 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-12-16 08:39
For once I've got a reed that's doing exactly what I want! But for how long?
But how long will that last before the inevitable search for the next one when this one dies? I've got several back-ups lined up just to be on the safe side, but they're not as good as this one.
How many of you have the perfect reed at this moment in time?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: A.U.K
Date: 2012-12-16 11:15
Oh my word, I haven't one in awhile..some nearly perfects but only one truely perfect reed..it was effortless, from attack and articulation, from forte to Pianissimo..How I mourn it's passing..It made the Herbert Howells Sonata almost easy to play..well maybe not easy but you get the idea..
Did you make this reed yourself or is it a purchase.?
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2012-12-16 13:03
my ... next ... one ... will ... be ... PERFECT ...
<snap>
damn.
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Author: colloquial42
Date: 2012-12-16 19:39
Nope, not perfect. But a few adequates, with a handful of make-do-in-a-pinch. My current go-to wants to ride a little flat, so I tend to bite a wee bit. But I fear it wouldn't be my go-to if I trimmed it. So yeah.
Darn reeds.
My stuffy (and sometime gurgly if the humidity is high) Bb is another issue entirely.
Denise
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2012-12-16 20:56
What is a "perfect reed"? In my 3 years of playing oboe I have yet to find one (according to my teacher). She is always adjusting.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-12-16 21:05
It played perfectly for me last night - I had no excuses. Perfect response, easy tuning and the tone just worked perfectly in the church we were playing in.
I bet it won't play the same next time! Last week was when I first played on it in a cathedral and although the response and tuning was just as I wanted, I felt the tone was too weighty and didn't have enough brightness - mainly as the other oboist had a nice bright tone in comparison to my thicker tone, so I could've done with a reed that matched her sound better. Last night I was the only oboe, so there was no-one else to compare tones with.
But if I can have this level of response in a reed and know how to recreate it in another one, then that's the biggest hurdle overcome.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2012-12-17 00:45
Yes,
There are perfect reeds. They do come about once in a blue moon: beautiful tone, fantastic response in all registers, pitch stability, and easy blowing! What more can you ask for?!?!?!?
Mark
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2012-12-17 01:09
I have a perfect reed right now. I have other good reeds, and keep trying to use them, but almost always go back to the perfect one in a rehearsal. I reckon I've only got a few hours left in it, however... :( Perfect tone, tuning, good taper and excellent in both low and upper register. It also happens to be wrapped in my home football team's colours...
So....who's going to invent the 'reed copy machine'? Because I firmly believe there would be a significant market for it...
Rachel
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-12-17 04:28
My present perfect reed is something I'll miss, it's starting to become a bit wimpy; so I'll just have to keep shaving others into shape and hope another one comes along to brighten my day.
IF you are lucky/blessed enough to GET a perfect reed, LEARN ALL YOU CAN FROM IT WHILE IT PLAYS!!
GoodWinds
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-12-17 09:00
That's the thing - I've been able to do exactly what I want with it, so this reed has shown me exactly how easy things should be.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2012-12-18 05:25
Oh nice! I had a perfect reed - easy play, good hi and low notes, in tune and stable. Carefully saved for a concert last Friday. It started squeaking towards the end. I have no idea why this one turned good because it was horrible before. Must be the dry weather.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2012-12-18 20:18
<<I have no idea why this one turned good because it was horrible before. >>
Which reminds me of what a wise head once told me -- don't try to "save" the good reed for a special occasion. Use it when it's good, because it may just as likely turn out that the day you want to use it, it will NOT be good (for whatever reason).
I've had this go both ways on me, too. And I've had good reeds stay good, and bad reeds stay bad. It's a mystery, Charlie Brown!
Susan
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2012-12-31 01:17
I had a truly wonderful reed back in 1972...
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-12-31 05:54
That was the year I began to play the oboe. Jeepers.
GoodWinds
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-12-31 07:06
That was the year I was born!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: heckelmaniac
Date: 2012-12-31 07:21
I had one "perfect reed" back about 1971. It only took a few minutes to make. I at times wish I had saved this reed for posterity. Mack related that he in fact had made a "perfect reed" sometime in 1958. He did not save his "perfect reed" either... Having a "perfect reed" is like having (briefly!) a Maserati to drive.
it does not seem to make any sense to keep the Maserati in the garage.
I can resist anything but temptation. I have made many a first class reed over the years, though the memory of that one "perfect reed" persists.
Oboes.us
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Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2013-01-01 20:10
Sorry, didn't take time to read the whole thread, but here's my 2 cents...
Don't know about merry ol' England, but my answer to your question is "as soon as the weather changes"!
Right now, I have 2 (3) really fine reeds. My 3-minute plays fantastic with a warm sound when the temperature gets cold and dry, but becomes edgy and shrill when the weather gets more comfortable. The one I used for LiberTangHautbois does EXACTLY the opposite!
--- I guess the ideal reed is a set to compensate for weather variations!
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2013-01-02 01:41
I'm waiting impatiently for the new Legere oboe reeds.........(sorry).
Alan
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2013-01-02 04:24
That's the cool thing about this board: every one is ageless!
GoodWinds
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