I haven`t been doing anything differently although I don`t have time to soak them anymore. Two of my reeds split within a week, is it because I`m not soaking them or were they just crap reeds?

It could be both, or it could be none. Reeds are ever-so different.

Have you pushed the reed in any way to enlarge the opening at all? If you have, it might`ve been too much.

It might be because your not soaking them thats how mine split

have you been trying to play the really high notes, say an a6 or so? I`ve noticed that my weaker reeds just kinda crapped out when i tried, and i tried a C#7 and i actually heard it split.. it was kind of amusing

hey the first i was taught from mai lesson teacher was to always soak your reed for about 5 mins before u play so itll open up and vibrate for u to play. if u dont then the dry reed will crack from the presser of ur air. that the main thing u need to no that how i have had reeds that lived for up to 4 months without cracking or getting chipped.

You absolutely have to soak a reed before playing. I don`t understand how you do not have any time to soak a reed? Pop it in your mouth for a while before playing, do you have time for that?

^err... poppng the reed is NOT enough if you play oboe. that only works well with single reeds...

btw i had 2 reeds plit down the middle this month! WTF? 1 bassoon reed and one clarinet reed. i don`t understand how the clarinet one split though. the split went so far into the reed... haha...

so, pray tell, how do you soak them? I have enough problems keeping them from actually being beaten up physically... i was being obnoxious one time, and playing it right in her face (she hates the oboe) and she smacked it, and it split against my teeth... it hurt too. My last one broke becuase it got pushed up against my wall when i had set it down for a minute...

Reeds are very delicate. Do not ever put the oboe down or carry it with the reed in it. In band, do not lay it across your knee - clarinet and flute players are cluless about oboe reeds and you can lose a good reed in a split second when another player bumps it. Also, carry a small vial - the plastic ones that regular camera film comes in are good. Put water in it and use the watertight cap. carry in your case or backpack and soak the reed while you are putting together your oboe. Do not play on dry reeds. Duh

I agree - you HAVE to soak any double reed before playing. When I was in high school we didn`t know these niceties, but at least we kept them in our mouths while we were putting the instrument together and before we started playing. Now I keep a little jar, anything with a lid which will be watertight. You can pour a little water in it from home (don`t keep it in your instrument case then, tho) or just take a bottle of water to school with you and pour it in then. You can pour it out later if you don`t want to take it home full. After playing, you should rinse out the reed in the water before putting it away - gets rid of the saliva on the reed, which tends to rot them faster.

Also, you should periodically change the water in your vial. It gets kinda smelly otherwise

hi just thought id say the weather can alsoaffect ur reed. like if its really cold and then the weather suddenly gets warmer that can also make ur reed break

YES, you definitely have to moisten the reed before playing! A reed is most vulnerable to cracking when it is between wet and dry...so about a minute into putting a dry reed into your mouth! I don't recommend really soaking....the reeds we sell come with an insert. We advise people to just dip their reeds in some water for a few seconds, then let them air-dry outside of the water for a few minutes. Blow the excess water out and your reed should be perfectly moistened! Good luck.