Professional English Horn Reeds

We specialize in the creation of meticulously crafted professional English horn reeds, catering to both students and professionals. Our offerings extend to a wide range of high-quality oboe and English horn reeds. Take advantage of this opportunity and place your order today!

（ ͡° ل͜ ͡°）When it comes to shipping, we prioritize efficiency and aim to dispatch orders on the same or next business day, ensuring prompt delivery to our customers.

THE REEDMAKER
Our exceptional oboe reeds are meticulously handcrafted by a distinguished artist from Lincoln Center, who has also had the privilege of being a student under the tutelage of renowned oboists Alex Klein and Humbert Lucarelli.
About the Reed Maker

HEALTH
（ ͡° ل͜ ͡°）人（ ͡° ل͜ ͡° ) Ensuring the well-being of our customers is of utmost importance to us, which is why we consistently utilize 100% organic cane during the manufacturing process of our reeds. Regrettably, COVID-19 has become a persistent presence in our lives, and it is crucial that we remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.
As an additional measure to guarantee your satisfaction, we would like to inform you that each reed and its accompanying case undergo a thorough sterilization process.

PROJECTION:
The issue with many English horn reeds is that if the cane used is too dark, the sound disappears as soon as it leaves the instrument's bell. On the other hand, if the cane is too bright, it can result in a harsh, unpleasant tone reminiscent of a WWII German Bomber.
The importance of projection cannot be overstated. In contemporary times, numerous "professional" English horn reeds vendors on the market, claim to possess a robust and powerful sound akin to Schwarzenegger's shotgun. However, these claims often fall short, as these reeds tend to produce a small and feeble tone. While they may sound satisfactory within the confines of a practice room, their performance in the midst of a full symphony orchestra is questionable.
In contrast, our English horn reeds are meticulously designed to produce a rich and dark sound that effortlessly cuts through the texture of any orchestra or ensemble. We prioritize the balance between darkness and powerful projection, ensuring that our reeds deliver the desired impact in a professional setting.

BREAKING NEWS ☉_☉ HIGHLY COMFORTABLE ENGLISH HORN REEDS?
During my time studying under the esteemed oboe instructor James Caldwell, I distinctly recall his emphasis on the ease of playing on an English horn reed. He often expressed the notion that the experience of playing on an English horn reed should mirror the effortless nature of playing a recorder. This comparison highlights the desired level of comfort and fluidity that should be achieved when performing on an English horn reed. Contrary to popular belief, achieving a rich and melodious sound does not necessitate the use of a rigid, harsh, or unyieldingly stiff English horn reed. We are excited to announce that it is possible to produce a dark, world-class sound using a remarkably comfortable and supple reed. If you have any doubts, we invite you to listen to our English horn reeds in action. By experiencing the sound produced by these reeds firsthand, you can gain a better understanding of their unique qualities and determine if they align with your preferences and playing style:
Listen to our Oboe and E. horn Reeds' sound in the same piece!

IN SUMMARY
- We sterilize our reeds before shipping
- Our reeds feature an exceptionally strong and structured American scrape
- We use brass staples with no collar
- The tube cane used has a diameter ranging from 12 to 12.5mm
- The finished length of our reeds measures between 56 to 57mm
- The finished hardness is Medium
- The C or C# crow pitch is set at 440 hertz, and we highly recommend the use of bocals #2 or #3.
-We exclusively use the "Giacobassi" shape
-We ONLY use 100% organic Argendonax cane, sourced from vintage cane harvested in 2010
- We strive to ship your order promptly, typically on the same or next business day

ADJUSTING
As an oboe player, you are well aware of the delicate nature of new reeds. They are highly susceptible to changes in moisture, dry weather, temperature, altitude, and other factors that can alter their characteristics over time, including during shipping. Therefore, it is important to remain open to making minor adjustments to ensure that the reeds adapt perfectly to your individual playing style.
¯\_( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)_/¯ Once again, we kindly request your willingness to make minor adjustments, as this will allow the reeds to seamlessly align with your unique playing preferences

STRING CROSSOVER
In our experience, we have found that all our reeds should be playable with the string crossover side facing in either direction. The specific location of the crossover should not impact the overall performance of the reeds we make.

SEAL TEST
Many individuals utilize a common leak test by wetting the reed, pinching the tip, and blowing air towards the tip from the bottom of the staple.
Our reed-making technique has been meticulously honed with the guidance of our esteemed mentors Ray Still, Bert Lucarelli, and Alex Klein. They have cautioned against pinching the blades to prevent small cracks at the tip, instead recommending covering the bottom of the staple with a finger while applying suction onto the blades. This method is deemed safer due to the stronger pressure exerted by the fingertips compared to the lips, which could potentially result in micro cracks at the tip of the reed. Over time, these nearly imperceptible cracks may worsen, leading to the blades cracking at the very tip.

¯\_( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)_/¯ It is strongly advised against pinching our reed blades with the fingertips, as this action may cause premature cracking of the tip.

SOAKING
To fully appreciate the exceptional quality of our reeds, it is important to note that our reeds may require a longer soaking time compared to other brands. We strongly recommend soaking our reeds for a minimum of four minutes in lukewarm water. Properly soaking oboe reeds is crucial: under-soaked reeds may leak, not crow, and feel stiff; while over-soaked reeds can become swollen and resemble a bassoon reed, making them near impossible to play on.
Factors such as season, humidity levels, elevation, geographical location, sudden temperature changes, and the type of water used can all impact the soaking time of our oboe reeds. For instance, hard water, which can be alkaline, may hinder reeds from absorbing water correctly, while soft water, containing calcium, magnesium, and more sodium, can expedite the soaking process. Some oboists opt to use highly purified or natural spring water to soak their reeds to achieve optimal results.
It is important to note that finding the right soaking time may require some trial and error, as it can vary depending on your specific geographical location and the type of water used. However, initially and until you become accustomed to our reeds, we recommend soaking for at least four minutes.

RETURNS & EXCHANGES POLICY
We take pride in the quality of our oboe reeds and provide a guarantee against any structural defects. We urge customers to reach out to us within seven days of receiving their reeds if they encounter any issues. In such cases, we are happy to offer a replacement or refund, as long as the reeds have not been altered or modified in any manner. It is important to note that we are unable to accept returns for reeds that have been scraped or otherwise modified.

SHIPPING
‎（ ͡° ل͜ ͡°) We make it a priority to offer efficient service and aim to ship orders promptly, usually within the same or next business day.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to purchase our professional reeds! Experience unrivaled expert advice and exceptional quality products by placing your order online today!