Hi everyone,

I`m new to oboe and this forum as well. I have played about a month and a half so far and have found playing oboe a pretty fun yet occasionally slightly annoying experience. I have been playing a soft Jones reed this whole time now. At one time I purchased a medium-soft reed of a brand I cannot remember (It was an emergency trip to a different store than I normally shop). The reed seemed fairly easy to play yet its pitch was way off.

I was wondering if this could be due to the change of reed brand (the width of the reed cane seemed a lot smaller than the Jones reeds) or the fact that it was a medium-soft reed. Is it time I should be playing a medium-soft reed?

Thanks,
Will

In my first years of playing, I was happiest with medium hard Lesher oboe reeds.
Hope this helps!

Marlin Lesher reeds are the best out there. Try medium soft at first, but move to medium as soon as you can. They may be better in tune.

I have never found a store-bought, machine-made reed that was playable. As a beginner, it`s tough to evaluate your progress without a reed doing well. You really need a good teacher to help. Unless the band director plays the Oboe, they are of only limited help. The Oboe is different and a specialist is needed. Most reeds need to be adjusted and trimmed to your own unique standards.
Soft reeds are easiest to play, but don`t last long.
Hard reeds last, but can be difficult and tiring to play.
Medium might work out best.

I think you should switch to the Jones Medium. They sound much better. I find it a good level. After another 2 months or so I would switch to Medium-Hard reeds.

Alright guys,

I`ve just broken in a Jones medium-soft and the tone seems to be much more stable than the soft did. I`m going to look into the Lesher reeds as well as a harder Jones reed. Thanks for all your replies so far.

My advice!

I don`t suggest using Jones reeds. They`re very inconsistent with their making of reeds - maybe it`s just me, but I`ve had a hard time finding good Jones oboe reeds.

Now, Leishers...I love. Not a bad life, good tone...pretty good for beginners and intermediate players alike. I`d suggest medium-hard reeds - the harder you get, and the more you play with them, the better your tone will be on softer reeds (so that I`ve found).

~Chris

I`m a college oboe major and I still play on Jones reeds, the trick is in adjusting them.

Stick to the Jones, but either learn how to scrape them or have someone do it for you.

Jones - NOT!!! Lesher is the best.

jones reeds are very bad. I would not recommmened them to any one u need to stick with brands such as sturat dunkel. Marlin lesher, Berlin pilharmonic,fox and even selmer although they make bad oboes i find there reeds to be pretty good. oh yea and the woodwind brasswind reeds and fox. hope this helps if u have any questions just send me an e-mail.

are rico brand reeds good?

Most would say no. I haven`t tried one in like 8 years though.

You should try out all the brands you can access and see which works best and consistant without hitting to hard on the wallet.