that making them is definitely not easy. Learning to make something that resembles a bassoon reed is not that hard but being successful consistently is a real challenge.  With all the different stages it probably takes an hour or so to make a reed for me, however, that does not account for all the soaking, drying and breaking-in time.