Closing a tip?

[Morry]

I hear of folks having a piece opened up to a larger tip opening, but I want to know if the opposite can be done also. I bought a Bari HR soprano mpc that I very much like the sound of, but the .060 is just too open for me (right now anyway). I could continue to drop down in reed strength, but I don't want to sacrifice the upper register. Can the table be decked (to use an engine term) and reduce the overall tip opening without screwing the piece up? The S80 C* I have is too closed, but this .060 is too open. What would be the middle - a .054 or so?

[MojoBari]

Yes, most refeacers can close a piece down too. The table is cut down. This makes the facing too short, so it needs to be reconstructed as part of the job. Another problem is getting the reed to seal against a refaced table. It is easy to get a convex table (high spot). Many refacers dig a concavity in the table to combat this. This works, but promotes reed warping. Warped reeds seem to work fine but you can not use them on another piece with a flat table. I prefer a flat table.

Check your tables by holding a short straight edge against them and looking for light between the edge and the table. Try it lengthwise and across the table.

[Morry]

Sounds like more trouble than it's worth. Maybe I'll just keep it and try to work up to the opening.

[Paul Coats]

No, going from .060" down to .054" would be quite easy.

tenorman@teche.net