8 Best Oboe Reeds in 2020: for Student & Professionals

Are you looking for an oboe reed that best suits your playing style? Are you confused about what type of oboe reed is best for your playing level? If so, then we have comprised 8 of the best oboe reeds to assist you with your search. However, there are a lot of things that need to be considered when purchasing oboe reeds.

Here, we have compiled 8 of the best oboe reeds on the market to assist you with making the best purchasing decision for your needs. Plus, we have added a section to provide you information about the factors that need to be considered and an FAQ section to answer some of the frequently asked questions about reeds. Let’s get started.

8 Best Oboe Reeds on the Market:

1. Jones JR101MS Oboe Reed Medium Soft

Jones is a well-known maker of oboe reeds, and this is one of their best reed models available. Unlike other reeds, this high-quality reed is made from cane, and it comes in soft, medium, and medium hardness, which is excellent because it allows you to choose the best for you with a reed you are familiar with. Finally, each reed that is sold is always tested and adjusted by hand to ensure its proficiency.

What Consumers Are Saying

Most consumers that purchased this reed were looking for the best oboe reeds for intermediate players, and they liked that this reed comes in 3 different hardnesses and is made from high-quality cane. However, there have been a few issues raised with the delivery service provided.

2. Emerald Oboe Reed Medium Soft

Emerald is excellent at making high-quality oboe reeds, and although they make reeds for players of all levels, this one is designed medium-soft, which is preferred and meant for beginner oboe players. All of their reeds are made from top-of-the-line French cane, which helps to provide a better quality tone.

What Consumers Are Saying

Most consumers these reeds were looking for medium soft oboe reeds, and they liked that these were made from fine French cane. They also liked that they are suitable for beginners. However, they did express that they wished they could purchase more than one reed at a time, but the manufacturer only sells them separately.

3. Singin’ Dog Oboe Reed Medium

Singin’ Dog is a well-known maker of oboe reeds, and this particular reed is entirely handmade. Each one is thoughtfully put together to help provide you with the best tone possible, and the only use the highest quality Arundo donax cane available to help ensure the best handmade oboe reed. Finally, these reeds can be purchased in two different strengths: medium and medium-hard.

What Consumers Are Saying

Most consumers that purchased these reeds were looking for handmade oboe reeds, and with these reeds, they liked that quality that they were made. Plus, they liked that the reeds for made from high-quality cane that helps provide a solid tone when using it. However, some consumers did mention that these reeds are slightly harder to break in than some other reed models.

4. Richards RDR-1001 Oboe Double Reed Soft

Richards is a well-know make of oboe reeds, and this is one of their top-selling double soft reed models. It is is designed to be easy for beginners to learn how to play the oboe, but it is not meant for a higher player level. It is made with the standard 47mm tube, which means that it is designed to fit most starter oboes, and they have given their customers the option of purchasing this oboe reed with or without a wire, which can be used to help provide quality control.

What Consumers Are Saying

Many consumers that purchased this oboe reed liked that it was easy to use and control the tone of the oboe for beginners, and they liked that it had the option of being purchased with or without a wire. However, some consumers have reported that for a higher level of playing style this reed can be difficult to manage pitch control for their harder pieces.

5. Chartier Traditional CANE American Scrape Oboe Reed Soft

Chartier is a popular reed maker for beginner oboe reeds, and this particular reed is made from quality traditional American scrape cane. They designed this oboe reed with a soft hardness, which is ideal for beginner players because it allows them to learn to play with less effort on the contour of their mouth. Plus, due to the quality of the cane used to make them, these reeds tend to last longer than other soft reeds as long as they are properly maintained and handled.

What Consumers Are Saying

Many consumers like that this reed has a soft hardness, which is preferred by most beginners and students, and it is made from high-quality American cane, which helps with the tone control for starters. However, a few consumers have expressed having minor issues when trying to contact the reed maker’s customer service department or at least not getting helpful answers from them.

6. Marlin Lesher Oboe Reed Medium

Marlin Lesher has worked hard to build their reputation over the years, and they are now one of the best oboe reed makers, in the industry. This reed model is made with a medium hardness that is excellent for students and players of higher levels. Each reed is made from high-quality material, and they have designed each one with a cut and wound to help provide a better tone than some other reeds, on the market.

What Consumers Are Saying

Many consumers that purchased these reeds like that they were made from high-quality materials and that it was easy to get a great tone from the reed, thanks to the way that they were wound and cut. However, a few consumers did express issues with the tip being thicker than other reeds, which could make it difficult for beginning oboe players to manage and deal with.

