 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: phoenix_song
Date: 2003-12-29 03:19
Well, since I have a nice wooden oboe now (which I am still gushing about) I think this is a good time to start looking into making reeds. I've thought about it before, because I know that once you've gotten all the tools and stuff it ends up cheaper, and I've been playing for a couple years now too.
My question is: What way do all of you out there recommend I get started in this? I don't have a whole lot of cash that I want to blow on this, because I have to save my money for college tuitions, so what is the cheapest kit/ supply store you know about, or what the best instruction book would be?
Anyway, store bought is working right now, but later on it's nice to make your own reeds. A lot of the brands out there are disappointing me lately, and I've heard that the home-made ones play better and last longer. Happy oboeing....
My wallet photos:
Phoebe the Lesher
Marilee the Loree
Walter and Nichols the oboe reeds
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Author: jn4jenny
Date: 2003-12-29 05:30
As a college student myself, I'd say you should really think hard about investing in a full reed-making tool set and cane/staples/thread/etc. The initial investment will be about $150-$200 just for your first full set of basic tools and the cane--and the less you spend on your tools the less time they'll last and the less calibration they'll give to your reeds. Which sucks.
It can be a very expensive proposition at first because, as the old maxim goes, "You have to make a laundry basket of reeds before you can make a good one." In my opinion, the best place to learn is from your private teacher, provided they have a kit and know how to do it. Most people take years perfecting their reed-making skills, and honestly, most people I know don't bother to learn until they take classes on it in conservatory or as oboe majors.
Store-bought reeds definitely stink. My oboe professor makes his own reeds, but as he says--unless you're planning to go pro, it's probably not necessary for you to know much more than how to adjust a reed with a basic reed knife. It's a waste of time, and it can be a huge waste of money. For a busy student, he recommends just BUYING handmades--and that's what I do. There's plenty of great suppliers like Forrest's Music, Charles Double Reed Company, Stuart Dunkel, OboeWorks, North Texas Oboe Reeds, blah blah blah--and bought in bulk, those reeds are only a few bucks more than a typical storebought (Emerald/Jones/Gower) and will last literally twice as long as a storebought with good care. So while reedmaking is probably a rewarding thing to learn in the long run, at this stage of your playing (high school having just acquired your first wood oboe), you're probably better off ordering other people's store-boughts and concentrating on improving your playing rather than on making reeds.
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Author: Bucky Badger
Date: 2003-12-29 15:14
Not sure how $200 for tools was arrived at. Woodwind brasswind has a set for $54 which as mandrel,knife,cutting block, plaque, three 47mm brass tubes, a spool of thread, 10 pieces of gouged and shaped cane. Blank cane gouged and shaped usually runs maybe $2 each.
Years ago I got the basic kit and still works well.
jim buchholz
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Author: Clarence
Date: 2003-12-30 03:24
Jenny I agree, but I also agree with Jim.
Part of my problems with the oboe is the reeds. I haven't bought enough reeds to know what to expect out of a really good one.
None of the Jones reeds that I have are any good.
I think at this time I will try some of the handmade reeds. If anybody would suggest one maker of handmade reeds to try first, that would be a step in the right direction.
I'm also going to buy a reed making kit like Jim described. I think the gouged and folded reed prices are a little high but that may eliminate a shaper. I have also been reading articles on making reeds and see alot of variables.
I see a long term advantage to making my own reeds. Even if I make a bunch of bad ones, I could always take some of them down to the river bottom and see what I can call up.
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Author: Bucky Badger
Date: 2003-12-31 02:43
Years ago my oboe instructor and I used to go along the banks of the Trinity River in Fort Worth Texas. Cane was growing there---good news. Also good news was my instructor could turn the raw cane into gouged and folded can. From that point on I had the knife and etc to work on the reeds.
The bad news was the cane in texas was green and the reed only lasted about 1 week of steady playing; then I need a new reed.
If your folks have plenty of money forget making reeds. If you buy a less than perfect reed you may need the knife etc AND guidance. One wrong move and you cannot put wood back on the reed.
Try a variety of reeds and see what make you like. When I was playing in the university back in the late 1960s I played on both the french cut (long scrape you find in stores now) and the german scrape (the tip scraped and a lot of the reed unscraped). I finally desided the french medium reed gave me control and the right sound.
I met too many player spending all their time scraping and not enough time practicing.
jim buchholz
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Author: Wes
Date: 2004-01-30 03:15
A good way to get started is to buy the Jay Light book. He really covers the subject better than anyone else. The next thing to do would be to get some personal instruction from an artist teacher. Good luck!
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