Eric Arbiter
"I discuss the history of this pattern in my book, The Way of Cane. Here are page numbers for other shadow photographs of this particular trim type, similar to these except they are in black and white.
Pages xxv, p. 22, p.73, 92, 111, 172-173, 235 (with thickness measurements), p. 305, Bernard Garfield’s reed.
There are so many different ways to trim the bassoon reed. This particular style is the one that works best for me and my bassoon. It’s also one of the reasons that I wrote The Way of Cane: to sketch out some of the major types of trim styles to try if looking for alternatives for directions for possible improvement.
For anyone more interested in the development and history of this pattern I outline it below.
I found the reed style that made a big difference for me with my month of lessons with Bernard Garfield during my winter term in 1969, my first year at Oberlin Conservatory. I immediately took to his reeds and began to model mine after this style. In those days, reed machines were much simpler so most of the work had to be done by hand.Fast-forward several years later to 1974 when I started my position of Associate Principal in the Houston Symphony. During my first year, I was having problems playing 3rd bassoon (low and very softly) when the repertory required it. My bassoon was leaking a lot— or my reed making just wasn’t up to the task– but for whatever the reason, I needed help.
I read in To The World’s Bassoonists by Gerald Corey, a recommendation for reeds made by Walter Urbach, who performed in the Berlin and Nuremberg Philharmonic Orchestras, and I ordered four reeds from him, which ended up working very well for me. Coincidentally these reeds were constructed along similar lines to Mr. Garfield’s so it was a win-win for me and solved my problems until I could get my bassoon sealed properly. I continued to use both the Urbach and Garfield reeds as models for my own since that time. This new Reeds ’n Stuff template— ARB— is based on my adaptation of Mr. Garfield’s and Herr Urbach’s reed designs."
Here is a table of setup measurements to help reset your tip profiling machine
or set up a new template.
- Center Thickness
- 0.38 mm at tip
- Instrument
- Bassoon
- Manufacturer
- Reeds 'n Stuff
- Country of origin
- Germany
- Product number
- 1199-004101199-00410