| Location: North Conway, NH |
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| Web Site: charlesmusic.com |
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Variant Reeds Sold: English Horn. |
| Will not use again | Not so hot | OK | Pretty good | Great! | |
| TOTALS | 21 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
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EH OD EH EH OD EH BO 
midnightkat August 18, 2010: Lisa Hudson Oboe Reeds I had ordered Lisa’s “The Doubler” Package (Professional), 2 oboe and 2 EH reeds with med strength and dark tone. I needed the reeds quick due to a tour date and got them in time, I did pay extra for the expedited order,...
Paul Hartl August 14, 2010: Stuart Dunkel Some good ones, but I have not seen much consistency from those that I have received from Dunkel in the last year – too many, more than half – have been junk. Paul Hartl August 14, 2010: ReedMonster I ordered 3 sets of 3 over a year’s time. 2 were great performance reeds with nice dark tone, excellent pitch stability, and ease of playing. 3 were practically unplayable (very, very light) garbage, and the other 4 were pretty good... Paul Hartl August 14, 2010: Jeanne Oboe Reeds Jeanne is not making finished reeds anymore, as of 2009 Paul Hartl August 14, 2010: American Oboe Reed Company I ordered 3 professional reeds and got 4! All are easy to play with excellent response, particularly in the low register. Very consistent from reed to reed with a very finished look and feel. One major complaint – they all play... midnightkat August 10, 2010: Reed Daddy My thoughts on these reeds. I ordered 3 “Principal Oboe Reeds” and did not care for any of them. I’ve been playing for about 16 years and found that they were too resistant and did not have the dynamic range I am used to with my reeds....
JT August 9, 2010: Johnson Double Reeds Site has moved to http://www.gracejohnsonoboe.co m/.
Administrator August 1, 2010: SUGGESTION BOX The site actually has on overview table. Click the “Collected Ratings” link, top right.Support open education with the Neoclassical Theme.
18 comments
This reed brand is very very bad!!! I got my reed and i soaked it and well it only lasted 2 weeks!!!! It started splitting at the edges and peeling away! So if you get this brand i would consider getting a new brand!
Hi,
I’m the reed maker and the owner of Charles Double Reed Company. I’ve read some of the flames on this list in wonder and amazement. Our reputation for service and quality has been outstanding for over 26 years, and we specialize in double reeds – a very small community of players. How could we have lasted this long providing such poor service and quality? Beats me.
Regardless of the anonymous comments, please know that we welcome returns of reeds – even if you scrape and play on them. We refund, replace, or credit you for any reed that seems not to your liking. We’ve offered this guarantee since I began the company in 1984.
I work hard at reed making, but I know that I cannot make reeds that suit everyone. So much depends upon embouchure, ability of the player, quality of the instrument, altitude, humidity and more.
That’s why we welcome returns, and appreciate suggestions. We will not leave you stuck with products that don’t work well for you. Tell us if we’re close, and we will custom make the next batch according to your comments.
If you have any questions, call me at 1 800-733-3847 or email me at brian@charlesmusic.com to discuss my reeds and our service. Please ask for me personally – I’ve been welcoming comments both positive and negative for over 26 years.
We have a well-known reputation for quick, intelligent, honest service and the highest standards in everything we offer. Visit us at http://www.charlesmusic.com or call (603) 356-9890 for personal service, caring professional experience and the best guarantee in the double reed world. You will not be disappointed – I guarantee it.
I thought I would try a few different reeds. My results were mixed. The Standard oboe reed and the Fibre reed were unplayable (Standard-collapsed right away) or sounded horrible (Fibre). The Fibrecane and Pro reed were good and the Telos was excellent. Unless the next few reeds I order from places recommended from this site are better, it looks like the Telos reed will be my future reed of choice.
Very fast and was easy to use web site. Reeds play great!
I find is very easy to season it.. however, it’s too expensive and not worth it.
As opposed to the last commenter, I sent reeds back, and the customer service was fantastic. They sent out new reeds and a discount on future orders, AND the new reeds were much more to my liking. I know of no other company with such a great return policy, and such friendly and efficient service.
POOR REEDS AND POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
As a teacher, I want my students to set themselves up for success with functional oboes, good reeds, and studies that are appropriate for their growing skill level. Reeds are one of the most important keys to good playing; however, I cannot make reeds for every student given my time constraints. Therefore, I recommend that beginners and intermediate students who are not ready to start the reed-making process purchase reeds and I can modify them to suit their needs.
One of my students purchased several reeds from Charles Double Reed Company. None were functional and I was surprised to see that any company would send reeds out in that condition. They were so flat and short that it was impossible for me to bring the crow up to anything close to a C (they were all crowing between a F# and G). I contacted the owner who instructed my student to send the reeds back for an exchange or refund. The student elected for the refund, but it never came. It has been over 4 months and no refund, despite my student’s parent placing several calls for the same. I would not recommend these reeds or the company to anyone.
They are good beginner reels. Also at my local store they where cheaper and easy to make a sound with.
But once you get over the basics find another reed. They sound terrible, really inconsistent, and they don’t last.
These reeds were the worst I’ve ever tried. They had almost no opening and the tone was very weak. I sent them back for a refund.
(However, the Charles Double Reed Company website is great and easy to use for finding other oboe products.)
Would not recommend. Terrible sound like a sick duck. Pitch extremly difficult to predict or control. Tone leaves much to be desired. Will not use again.
Ordered four reeds from here, weren’t too good at all. One had mildew inside, my teacher and I could do virtually nothing to make them play well….only useful for a player that wants an oboe reed to make a sound easily but cares little about tone.
Bought two professional reeds from this company. Very disappointing….. they both looked and sounded deplorable. Gouges were left in the middle of one of the reeds and both sounded like they had been run over by a truck more than once. There was nothing my teacher or I could do to save them…. Will never buy from again!
very usable pro oboe reeds – especially the blank version.
EXCELLENT reeds
After years of playing the clarinet. I wanted to try the oboe. I had read that using ready made reeds was a set up for trouble. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy Charles beginner reeds were to use.
They were well made and had a wonderful sound.
I also appreciated the helpful customer service representative who helped me with my purchase.
Used them for years. Overall they make terrific reeds and give great service.
Although I’ve only tried half a dozen of these reeds, I haven’t had a bad one yet.
Some of the reeds are okay, others not. Some very flat. Very reedy.