| Location: Annapolis, MD |
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| Web Site: reedmaker.com |
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Variant Reeds Sold: Yes (also baroque oboe) |
| Will not use again | Not so hot | OK | Pretty good | Great! | |
| TOTALS | 6 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 29 |
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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.
34 comments
Kerry has saved me countless hours of frustration because my reedmaking skills have never been that speedy. What I really appreciate is the personal attention. When I place an order, I generally discuss what pieces I will be playing and Kerry uses that information when scraping. We all know there are Mahler reeds and there are Mozart reeds and they are not particularly interchangeable. I recently played the English horn solo in Berlioz’ “Symphony Fantastique” on one of Kerry’s reeds. The responsiveness was flawless. It can be unnerving to sit quietly through 2 movements and have to begin by playing an unaccompanied open C. But there was no problem. I always ask Kerry to leave a little extra cane and then I customize. It rarely takes more than 5 minutes before I’ve got exactly what I need. He’s the best I’ve found.
Every person who is considering purchasing reeds from Kerry should know that he is very responsive and keeps his promises. When we placed our first order with him, he took the time to try and understand our needs. If any reed did not satisfy our expectations, he replaced it without any questions asked. His goal is for all of his customers to be happy with his reeds, and we are most definitely happy to give him our highest recommendation.
I had an arm injury a few months ago and Kerry helped me out of a difficult spot. Reed making was not an option for me with many upcoming concerts. I solicited Kerry for some of his reeds and they certainly came through for me. I made only slight adjustments for pitch (I play very much on the tip of the reed) so shortening them was a necessity to play high enough. He is a fine individual with a real desire to help and by the way, he makes very nice reeds!
I thought my oboe needed adjustment and had it done, but still struggled with intonation (not usual for me). About the same time a shipment of Kerry’s reeds arrived and I play a stable 440 the full range of the oboe. The reeds are dark, warm, and easily played. I love them and put in another order for four more. Do allow time for them because he does the to specs and it can take up to 4 weeks. But if I know this is what I am getting for the price, I will just allow for the time and enjoy the playing!
I like Kerry’s reeds the best of the 7 makers’ I’ve tried. And, he provides wonderful and friendly service. The reeds have a somewhat unusual appearance compared to the others I’ve tried: two pronounced windows on each side, not one long mild one behind the heart. But, in fact, that’s the way I myself was taught many years ago and so maybe that’s part of why his reeds work for me. The reeds are usually very similar to each other, rare initial leaks seal up, and the reeds provide a clear, stable tone. I can really sing with these reeds, and it’s easy to make the vibrato I want. The dynamic range is large, with a huge sound possible on the one hand, and second oboe playing on the other. Occasionally, a reed needs a small bit of squeezing to give optimal results. Overall, while one must bear in mind that no one’s reeds will work for everyone, I give Kerry’s reeds my highest recommendation.
My son is just a beginning oboe player, but he loves Kerry’s reeds because of how they sound. I am not an oboe player and I am not knowledgeable enough to comment on the sound, but I wanted to review the outstanding customer service we received from Kerry. We recently ordered 3 student reeds from him, and two of them broke. This had never happened before, and we have placed quite a few orders, and I emailed Kerry to let him know. Even though we didn’t ask for replacement, Kerry immediately mailed out two replacement reeds, and this was minutes after we had sent the email. I don’t think I have ever received such prompt customer service from anybody.
I am the first chair oboist at my highschool woodwind ensemble of five oboists. Yes, five oboists. Pitch issues has causing some of my band director’s balding hair, I am sure. I have tried many, many reedmakers to find the perfect oboe reed to fix all these pitch problems. And wow, I was astounded when I came across Kerry’s oboe reeds. The sound is dark and rich, and dynamics are controlled effortlessly. When that fateful Monday band period dawned, my band director, with eyes trying not to twitch, asked me to play the band’s tuning A. To his complete shock, I was perfectly in tune. It was well known that I had been chronically flat for a long time, but Kerry had specifically made my reeds tuned to A442. My band director had audibly gasped in surprise, but quickly recomposed myself and allowed me to tune the ensemble. After band class, he had taken me aside and asked, “What reeds are you using?” I informed him about Kerry and he responded with a simple, “Wow.” I laughed and told him, “That’s what I said.” Thank you so, so much Kerry! Your reeds are the absolute best of the best, and I will go back to no other!
