Re: "The Art of Oboe Playing" Sprenkle & Ledet

This book describes a method for making the reed tip opening larger or smaller. Illustrations are on pages 93 & 94.

The adjustment is made by applying pressure, using pliers, at the threaded portion of the staple.

Does anyone use this method?

No, the tip can be opened by sticking it in hot water. When you open the tip from pushing open the sides it warps the cane shut. I find that sticking the reed in boiling hot water work.

it can also crack, or start a crack, down the center of the reed. Which, we all know - not good.

This is a bassoonists trick; using pliers. It is advisable not to do this on oboe reeds, as it distorts the shape of the reed, and destroys the tube. Bassoonists can get away with it, as they don`t have tubes; their reeds are all cane.
If you`ve scraped the reed too much, especially the heart, and it`s too closed, there`s not much you can do to get the opening bigger.
Try squeezing the sides of the reed GENTLY to open the reed up a bit.
Slip the blades more on top of each other to make the opening bigger, but note that they will slip back after a while.
If you tie on your own reeds, tie on longer next time.

That`s all I can think of right now...

D-oboe

To close it, like the barbarian i am, i just gently compress it, not too hard. You may want to insert the plaque and just lightly bring the two sides of the tip together, dont stick the plaque in too far. To open it, go near the bottom, not all the way, and gently open it this way. Or stick you plaque in it for 10 minutes, just follow the "be gentle" rule, just experiment.