Tuning bass reeds

[Brassodemolish]

How would one tune reeds that have weights on the tip?

 

[Jomme]

I would say file the weights... and if you have to go down add material?

 

[JIM D.]

Correct responce Jomme . But many times a cleaning & valve change will bring them back in tune.

 

[debra]

When the pitch is too low I file the weight down a bit, using an old file. The weights are a softer material and it clogs up the grooves in the file.
When the pitch is too high I use a scratcher just like on reeds that have no weight. Adding weight (solder) is an option if the pitch is off by a lot. I would add the weight not close to the tip because that limits the outward "travel" the reed has before potentially hitting something (like the bellows or a reed or valve on the next reed block.