Description

Baroque Oboe Reed for 1-Piece System

I hand-shape, hand-finish and fully play in each Baroque oboe reed before it leaves my workshop. Tuned to A = 415Hz, I design my reeds for agility, stability and ease so that you achieve intense musical expression.

At a Glance

Staple Shape Width at tip Scrape Total length of exposed cane Pitch

H2 Chiarugi 50 mm Hand-shaped ca 9,6 mm long ca 23-25 mm 415Hz

About this Reed

This hand-shaped and hand-finished  reed has a stable yet flexible feel because I have fully played it in and thoroughly tuned it with pure intervals using a reference of A = 415 Hz in all keys up to three flats and three sharps.

I give particular attention to half-hole and forked-fingered notes to ensure balanced sound quality.

This reed is suitable for performing works from many different Baroque composers’ styles including J.S. Bach, Couperin Telemann, Vivaldi, Hotteterre, Handel, Purcell and even Zelenka and C.P. E. Bach.

For Which Instrument is this Reed Suitable?

This reed works well with Stanesby, Stanesby Jr. and Bradbury copies.

Use it also with Saxon, Eichentopf, Denner and Sattler models. You may find these instruments benefit from narrowing the reed slightly.

When Your Reed Arrives

1. Fit the Staple to Your Oboe

Because reed wells vary considerably from one oboe to another, even among instruments made by the same maker, you may need to make a small adjustment to the fit and intonation of the reed by adding or removing the waxed cotton thread at the base of the staple.

2. Three Normal Soakings

Although the reed is fully played in, it may need a short reawakening period especially after long distance shipping. Please allow up to three normal soakings before making significant adjustments.

3. Create the correct Internal Volume by Hand

Create your own desired tension and internal volume by gently pressing the SOAKED reed open or pinching it closed between your thumbs and index fingers. The reed should then require at most a very small amount of personalization.

If the Reed needs Adjustment

Changes in altitude and humidity will naturally affect a reed, so some minor adjustment may be necessary when the reed arrives in a new environment.

Please note: I recommend FIRST using your fingers rather than your knife (and NEVER your embouchure!) to create your desired reed opening and internal volume.

Then if the reed is still

too easy?  Clip the tip very slightly to build in the desired resistance

too hard? Dust the tip area on both bades.

A Note about Hand Made Reeds

I have individually crafted each reed, played it in and tuned it. Because the reed is only one part of a whole acoustic system, the final results will depend to some extent on the local climate and, most importantly, also on your particular resonators: your oboe and your embouchure.

My goal is to give you time-saving peace of mind by sending you an already functionally music-making reed while leaving you room for small personal adjustments to make the reed your own.

Thank you for trusting me to contribute to your intense musical expression.