Buying & Maintenance Guide for Oboe Reeds

Oboe, a popular woodwinds instrument, comes with a lot of investment. You don’t just invest in the oboe instrument, but also in the reeds and the other accessories. The point being, the accessories are as expensive and high maintenance as the instrument itself. You need to be clear on the choice of reeds, and should make sure that the Oboe Insurance covers the needs of the reeds as well as other accessories.

However, if you plan on DIY reed maintenance, then here are a few tips that should help you with the same. These tips will also help you with buying the reeds.

Professional over Commercial

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.

Soft or Hard 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

Wired or Not

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. 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

Once you have bought the reed, it is important that you care for the same. Make sure you don’t have the reed conking off before time. For this, you need to regularly clean the reeds, and keep it away from dust and dirt. You should use a soft cloth to clean and dust the reeds.

Apart from cleaning the reed and maintaining the oboe, you ought to keep in mind that you invest in oboe insurance. This will help maintain a long life for the instrument, and keep up with the expenses. You won’t be spending on the repairs or the service, as your insurance will take care of the same. You obviously need to find someone who is capable of offering you an insurance that covers all your needs in a premium that is affordable to you.