Reeds Pete's 'boing' principle applying to reeds?

Bobby G · Mar 5, 2008

Recently, Pete explained how the 'boing' principle applies to springs of different length and how it can affect the feel of the action. Could the same principle also apply to reeds?

I've compared a Superial DC and a RJS, and while they are exactly the same length, the cross-cut on the RJS is about 1.5mm nearer to the reed tip, which makes the active, or vibrating, part of the reed that much shorter. Could this have an effect, making the 'shorter' reed a little harder to blow or less responsive-feeling than a 'longer' reed of the same strength?

philthd · Mar 5, 2008

having just waste a lot of work time drawing frustrating diagrams involving moments, damped oscillation and mechanical work, hasticly scratched together with vague highschool memories i can definitively say

maybe

Bobby G · Mar 5, 2008

Exactly my conclusion philthd 🙂

Linky Lee · Mar 5, 2008

in principal yes, but then reeds are graded for their 'boingity' and therefore on principle a 3 of one model and a 3 of another model from the same manufacturer, even with different lengths of 'active' sections should still have the same ease of playing, but I'd imagine that the one with the longer reed would be more responsive and articulate as it will have a bigger vibration.

I would also assume it would have a greater amount of lower harmonics to the sound.

All this is based on the laws of guestimation.

Pete Thomas · Mar 5, 2008

I don't think reeds boing.

They vibrate when you blow and stop vibrating when you stop blowing.

The boing principal applies to things like a ruler held over a table edge and vibrate after being struck or flicked. ie there is a long decay - it's a bit like the difference between a percussion instrument which you just hit once - whether it be a drum or something pitched like a vibraphone.

In fact a guitar string boings, but with a reed it just starts as you blow then stops when you stop.

Yes, there may be a very very slight decay when you stop, but too short to be called a boing, and usually the reed is dampened with your tongue anyway when the note stops.

Interesting question though, I may be wrong this is just my thoughts on the subject.

mfox · Mar 5, 2008

!ring ring, ring ring! " hello reeds direct, how can i help you"

" i would like a box of reeds please".

"of course sir, what strength?"

" do you have any boing boings? or even boing boing boi?"

" no sir , but we do have boing boing prrrrrrrraaah"

"ok thanks, send me them then"

Bobby G · Mar 6, 2008

I think I must have cornered the market in Boing boing prrrrraaaah reeds.

By 'boing', I was relating it to Pete's ruler in terms of the vibrating length rather than the waveform of the vibration if that makes sense. Perhaps I should just have done with it and use a ruler as a reed.

jadoube · Mar 6, 2008

I have an old metal ruler that goes going most wonderfully.

Does that mean that metal reeds would be a good thing?

Bobby G · Mar 6, 2008

Jadoube wrote:

I have an old metal ruler that goes going most wonderfully.

Does that mean that metal reeds would be a good thing?

I knew I'd find a use for that old set of feeler gauges eventually :laugh: Would imperial or metric be best?

funkymonk · Mar 7, 2008

remember the laws of physics for large matter is different compared to the physics for small matter. lol

losaavedra · Mar 8, 2008

Maybe a stupid question this ... but has anybody tried making their own reeds? Reason for asking is that about 6 years ago we planted one small bamboo shoot here. Today we've got masses of it ... some of the hefty bits are around 2.5 cm diameter. Each year we chop it all down and what we don't use for garden purposes goes on the bonfire. The overall bamboo patch is now several metres wide and the stuff grows 4 or 5 metres in height! I think I'll try copying a Rico, but I'd be interested if anyone has knowledge of the problems to look out for. Yes I know it's probably not worth the effort ... but I haven't got a proper job!!!