I think Kerry is to be commended (and recommended) in that he is very willing to take feedback and provide replacement reeds, if needed. Most of the reeds I have received from him have been good to excellent, and when I have gotten some that are sub-par he is willing to replace them. That is rare among reed makers.
Kerry’s reeds are the best!!! Beautiful and rich sound right out of the box!!!! No adjustment needed and good windows.
I am pretty new to oboe playing (about 6 months/ don’t let this fool you though, I am currently working on the Concerto in C minor by Marcello) and many people thought that the way I sounded on my oboe was obviously because I am new to it. I was usually playing on Jones reeds that are machine made and have had a few other companies as well. When I got my reedmaker reeds in the mail I felt like the best player ever. My playing increased by about 1 million %, the difference was incredible. And they are just student reeds. Kerry’s reeds are so beautiful sounding and dark and rich. I will continue to buy from Kerry because of how incredibly satisfied I am.
I am delighted to have received my first order from Kerry. The reed was immediately playable with good response, stability in all ranges, and a nice warm tone. This was without my having to make any adjustments. I immediately placed another order as the wait is a few weeks, and if the reeds are consistently of this quality, it will be worth the wait. As a previous reviewer stated, it did not look, at first glance, as if it would play well, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Since a local reed resource became unavailable a few years ago I have struggled with numerous reeds and spent lots of money. Some of them were completely unplayable due to leaks etc (they don’t let you try them out in the store!). Online orders have been slightly better but I have had to do extensive adjustments and find that shortens their life span. I just received my first reeds from Kerry and found it immediately playable with good tone and range. What a relief.
These really are are great reeds; as soon as I started using them I realized how much my tone had been missing. They are responsive and seem to give a warmth to my playing that my previous reeds just didn’t. The high notes play with much more fullness and less strain.
I have just started learning to make my own reeds; now I’m not so sure I need to as it would be hard to imagine ever doing better than this.
I will definitely buy again; what a relief to have found these reeds.
I haven’t picked up my oboe in years, due to motherhood becoming my priority! But recently I decided to do so and came across Kerry’s reeds on the web….and I am SO glad I did!! I have used manufactured (don’t do it!) and handmade reeds in the past, but his are certainly the best I have tried. It took me next to NO time to get adjusted and playing…WOW! Great sound, quality, and VERY fair prices! Furthermore, he alerted me early on in the ordering process that it was taking extra time to get them shipped out due to the surplus of orders. I am not only impressed with his qualtiy of workmanship, but also with his communication throughout the entire process! I will certainly be ordering from him again!
For a while I could not find reeds that I really liked, but after trying these reeds, my problems were solved! They are great reeds and sound great right from the start. I have ordered several reeds so far and they have all consistent in their excellent quality. I would recommend these reeds to oboe players that have some experience and are want to have the best sound they can.
I’ve ordered from a whole bunch of sites reviewed here, but I think that Kerry’s reeds are the best bang for the buck that you’ll be able to find. I ordered a professional hard strength reed, and it was perfect right out of the box. The reeds don’t look like they’d play well, but they actually do. Bravo to Kerry.
My daughter is a fairly advanced oboe student in high school. She’s ready for better reeds and is learning to make her own. In the mean time needed a good source of reeds. After reading most of the reviews on this site( great site by the way, very useful for an “oboe ignorant parent” that’s paying for the reads)I decided to buy reeds from The Reed Maker. The reed was perfect and playable immediately.First time she’s ever had new reed that she didn’t have to have her teacher tweak a little.
Also, liked Kerry’s true guarentee. He wants you to be happy with the reed. That’s important with the cost of good reeds.
We’ll be ordering more soon. thanks so much. Definitely recommend.
I have ordered oboe reeds several times from Kerry, and i can say without a moment of hesitation that these are the best reeds i have ever played on- i am an amateur oboist , i play in a church orchestra twice weekly and for concerts and dinner theatre performances.. i initially described my oboe ( Loree) and kind of reed i needed to Kerry – and ever since he has sent me beautiful reeds – no adjusting necessary – free playing , beautiful tone throughout entire oboe range from first to 3rd octaves, and the reeds last through many demanding performances particularly in my field of playing which by the way includes freezing cold orchetsra pit and freezing cold rehearsal rooms and marked temperature / environmental changes!Until i had tried Kerrys reeds i have greatly struggled with reeds under these conditons!! but Kerrys reeds have changed my oboe playing world and given me so much more peace of mind and confidence !! when playing!Also he is most attentive to your email and he will quickly respond to you!He is a true Godsend to the oboe world!
