A Reed Crow Question answered

A customer asked . . .

Q: Should an acceptable reed "crow" at about C in order to sound right and play in tune?

A: There are players who are dead set on a reed crowing at a certain pitch. I don't believe that there is direct relevancy to the actual pitch of the instrument. I respect their opinion, but can state with assurance, that while it is nice when a reed crows at C, it is only one indicator of the potential of the reed, and not an actual functioning end product.

If we only crowed our reeds in concert, rather than inserting them into an instrument, there would be greater consequences to this. My suggestion is that you try playing the reed, and suspend judgment until the proof is seen in the actual performance.