#1.Jones Artist Oboe Reed
For those who are interested in the best oboe reeds, you have probably heard about the Jones Artist Oboe Reeds. In particular, the JR101AMS model is the one that strikes our attention and we think it offers the best combination of performance, durability, and affordability. Overall, it is just a nice-sounding reed that is suitable for players of all skill levels.
Best Oboe Reeds
- #1.Jones Artist Oboe Reed
- #2.Emerald Oboe Reed- Medium Soft
- #3.Stradella Oboe Reed, Medium Soft
- #4.Marlin Lesher Oboe Reed Medium
- #5.Eastman Music Company Oboe Reeds
#1.Jones Artist Oboe Reed
When it comes to the best oboe reeds, we highly recommend that you try out the Jones Artist Oboe Reed. It is certainly one of the more popular brands out there and in particular the JR101AMS model. Many people like it because it is pretty much the industry gold standard and definitely worth the slight premium to your average oboe reed brand.
It is nice to know that the heart and back are balanced with the tip and it allows you to play the entire range of the oboe with ease. The cane is tied to a 47 mm nickel silver tube and it comes in three different styles: medium, medium-hard, and medium-soft.
#2.Emerald Oboe Reed- Medium Soft
Next, we have the Emerald Oboe Reed, which is some of the best oboe reeds if you want one of the finest French cane available with amazing quality. The Emerald Oboe Reeds are certainly one of the more popular reeds out there for a good reason. They will make you a better player and will make it easier to hit higher and lower notes.
With these reeds, we think that you get really good tone control and they hold up quite well in terms of durability in the long run. And unlike other reeds, these don’t really crack easily and are actually quite easy to blow up compared to other brands.
#3.Stradella Oboe Reed, Medium Soft
Another really nice choice when it comes to the best oboe reeds is the Stradella Oboe Reed. This reed brand has been around for decades and has had plenty of time to think about the design. The result is a beautiful oboe reed construction that has withstood the test of time. In other words, the attention to detail and overall quality is just absolutely amazing on these.
Yeah sure, the Stradella Oboe Reeds are more designed for beginners and students, but we have definitely seen professionals use them really nicely. The key to why they are so popular and have a long-standing sales history is simply consistency and quality control. When you are consistently good for over 40 years, people catch on.
#4.Marlin Lesher Oboe Reed Medium
The Marlin Lesher Oboe Reed is certainly a crowd-pleaser when it comes to a beautifully cut and wound oboe reed that produces an amazing tone. Overall, we think that the sound is pretty amazing and definitely a clear-cut above the standard generic oboe reed that you will find in stores.
In terms of tone and overall sound quality, we even put it very high on our top 5 list. Also, the reed doesn’t seem to require longer soaks in order to get good airflow. The only real issue we have with the Marlin Lesher is that the durability is not the best and it tends to break quite easily. But reeds are generally so cheap anyways that it is a rounding error.
#5.Eastman Music Company Oboe Reeds
Lastly, there’s the Eastman Music Company Oboe Reeds, which is certainly a premium brand name in the world of oboe reeds. This oboe reed is a premium French cane from the Var region of France and is French cut and French filled. The quality is absolutely amazing and it is quite durable as well.
It comes in a large variety of styles from soft, medium soft, medium, medium-hard, and hard. With this reed, you can definitely hit a longer range of notes, and just makes it easier to play. It is suitable for beginners just learning to professionals who would want to bring their music to the next level.
References
https://www.yamaha.com/en/musical_instrument_guide/oboe/mechanism/mechanism002.html
https://hodgeproductsinc.com/blog/oboe-reeds-which-oboe-reed-should-i-buy/
