Can a reed geek be used to uniformly change a reed that is, for example, a 3 to a 2 1/2. If so, how exactly?
Beg to differ. I routinely reduce a reed's hardness/rigidity by various methods. Sanding the bottom (although avoiding sanding under the delicate tip) often works well if the reed plays well overall, but feels a bit hard. A reed that blows hard in the lower register (starting for example at the low D) is softened by scraping at the base of the vamp. Then there is balancing the reed - one side vs the other, removing asymmetries. For example, I found all recently bought Fibracells to be thicker on one side than the other. Remedying this (Perfectareed gauge to find the asymmetry) will make a Fibracell feel at least 1/2 to 1 number softer. I use a razor or a small sanding stick.To reduce a reeds rigidity from a 2.5 to a 2 (for example) I would not consider possible via manual manipulation.
And where the green oval is, that's where I start to sand a bit down.Here's an old Lavoz reed
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Oh, that's quite alright. I'm only offering tips to get her started, like I did, a little at a time. I'm not someone who regularly works on reeds, and someone with that sort of experience will know more than me about potentially fine tuning them. I like 'em right out of the box anyhow, but have made reeds more playable simply by sanding that one spot. Very sparingly... a little at a time.Grumps, I hate to disagree with you, but I almost always sand the tip of the reed, and usually one side or the other depending on which side blows harder in the "twist the mouthpiece in your mouth side-to-side test".
Probably because they're paying upwards of $5 per reed?I've never been able to figure out why some people think that reeds right out of the box should play.
And send those other 9 to me. I'll pay postage, no need to disinfect, I have a good supply of peroxide......
But y'all keep on throwing away 9 out of every 10 reeds because you don't want to work on them. It helps keep reed manufacturers' revenues up, so they stay in business.
Sorry, your thought process is completely illogical. Your conclusion is wrong.... I've never bought blanks graded by hardness or type of cane, so I would disagree that reeds are graded that way. They are graded on their profile cut, ie thicker profile for higher numbered reeds. ...