So, do you all play on European reeds or american reeds?

I`ve learned to make and play on American reeds and I like the sound better. (More dark, but not quite as vibrant)

Anyways, what does everyone else use?

I play on European reeds, French reed with a french oboe (the best )
I think that sound is better on european reeds but Alex Klein play very very good with american.
I think he is the best player in america.

I play on my own reeds, ehm I think they`re european way made, I`ll ask my teacher he also teach me reed-making I use french equipment, very very good!

I play on my own reeds, ehm I think they`re european way made, I`ll ask my teacher he also teach me reed-making I use french equipment, very very good!

Its my own reeds too, but I do them like european reeds.
I didn`t have try american reeds but I think it must be very interesting to play with such reeds.

I like the response of European reeds but I also like the darkness and tone of the American Style. I play on an American style scraped reed. European technique is ridiculous. Alex Klein is probably "one" of the best American oboist but I also like Richard Woodhams.

Yeah. I meant European or American style. American style has a thin tip, a middle part called the heart, which is thicker, and a back, which is slightly thinner than the heart, but not nearly as thin as the tip. Going down the center of the reed, called the spine, and the very side edges (below the tip)are the thickest part. American reeds tend to me less responsive and vibrant, but are known to produce a darker tone. European reeds, if I`m correct, have a large tip, and then bark. I hear they have a spine also, but besides that, american and european reeds are totally different. European reeds have a brighter, more vibrant tone, and are more responsive. The one European player I`ve heard is Heinz Holliger, who is good, but since I`m used to american players, I thought it sounded really bright at first.

Heinz Holliger has a bad sound but play very good (sound doesn`t do the musician).
But other European players have a very good sound like François Leuleux.

Alex Klein is just a kid for François Leuleux.
Ridiculous technic ??? lol, you don`t know our technic !!

Try to listen to Francesco Di Rosa (first oboe Scala Orchestra, Milan) or Jacques Tys (first oboe Opera Orchestra, Paris)... I really prefer european players...

Let`s become more musicians, not carpenters!

Vlad, I suppose you are not an oboist, if you were you`d understand that you`ll never become a good musician if you are not able to make a reed that is perfect for you.

It`s a matter of personal preference. I personally like the Philadelphia Style which is part of the American style group of reed-making. I love darkness but whoever was talking about responsiveness coming from European reeds or something like that. I would suggest trying to scrape you`re reeds the Philadelphia style the response is probably almost compatible to your European response you were talking about.

i dont know the diff between american and european reeds
i think i use american reeds

do u guys have the bell keys, i don`t

that sucks i cant play low Bb
can any of u play the super high Eb

I can play from low Bb to very high G (but it`s difficult to find notes over the high F)

Valerie,

The notes aren`t that hard to get out. But it helps you to have a 2nd octave key especially on the High F`s and E`s and the G`s. They can get a little iffy up in that range though. And the low notes just require the bell. But I think with just a left hand E flat you could do High E through I G with exception to E flat because that requires a low B key, I think.