 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: oboemel
Date: 2017-12-01 04:08
Hello all! So I grew up in a very dry area and went to school in a dry area. Learning to make reeds was simple and all was well. I've recently moved up to Western Washington State and of course, it is WET CONSTANTLY and I am having a hell of a time making reeds here. They're stuffy, low notes aren't responding and I'm having issues with my reeds being closed which is odd. I feel like I'm just starting out again! Has anybody else ever had to make this transition or does anybody have any tips for making reeds in an extremely humid area? I've been making my own reeds for years now, but not in these conditions. Help!
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-12-02 01:27
I had the reverse problem. I was able to overcome it in very dry areas by wiring my medium scraped reeds if they needed it as I used to have a problem with collapsing reeds. Anyway, in wet conditions, you may need to make slightly lighter reeds or perhaps trying using different cane ( Some is more suitable than others in extremes). Perhaps ask the local oboe community what cane they use, and perhaps someone else may have had a similar problem to you in the past and has managed to solve it. I now make a long scrape reed, and live in an area of moderate rainfall. I have found in wetter months, my reeds are much more stable than in drier months. I know this is not exactly answering your question, but hope that it helps nevertheless.
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2017-12-10 00:16
Not answering your question either but assuring you your sanity is intact. I live in a very dry area (4% humidity in summer) and have never been able to buy a reed made elsewhere that works. They say it is a professional reed they would play a concert on, and I think You have JUST GOT TO BE KIDDING because this is a piece of trash I just paid $30 for. So I can't answer your question but can tell you it is legitimate.
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-12-10 01:14
If you do buy a professional reed reed, there is always the expectation that you at least know a little about adjusting the reed, and you will need to tweak it so that it plays in your particular climate and or altitude. The adjustments are usually pretty fine, so you have to be careful not to get carried away. Generally I have found that a more humid climate means that reeds are less likely to change that much going from one climate zone to another, but there are always little adjustments that need to me made. My first teacher sent reeds from a relatively moist climate, to a dry one where I was living, the reeds always needed a bit of scraping so that I could play on them. The first year or two were not easy when I lived there as my teacher lived over 300 km from me and I only saw him 2-3 times a year.
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2017-12-19 23:32
BTW I did buy reeds from a nearby city that is also in the dry desert, slightly lower altitude (hotter, even, than here) and I was able to adjust them to work here. As opposed to the wet climate reeds, which I could do nothing with.
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