The forum, especially the oboe section has gone very quiet recently.

Time to stirr things up a bit with a discussion that everyone can join in with!

What reeds does everyone use and/or recommend, or does anyone have any funny stories or anything slightly related to oboe reeds. What are people's stories of reeds cracking (or even worse being split in two).

Personally at the mo I'm using Tipple reeds as they are very nice (and no I can't make my own). Also once I used an old reed to blow bubbles in water (working on technique or something). I had to make the bubbles go faster or slower and it was fun.

I'm such a twit i've called it b]reeds[b just ignore it and yes I am very special.

I am using Jones right now...I dunno what kind is good because I have only been playing for a month and my instructor gives me the reeds. What kind would you recommend?

Nice - I'm not that experienced so someone who's more knowledgeable into reeds should join in but I'd recommend medium soft for beginners, and for me Tipple are working a treat . When I got a Jones reed it was too loose in my oboe for some bizarre reason, so I don't have much of experience with them.

I have the opposite issue. They are a little snug in mine.

I make my own reeds after about 2 years of playing. I really dont have any stores about my oboe/eh reeds cracking at the wrong time or in general.

I make my own reeds after about 2 years of playing. I really dont have any stores about my oboe/eh reeds cracking at the wrong time or in general.

i buy reeds from my teacher so i have no idea what reeds i use.
and one time my reed refused to play so i pushed on the sides of the reed (don't ask me why i do not know) and cracked it, but it played a lot better...well until i had a lesson and was scolded for cracking the reed.

I only snap reeds when they are dead, but I have cracked/chipped one or two reeds before accidentally.

Does anyone here have a reed graveyard (I don't yet). Also, what is the hardest part of reed making?

Gouging, shapeing and tying are the easy parts. The hardest part of reedmaking is making the entire reed smooth. meaning a smooth transition from the tip to the heart and from the heart to the back. In addition, not making "uglies" which like little bumps and divots that disturb the vibrations of the reed. More over, making reeds consitantly is another major hurdle to cross.

haha 2 or 3 of my reeds fell on the night of an important concert!! What's gouging?

haha 2 or 3 of my reeds fell on the night of an important concert!! What's gouging?

oboe cane starts as tubes of bamboo(arrundo donnax) and when you split the tube into 3 equal lenght ways pieces you get a center that is far to thick to make reeds. So we use an gouger (which is recomended for pros and serious students since they cost around 900-1400 dollars). the gouger scraps the thick center down till its about .60 mm in the center and ,40 on the sides of the reed. This thickness helps regular pitch and keeps the reed from collapsing.

what is a reed graveyard. i should have asked before..