Stiff topmost reeds

["Keith Freeman" <keith.freeman@xxxxxxxxxx>]

The reeds in the last hole of my new Swan 16-holer chro (same pitches as the top of 
any 12-holer in C, of course) are very stiff to play. Might I get some mileage out of 
making them thinner (not narrower!) by sanding them along the whole length? Or is this 
going to make them too quiet - not that I intend to play them loudly - or weaken them so 
that they break when I try to set the gap?

- -Keith