Author: Dutchy
Date: 2008-03-31 13:50
I concur that the goodtoneguild Regular reeds are awesome once they're broken in, but they take a LONG time to get to that point. However, she does make a "Rookie" reed, which is not only softer but also is a bit cheaper, and is very nice.
Reedery is lovely, but expensive (as are Goodtoneguild).
Fox reeds are good; for a beginner you can get the dollar cheaper Renard reeds.
Edmund Nielsen reeds are good for beginners, too, I found that their Black ones worked best for me, and they run a little softer than you'd expect.
Gower reeds are also very consistent, but when I was a beginner, I found them a bit much, right at first. They have a bright sound, which in a beginner translates as "unbearably shrill".
WWBW also has a house brand of reed that works well for beginners, and the Selmer reeds are adequate.
The bottom line on reeds for anybody, not just beginners, is that some reeds work better for some people than others. I would definitely order just one of each maker's reed, and experiment, until your student figures out which reeds are going to work well for her. And of course, as her embouchure changes, her reed needs are going to change, so keep exploring reed possibilities--make sure she understands that reed preference isn't carved in stone, like, "I always use only Chevrolet Reeds", because in six months her embouchure might actually do better with Chrysler Corporation reeds. There's no use for brand loyalty among beginning oboists. You have to be flexible, and be prepared for the fact that every six months, a completely different reedmaker will be your New Best Friend. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
ETA: Don't waste your money, and time, on plastic reeds.
Post Edited (2008-03-31 13:55)
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