What should you expect out of a hand-made bassoon reed?
Bassoon reeds crafted by an advanced bassoonist have a number of advantages that lead to better learning and playing. Every bassoon reed is going to play differently, but reducing the variance is key to becoming a better player. Hand-made reeds are going to be:
- Easier to play
- Played on longer
- Quality tested
Easier To Play
While there could be placebo effects of playing on a hand-made bassoon reed, there are also higher-quality parts being used, such as the cane (the base of the reed) will have also been used to create the reeds the professional is using for their own playing, and the Bassoonist will already have a relationship with their cane supplier to ensure the quality stays consistent.
Played on Longer
While there could be placebo effects of playing on a hand-made bassoon reed, there are also higher-quality parts being used, such as the cane (the base of the reed) will have also been used to create the reeds the professional is using for their own playing, and the Bassoonist will already have a relationship with their cane supplier to ensure the quality stays consistent.
Quality Tested
By far the biggest advantage of hand-crafted bassoon reeds is quality testing. A professional bassoonist will check that the reed plays well, as well as perform minor adjustments like wire tightness and scraping. This scraping will help ensure that the reed is in tune, as well as functions in all ranges. This is incredibly important as you are learning to play in these ranges so that you know your bassoon reed is not holding you back from high or low notes or is causing you to play out of tune.
Prices
A few prices as of 6/2022 are as follows:
Commercial Reeds
$18-$20 + Free Shipping
$11+$6 Shipping
Hand-Made Reeds
$22+$4 Shipping
$13 + $9 Shipping
Overall, hand-made bassoon reeds are going to make you a more consistent player while letting you know the reed is not holding you back due to the quality assurance measures and is definitely worth the extra steps. In order to find a quality, local reed maker, your best bet is to reach out to local colleges or bassoon teachers (shoutout to myself if you’re in Dallas!) and see if they sell reeds, and if not, they will be able to direct you to someone who does.
