The Fingering Forum

Charles Double Reed Reeds

Author: Heidi  Date:   2003-02-13 02:19 I don't know if this is an appropriate topic or not, but I have nowhere else to ask. For the first time, I ordered reeds from Charles Double Reed Co. — two standards and two professionals - and they arrived today. I am quite unnerved. I've always gotten reeds from whomever I was taking lessons from. I am now teacherless and therefore reedless, so I ordered reeds from Chas. to see what their reeds were like. They were, obviously, new and very open, but in spite of that, I would have thought they would be playable at least. Instead, they are so squawky that I can't stand to hear myself play. One of the professionals calmed down enough in an hour to give me hope that it will break in okay, but the two standards I can't even keep in tune. It reminds me of when I used to play on a plastic reed in elementary school (I kept the reed around as a momento, so I used to play it now and then just for fun — I'm not THAT young!) But it's not just the squawk. I can barely keep a note in tune with the next. Sometimes they are so flat that they are almost half an interval off. They go flat even when I take a breath! Anyway, has anyone ordered reeds from Charles Double Reed before? Is this normal from them or any other production reed maker? Is this what a "right off the knife" reed does? Or am I just spoiled having always gotten reeds from someone who broke them in for me? Thanks, Heidi

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