 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2017-02-06 02:31
Hi everyone.
I am wondering if there is a reason to play on a harder Reed? Or is it only tone difference that leads people to prefer the harder reeds?
I haven't tried a soft, but can play all standard range on medium soft up to medium hard.
Thanks guys
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Author: oboi
Date: 2017-02-06 04:16
A soft reed I find "too" responsive such that it can sound very unwieldy. It will not be very stable and the sound is very thin or buzzy. So for me, my ideal sound is in the harder reeds. They are more stable but takes a lot of effort to control and tires you out more. So, for me, it is a balance between a very responsive reed whose sound I don't like to a lovely-sounding reed that may be very difficult to control. My choice of reed also depends on the piece.
When making reeds, I am trying now to take less cane off, and letting the reed settle, seeing if I can play it in its present state, rather than scraping off too much and collapsing the opening, which might get the response ("softness") immediately, but not sound very good nor last too long. So, I'm looking for a robust reed with a good opening. I am also going to change my gouge once I get rid of my current batch of cane, because I want a more robust reed.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-02-06 05:43
Hi Sarah. I love to play on easy low resistance reeds and every time I"ve actually spent the time to make reeds myself they usually end up as easy blowing reeds. However , anything higher than D above the 2nd leger line you can forget about. You'll need a reed with good resistance to go any higher. The real trick is to have a reed that responds well through the entire compass (range) of the Oboe up to high G (4th leger line) At the moment I'm using the Howarth medium (M) & medium soft (MS) reeds when I play on purchased reeds. What I like about these commercial Howarth reeds is that they actually play straight away after the necessary soaking. However the MS reeds are too low a resistance to go any higher than D . Tne Ms are much better for the higher notes.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2017-02-06 05:52)
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2017-02-06 14:09
I am not quite sure I understand what u mean by weildy oboi.?
Barry. I did get the Howarth reeds. No issues getting up to the high Leger line f with the medium softs.... But is that the general problem?
Maybe I should play on my mediums, just to be on middle ground! Not too hard or too soft. I can hear the tone difference. But that was the only difference I could feel at my current level of playing.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-02-06 15:48
Yes Sarah , the medium soft Howarth academy reeds are ok for the high notes but the mediums are better to high F actually. I use the medium soft resistance when I'm playing songs that don't go any higher than C generally. I love the rich sound of the softer reeds and they go well with my old S2 English Thumbplate instrument.
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Author: Jeltsin
Date: 2017-02-09 00:25
Have you tried the Wiggins reeds that you can buy at Howarth? The Wiggins reeds are the only reeds excepts from they I do by myself that works with all of my four oboes.
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-02-15 03:18
Sarah, as long as your current reeds do everything you want them to and deliver the sound you want, then I would not worry about trying for harder reeds. If possible get a good teacher and be guided from them. The problem with harder reeds, unless you are watched, you may be inclined to bite. I make my own, and nowadays make a long scrape American style reed and they do not like being bitten down on.
Best wishes
Geoff Pearce
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2017-03-27 03:20
Thanks everyone. I forgot to say thanks!
I have been using the howarth academy. other brands i have tried were jones, emerald, KGE ... definitely the howarth are my favourite, and have been the most reliable. I bought some oboe central reeds and medini or something like that.. but no idea where i put them.
I have a wonderful teacher, but english is not his first language, and that put some limitations on the questions i can ask (and whether or not they will be fully understood).
That being said.. i have been practising for 15 weeks (I have been keeping a journal) and am easily playing grade 8 repertoire. so cheering. I can only credit that to him. I don't think any other instrument i have had such an amazing learning experience
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