7. Stradella Oboe Reed Medium Soft

Stradella provides a high-quality oboe reed that is designed for various levels of players. This model is marketed as a student reed, but it has also been tagged as a favorite for players with a higher experience level, as well. Unlike other reeds, this one can be purchased in an assortment of colors, and each one is made from high-quality material, which helps to improve the overall quality of the tone that it is capable of providing the player.

What Consumers Are Saying

Many consumers purchased this reed for student-level oboe players, but many experienced players have also given it praise. Each reed is made from high-quality materials, but some consumers have expressed having issues with the packaging choices for this particular manufacturer.

8. Mallar Student Oboe Reed Medium Hardness

Mallar is a well-known manufacturer of reeds for students, and this one is designed with a medium hardness that can also be used by players of a higher caliber. They are created with a high-quality 47mm thick-walled brass staple that is meant to help with pitch stability, and they used a synthetic cord for the base to make it easier to insert and remove the reed when changing to a new one.

What Consumers Are Saying

Many consumers that purchased these reeds liked that they were hand-finished and that they used synthetic cork, which make insertion and removal easier for beginners. However, they did express that there wasn’t much of a customer service department for this manufacturer set in place for support after purchasing them.

Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Oboe Reeds

When looking at oboe reeds, it is important to consider the difference between European vs American oboe reeds. Some people prefer a French oboe reed, but it can be difficult to choose without considering all of the factors.

To assist with this, here are a few factors that you should always consider before making a purchasing decision about which reed will meet your needs.

Softness:

Reeds come in a variety of softness levels, and depending on your play style, this will matter. If you are a beginner, it may take a few tries to figure out which softness will best suit your playing style.

Many beginners enjoy using soft reeds because it provides an easier tone. Most professionals tend to use medium reeds, but there is some that request for a hard reed because they play better with the resistance that it provides.

Oboe Makers:

Unlike with major instrument brands, oboe makers for reeds come in and leave the market all the time. Plus, it is important to understand that most oboe makers do not offer a return policy once the reed has been opened, which can make it difficult to find the right oboe reed.

However, that does not mean that there are not oboe makers worth mentioning. Before making a selection, you should take the time to read reviews about these makers to help ensure you are choosing one that has had positive feedback for their oboe reed collections.

Consistency:

When looking at oboe reed makers, it is important to also look at the consistency level that their reeds provide. A reed might provide excellent tone and intonation, but the question is if the brand has that same consistency.

You will need to look into this and consider it carefully to help improve the likelihood that you will get a set of reeds that are consistent and that you can count on from one batch to the next.

Oboe Reeds FAQ

After reading all of the reviews and factors sections, you might still have a few questions about oboe reeds. Here are a few answered questions that will help you to choose the right purchasing decision for you.

What style of the reed is the best for the different player levels?

As a beginner, it is recommended that you start with a medium soft oboe reed. These reeds will provide you with a quality tone, and they make it easier to control your playing. However, as you get higher advanced, you will want to consider trading up to a harder reed, depending on your playstyle and needs.

Does the material of the reed matter?

Several materials can be used to construct reeds, and one of the most widely used is a form of a cane. Most makers also make their reeds with a synthetic cork for their mounts, but that does not mean that quality reeds are always made from these materials. You need to consider this and ensure that the reeds you are purchasing are made from high-quality materials, even if it is different than cane.

Do all oboes take the same reeds or are there differences?

Most reeds and oboes are compatible, but it is important to make sure your specific oboe will be compatible with the reed that you choose. Some reeds are designed specifically to fit only certain types of oboes. Most beginner oboes are capable of fitting most oboe reeds, but the higher quality oboe that you purchase the more you will need to pay attention to the specific reeds that you get. Otherwise, they may have too large of an opening or not a large enough one for the tone and intonation of the reed and oboe to sound correct.

Conclusion

After all, is said and done, we have concluded that the best oboe reed is the Jones JR101MS Oboe Reed Medium Soft. Although all of the reeds reviewed above are quality oboe reeds, this one is the one that we feel will meet the needs of most players. However, it is important to know what is right for you because every oboe player is different.

There is always a trial and error timeframe when dealing with oboes because one works for your fellow oboe players might not be the best for your play style. So, the best advice for purchasing reeds is to know what type of reed you prefer.

The hardness, the material, and the maker that creates the reeds that will best fit your play style. It might take a couple of tries to find the best reed for your playing style, but be patient and take note of what you like and don’t like in different reeds to narrow down your search further.