Cane diameter:

Chicanery processes cane in three major diameters: 24, 25, and 26 mm. In general, a larger cane diameter will create a more closed tip opening by default. Typically, smaller diameter cane is more desirable in dry or winter climates, whereas larger diameter cane is better for warmer, humid, subtropical climates. Some bassoonists elect to use smaller diameter cane in the winter, and larger diameter cane in the summer. Others don't find there to be a significant discrepancy per season.

Gouge:

While some bassoonists reference gouges in two different types: eccentric and concentric, all bassoon gouges follow some degree of eccentricity. The gouge we elect is at a median point between true eccenentricity and concentricity. Traditionally, European bassoonists have elected for a thinner eccentric gouge and a thicker profile in order to use the most dense cane closer to the bark of the reed. Conversely, American bassoonists have historically opted for a thicker concentric gouge and thinner profile, to use softer cane further from the bark. Standard Gouge is 1.25mm.

Pricing:

We purchase cane in bulk directly from the supplier, or in some cases from a commercial reseller that purchases in bulk larger than we anticipate being able to sell. Our prices reflect the cost of cane per Kg, and the yield of tubes in usable pieces of gouged cane. Prices are subject to some fluctuation depending on the yield of our most recent batch.

Cane selection:

The primary advantage we believe we offer over our competitors is professional cane sorting and selection. While some cane sellers will split tubes in 4 and sell every piece that resembles cane, we use a 5 step process to eliminate as much undesirable cane as possible.

• 1) Tube sorting: Only straight and level pieces of cane without branches make it to the gouging process.
• 2) Hand gouging: Rather than being done by an automated machine, each piece is hand guided through either our belt or hand gouger to ensure cane remains flat in the bed without movement or obstruction. Consistency of gouger shavings are checked for each piece and those with grainy, uneven, or wispy gouger shavings close to the final gouge point are discarded.
• 3) Hardness testing: Each piece of cane is individually hardness tested on the blade by a Reeds 'n Stuff hardness tester. Pieces outside our usable range are discarded.
• 4) Warpage: Each piece of cane is set to dry bark-down on a level plane. Pieces that warp, curl, or chance diameter after gouging are discarded.
• 5) Grain testing: Pieces are finished via 320 grit sandpaper after gouging. Pieces that remain overly grainy or uneven after sanding are discarded.

Videos:

"Gouging Cane with Rian Craypo" "Sorting Cane, Rian Craypo" "Sorting Tubes, Rian Craypo" "Cane Selection and Tube Sorting, Barry Stees" "Gouging Cane, Barry Stees" "Density and Hardness Testing, Barry Stees" "Selecting The Right Cane, Andrew Burn"

Useful cane processing techniques that we abide by