Things To Consider When Investing In Oboe Reeds

By Author: Joseph White
Total Articles: 244
Comment this article

When you are investing in maintenance of the instrument such as Oboe, you need to invest time and money in maintaining the instrument as well as the accessories, specifically the reed. The reeds are the most temperamental amongst the instruments. When investing in reeds, you need to make sure you are taking the right steps. Here we will help you make the right choices with the oboe reeds.

Tips to purchase the perfect oboe reeds

Commercial vs professional reeds: Reeds have a short life-span, typically two weeks of daily use. Replacing these reeds can be quite expensive and cumbersome. There are the commercial and professional reeds. The commercial ones are adequate for beginners and are available in the range $8-$12 and the professional reeds cost anywhere between $13 and $18. The professional reeds last longer and are better compared to the commercial reeds, and are used by most professionals.

Strength of the reeds: The reeds can be classified according to the strength- soft, medium and hard. The soft ones require less air and the opening collapses ...
... under pressure. The other two strengths need to be scraped before using, and can be used in a more professional setting. They tend to vibrate more freely as compared to the soft reed. Try to start with soft reeds before you move on to medium reeds

Wire around the reed: The wire wrapped around the base of the reed can also tell you how good or bad the reed is. The long narrow shape of the reed allows you to keep the blades open. The wires make the reed soft for playing, which allows the opening to collapse. So the wire needs to hold the opening in a tight form for you to make sure the reed works. This means you need to consider the wire wrapping when buying the reed

Blades of the reed: The blades tend to overlap along the reed. If there is a tape along the base, there is a leak in the reed. So look for reeds that exist with an asymmetrical opening

These are the basics, and will help you get the perfect oboe reed home, which requires minimal maintenance. However, along with the reeds, you also need to invest in a good oboe insurance. It will help keep the instrument in check.

Why you need oboe insurance?

It helps you ensure any cracks in the reed do not cause you to empty the pockets. You simply need to use the insurance and get someone who can repair it for you. The idea is to buy insurance that covers both the oboe and the reeds. Instead of spending a lot of money in replacing the reeds, the insurance will help you get the reeds repaired or repaired well within the budget.

You need to think through all your needs before investing in the oboe insurance. Proper planning and prioritization of the requirements will help get the ideal insurance solution for your instrument. It is definitely all about budget allocation and thorough research.