Toneboard DevelopmentThis is one of my methods to develope a toneboard. Get handful of good sounding toneboards. Make sure they are all of the same brand. Now take all of the reeds out of them, then number them 1 through whatever. Next get you a spiral notebook to make yourself a record of each change you do to each toneboard. List the changes possible,1. shorter reed a 1/32" shorter b. 1/16" shorter2 longer reed do the same as above 3 wider reed do the same as above 4 narrower reed do the same as aboveNow for the above changes write notes to what changes happened when you changed the reed. Make these good notes, you will use them for as long as you make calls if you are smart. Now you need to do the same thing to the toneboards, remember the notes!! List how you can change the toneboard.1. Sand the slope There are lot of ways you can change the slope, make it longer, sharper curve, and the list goes on.2. Shorten the tone channel3. Lengthen the tone channel4. Change the diameter of the bit, to larger and smaller sizesTake the toneboards and change the slope on one of them, do this one 1/32 or less each time and then try the reeds from above. TRY ALL OF THEM not just one or a few. Do this over and over, until you know what each reed will do as you change the slope of the board. Take notes.. After you do this for a while you will instinctively have ab idea as to what will happen before you get it done. Did you remember to take notes. This is one method to get an understanding what happens and what causes the wrong or right sounds as you work on your call. Is it the right way, no, is it the wrong way, no, is it my only way, heck no. But it is one way and the way the guy that taught me used. Did I mention you need to take notes. Go and buy a handful of good poly inserts, it will save you a lot of time and you can use them in all of the above experiments. Yes it is a short cut, but it will save your sanity and get you to a finished call faster than doing it the hard way. Don't forget to keep the notes.
