Hey, I started oboe last summer and since it was my 6th instrument I moved up quickly to intermediate level. I love playing my oboe, but I'm just having a really hard time getting reeds that are in tune! So, this is my question. I've just spent over $40.00 worth of (marlin lesher) oboe reeds. And only 2 of the ten that I purchased "work". But they are still a bit flat. So, do you think I would in the long run start saving money if I made my own? I know that the first few would be a disaster, but I'll do anything to have a reliable reed.

Thanks!

Oboe is your 6th instrument? Wow, that is very impressive.
I am sorry that the reeds are not working well... However, I don't think making your own reeds is a good way to save money on reeds, especially if you are a beginner. I just started making reeds 6 months ago, and I could never make reeds that sound as well as my teacher's reed (that she offers for $10 each - pretty good deal). I already threw away about $50 worth of canes because I could never learn how to scrape on them well...and I'm pretty sure that number is going to increase as I make more attempts. No kidding!
Also, the basic reed-making kit will cost you about $150 - 200, with the knives, mandrels, canes, tubes, threads, etc... (unless you have an experience of making reeds for, let's say, bassoon, and you already have knives and some other supplies.) So, starting to learn reed-making is not really beneficial for you unless you're really into playing oboe. However, knowing how to fix up the reed may be good for you... Do you have a private teacher? If so, he/she would help you very much.

For the reeds you have that play a little flat -- you may be able to raise the pitch a little by your embouchure. Tightening up your embouchure makes the pitch sharper. Loosing it makes the pitch flatter.

I know I'm not the best person to answer because I'm still an inexperienced reed-maker, but hope I helped you a bit!

Thanks! That seriously really helped me. I used to take from a private teacher last summer, but when school started I just took lessons in the band room. And my band teacher is a trumpet player and she doesn't like oboes very much, so I've been thinking of taking up private lessons again.

Again Thank-you!

Definitely worth taking lessons. Oboe reeds are a problem for any player. (Just ask anyone!) Many store-bought reeds tend to be flat; so, that would be all the more reason to find a teacher who can make you stable, handmade reeds.

There are some teachers that sell handmade reeds over the internet. [url=www.oxfordreeds.com][/url] has reeds made by both Lisa Sayre and Rebecca Collins that are all handmade.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the info!

40 dollars for 10 reeds?! Wow, good deal.
I find,some work with a pair of pliers and some wire and garnet sandpaper should do the trick. A teacher should be able to show you how to use them.The only benefit to making reeds is that you gain alot more understanding of how they work, and how to change them.Its good to have some basic knowledge, but at your level I doubt you need that kind of understanding provided by reed making, and you would certainly not sve money. Besides, getting reeds for that price is fabulous, I had to pay 15 dollars a piece for my oboe reeds,factory made ones, and I pay 25 dollars a piece for my bassoon reeds, as I still cannot make ones good enough to play on. Reeds are never stable on double reed instruments, they change with the weather, humidity, by the day!
Part of it may be your embrochure as well, even if your fingers are up to it, it takes a long time to get a good tone and a strong embrochure on double reed instruments, especially if you haven't had a good teacher consistantly. You may think your embrochure is all good, but chances are, there ae some critical kinks in it that may be effecting your intonation that you don't expect, that happened to me. When I played oboe, I started with lessons from my band instructor, I was the best of 4 she had trid to get to learn, but there were som major issues nobody could pick out in my embrochure, unless they were a proffesional. Same thing with bassoon. I'm all good now, because I've got a teacher who ONLY TEACHES bassoon, and plays proffesionally. Never learn from anybody else, because they don't know what they're doing. It'll seem okay for a while, but you will quickly hit roadblocks and have to start over after a year or two, and its the most frusturating thing in the world.

Well, I didn't get them all at the regular price. I bought most of them from wwbw.com and I found some really good deals on ebay. (2 for less then the price of 1) Thanks for your advice! I see what you mean about a teacher who only teaches one instrument. The teacher I was taking from taught many instruments and he actually hadn't played oboe for years. But being a beginner it didn't really matter at that point. Thanks for your reply!

If you started making your own reeds by yourself, not only the first few would be a disaster, but probably the first few hundred! Making reeds takes most people years to perfect, and learning to make reeds without someone that knows exactly how to make them is nearly impossible! Store bought reeds are, frankly, junk. They are made on machinery, so they will be nowhere as good as a reed that is made and refined by hand. I would suggest getting some hand-made reeds. They will be quite a bit more expensive than the "store-bought" reeds that you have been using, but I think you will find that they are much better. I would suggest getting them from a local oboist who makes their own reeds. You would be able to meet with them so they could make a reed that would be custom made for your style of playing. If there isn't an oboist who lives in your town, there are many reed makers who sell their reeds online. I would suggest going to www.reedreviews.net. They have a huge list of reed makers, and also reviews written by people who have tried out reeds from various reed makers. I think that you will be able to find something that will work for you there. Hand made reeds are usually much easier to keep in tune and have a much better tone quality than commercial reeds. Hope this helps!

Oh yes... this will defiantly help! I will look up that site.