Reeds for Contrabassoon

• Selection of Tubecane: Tubecane is imported directly from growers and carefully checked for quality. Factors such as hardness, density and color, as well as diameter and symmetry, are assessed to ensure that only the best cane is chosen for reed making. • Preparation of tubecane: The selected tubecane is then pre-processed. This way, any imperfections are removed and the cane is prepared for further shaping. This includes splitting into equal slices, cutting to the correct length and adding thickness on a more precise basis. • Gouging and Profiling: The cane is brought to thickness using special dedicated machines designed to create the exact desired thickness and profile for the contrabassoon reed. No electrical routers are used that could ruin the cane, but only razor sharp chisels are used for this treatment of the canes. The chisels are sharpened very regularly to guarantee utmost precision. This is crucial for achieving the correct thickness and profile of the cane. • Assembly: After the cane has been gauged and profiled, it is accurately cut to shape and assembled into a reed. This process involves tying the cane onto a metal mandrel to form the final reed. Equipped with soft brass wire, it remains on the mandrel for at least several days to dry. Only then is the reed provided with a nylon wrap. The Turkish Hat. • Adjustment and finishing: The reed, which is still closed at the tip, is cut open to the correct length. The assembled reed undergoes final adjustments to make it playable and refine its performance. This means placing the last brass wire, adjusting the profile, the tip opening and balancing so that the response, resistance and sound of the reed are optimized. By following these steps and using only the highest quality cane, we can produce contrabassoon reeds that meet the demanding demands of professional musicians.