The Making of a Bassoon Reed

OMG 10k views! Who knew a 30 minute bassoon reed making video would be so popular!

This is not a How-To guide for how I make my reeds. There are many resources available for information on how to use a cane processing tools like shapers and profilers, and many guides for dozens of ways to make blanks, and even more guides for testing procedures and reed finishing strategies. I'm not going to really talk about any of that here.
What this is, is a walkthrough of me making a reed, from beginning to end, without any steps left out, and to do it all in real-time. I do this so you can see the process done by an expert reed maker that makes and sells many reeds every month.

I'm happy to answer any questions about any stage of my reed making process.

Key equipment:
Argendonax gouged cane
Custom straight shaper
MD Reeds Profiler
Rieger forming mandrel
22g brass wire
Pliers
Cotton thread and Duco cement
Rieger drying rack
Rieger spiral and diamond reamers
Rieger rotating tip cutter
Rimpl tip profiler (The "Ultimate" Reed Finishing matchine)
Big beveled knife (made from a multi-purpose tool handle and a jointer knife blade)
Triangular swiss file
Cutting block

Holy crap! more than 1000 views in 4 months!

[nomorebushz]

I am an oboist and I have been making reeds for almost 50 years. I totally understand and agree with you that once the cane is gouged and shaped, tied and rough scraped, then getting it broken in by drying it and wetting it and drying it and wetting it over a period of a couple of weeks is a very essential step which demands patience, after a rough scrape before focusing on final adjustments for a Concert reed. I also believe that a slower process extends the life greatly on each of my reeds.
The true character of the grain fibers and the shape will eventually settle. From fiber to fiber within the structure of the cane, which is naturally imperfect considering there is soft cane and hard cane. I believe aged cane is extremely important as well. Every couple of years I will purchase one or 2 kilos of cane and let it age another one or two years. The aperture’s of my reeds are much more consistent in my opinion, when the cane has been aged proficiently and gone through wetting and drying out periods.

[raypizzi]

presentation Trent. Organized and informative.

[michaelcorcoran]

I play bassoon, but I hate it for two reasons. The reeds that you buy from a store are never the best quality, and they are ridiculously expensive. But, making them is also ridiculously expensive. Stupid bassoon. But I love it.

[bassoonkris]

great video! I'm going to try a file for beveling now instead of just sandpaper. I hope you got sponsorship from Rieger! 

[mirahristova_official]

It is so hard to make a bassoon reed...My bassoon teacher make it for me, but I really want to make it alone, but I haven't any instruments for that...
This video is very useful for bassooners..Thank you!

[richardjchandler]

Hi Trent,   A wonderfully instructive video...  Thank you!

[arriebassoon]

great video!!! whats your setting on your tip profiler? Wonderful machine, but im struggling to find a good reed thickness on the setting..

[arriebassoon]

Okay. I think my problem is I set that the tip to be very thin and not leaving anything for a bit of knife work.. m happy with the basic template. Thank you once again. fantastic video

[TheLibrarianUU]

Ook! [Damn. How glad i am that i am not playing woodwinds (can't actually even if i wanted to). On the other hand - it takes very special dedication above and beyond the normal instrument technique.]

[TheCoolrick]

Just got an md profiler was wondering what numbers do you find work best for you? really liked your tone.

[marydoob]

Great video, I just watched it again. The Rimple looks great, I have a TA machine. good point about ripping the corners if you aren't careful. Both do a longer profile. What bassoon is that? I like the high F key.

[guadalupeesquiveljr.]

Hello Trent, may I ask about your pre-cut lengths of wire? Are these something you pre-made or able to purchase? Great video.

[Green-uuhe]

Hey I'm learning to make bassoon reeds but i don't know the difference between the different types of cane. Would you mind telling a brief description of them also what are the measurements of the wires? Thanks in advance.

[hansfronberg]

How often do you need to get your tip profiling machine blade replaced? And how much does it generally cost to do that?

[richardblake]

Hi Trent, I appreciate you making this video and all the comments you also post on IDRS. I have a quick question regarding your MD Profiler

I too own an MD. I was wondering what settings do you have the thickness-adjustment knobs that are numbered on the rolling platform? I have been experimenting with these parameters for a while now trying to find a setting that uses the machine to its fullest potential and saving time during the finishing process.

[GaryGP]

Great video! Very thorough. One question: would this work for making contra reeds? I am thinking it might help to keep the low register dark, but the upper register can be really thin as well. I have a mandrel but I need a profiler for my contra! :)

[scotking]

That's interesting Trent. Why don't you use a bunson burner to heat your forming mandral ? It will help the wood retain its form rather than putting it on a pin for 2 weeks.

[zwerty]

Can I ask what is usually the diameter of the bottom end of the reed? I want to know if I can fit one in my Guan Zi as an experiment ;)

[collinpetry]

I might have missed it in the video, but how did you open the tip of the read?

[jeffreywasik]

Out of curiosity, what brand Reed knife were you using?