Reed Placement For Open Reed Calls - Turning Reed Surface Up Or Down

SDHowler

SDHowler

New member
With the mylar or polyester reed material, I use the trial and error method when placing the reeds on my open reed calls. The sound and ease of blowing varies when you turn or flip the the reed surface from one side to the other. Is there a proper way of knowing which side of the reed goes up or down?

Give it a try with the reeds on your calls and see if you note the difference.

Steve
 
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I haven't noticed that as much as the fact that the placement of the reed making a difference. In othere words, if you're not getting the reed in exactly the same place each time you flip it, then the difference you're hearing may be more do to how much reed tip is hanging out past the tip of the air channel.
Another possibility to your observation, is that if your reed material is from stock that has been rolled up, it may have a slight memory/bend one way or the other, which would cause a difference in how the reed acted when flipping it over.
 
I buy the mylar by the flat sheet from Yellerdog. Over my years of call making, I have flipped the reeds from one side to the other and I have noticed a difference in the quality of sound produced.

Steve
 
I agree with you Steve. I have a huge 20 foot roll of mylar that I've used for years. I cut it horizontal, as it has the roll memory effect that Songdog mentions, otherwise. But, my type of mylar has a slick side and a "non-slick" side. I can tell a huge difference if I put a reed in upside down, by accident.

Tony
 
Thanks Tony for your comments on the mylar material that you have been using for your reeds. I never considered the memory effect of the mylar. How do you identify the slick side and "non-slick" sides of the reed? Both sides of the my reeds look and feel the same?

Steve
 
I just ran accross this thread and i can clear things up a little on the mylar.
When buying mylar it comes in rolls, LARGE rolls.
I bought a 5 foot by 50 foot roll and I cut it from that.
First I cut off a 12" x 60" piece. Then I cut that into 8-1/2" x 12" pieces. At that point the pieces still retain the shape that they came off the roll, curling up the 12" direction. After I have cut a pile of them, I straighten them using my top secret method /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif(I heat them in the oven sandwiched between large pieces flat phenolic.)
When they have been through the straightening process they are quite flat. They do however tend to have a little memory left and if the strips are cut the 12" length they may curl slightly. Thus you have to have the correct side up to achieve proper function.
The way around that is to cut your strips the 8-1/2" direction. This will totally elimate the need to have a certain side up.
Hopefully I explained this clearly. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
If not shoot me an email or pm and I'll try again. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Lee
 
All that has been said agrees with my experience...The way around much of this is relatively simple...in order to keep it from being what has been described as "sticky"...always turn the apex down....in other words....after you cut your reed closely to size....lay it down of something flat and smooth.....I use synthetic cutting board....anyway....after laying it flat....take your finger and gently to to "spin" it like a top, then turn it over and attempt to spin it again.........when the apex is down it will act as if it wants to spin....this is a positive manner with which to determine which side should go "up".....if indeed it is necessary to make that determination. If the mylar has memory(much of it does)...it is of great importance to know which side is "up ."

Hope this helps...


Joe


P.S. It is more important with the thinner mylar ( 10 thou or less) as it is more apt to stick.....
 
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Lee and Joe are spot on. If you cut your reeds horizontal instead of verticle with the roll (hope that makes sense), then you don't have to worry about memory.

The 10mil mylar that I've been using for years has a slick side and dull side. I always put the dull side down. Most mylar is slick on both sides....this is the only roll that I've ever seen that has 2 different finishes on it. I sand the bottomside of all my personal reeds, as well. I taper the front half of the reed. It can do wonders to the sound of the call and allow some serious high pitches. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Tony
 
Well guys, I don't know if thereis a right and wrong way to install reeds but here is how I do it. Since the mylar is in a roll, the memory arch is easily seen. I cut my strips "across" the arch, so that the long narrow strip appears to lay flat on a table. Now if you look closely at ends of these strips, you can see a slight arch across the reed. For several years, I installed all reeds with high spot on the bottom, but now I install them with high side on top. I don't get many complaints, so I guess either method works. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 


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