This is a quick way to eliminate tip issues when making reeds with unknown gouges or cane. A simpler approach to scraping oboe reeds. www.pierreroyob...
Great question. Usually 61 for a 5mm length is good. However, when I start the catch its about a third of the reed from the back. Different cane will demand different lengths of the heart depending on how the cane resonates and where the center of the reed feels. If the reed is tight, or stuck, I will move the back of the heart forward. You will see this in pictures of other players reeds where there will be scrapes in the back of the heart which look like blending. This starts to get into the balance of the back and the tip. Slightly different for different styles.