These are by far the best reeds I have ever played on! They have a lovely tone color and are in tune even on the high notes! I also love the dynamic range I can play while using these reeds! I can even play softly on the low notes. Also Kerry is very friendly and helpful. He always sends me an email when I place an order. I would absolutely recommend these reeds to everyone!
kerry Willingham is the best reed maker on the web. The reeds sound awesome (I usually only spend about 5-10 mins adjusting them to my liking, and then they are perfect) and he is VERY willing to make them EXACTLY how you want from in-between sizes, to even customizing them for your specific climate or altitude. Oboe reeds and English Horn…all amazing. The last EH reed I bought from him has lasted me months, yes MONTHS with good tone all the way till the end. BUY FROM KERRY AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY.
Anonymous said:….but I bought some foled cane from him recently, I found that the cane can’t fully close when I wrap it, even I use the staple which he use it for the reed ! I suggest Kerry must improve the shape..
Oh my.. You might give me a call, and I can give you tips on how to tie up your cane! It is a difficult thing. You need to make sure to measure your cane and come down 26-27mm from the fold. If you do NOT, then yes, it will not close. My reeds do not leak… I don’t send leaking reeds. The shape I use is a Mack ++ One does not work on shapers! They are made by the best! Give me a call, and I can help you with your tying!
Kerry
To be honest, his reeds are pretty good in tone, but I bought some foled cane from him recently, I found that the cane can’t fully close when I wrap it, even I use the staple which he use it for the reed ! I suggest Kerry must improve the shape, or any things to make the cane close when it had folded.
Kerry the Reed maker is exceptional. The very best reeds I have ever used. He worked with me to create a reed to meet my needs. He even called plus emails. The sound is beautiful, full and dark, just the way I want it. I’ve placed another order, so I don’t get caught short. I highly recommend Kerry’s reeds.
Kerry’s site is great. He is friendly and prompt with answering questions. I think his reeds are fantastic. Consistent make, warm dark tone. I am very happy to have stubbled on to his site. If you have not tried him, give him a shot. He will work with you and fix the reed if you are not happy.
In an age of faceless internet purchasing, it’s great to find someone who will stand buy their product.
Cheers
dark, rich sound and good dynamic flexibility. The reeds had a delicate response in all registers and dynamic ranges. Well-made!
I have played the oboe for over 45 years and have made my own reeds for much of that time. I have also purchased reeds from several other sources including local symphony players and internet/mail order sites. I never had much luck buying reeds, but the lack of time to carve my own kept driving me on to find another reed supplier.
Well, I can now say that my search is over! Kerry’s reeds are EXCELLENT. Intonation, tone, vitality, and CONSISTENCY. He even has worked with me to make a slightly shorter model to play on a 1930’s vintage Loree that plays flat with all other modern reeds.
I could not be happier. I strongly recommend his reeds!
Though expensive, if you know how to play oboe properly, and you are NOT a beginner, the price is worth it. He actually works with you if you do not like how they play. Kerry Willingham stands by his product and I have great respect for him for that fact. But still, you can never expect a reed that’s made for one person to work for you. I’d suggest his reeds for any high schooler; or anyone who is still playing out of school who cannot and does not want to make their own reeds.
I spent the entire summer of 2007 ordering reeds from various suppliers listed here. I even set up a grading system on the character of each reed. I can honestly say Reedmaker’s reeds are the best I’ve ever played. Everyone just LOVES my new strong/vibrant sound. I am able to control the tone, warmth & beauty in all instrumental and dynamic ranges. I don’t have time to make my own reeds, but now I have my very own custom reedmaker. Kerry’s attention to each individual’s needs & satisfaction is unparalleled in any other reed supplier I’ve found.
Again, if anonymous will give me a call, I will be most happy to send new reeds or give their MONEY BACK! That is my guarantee! No one has to be unhappy! ; )
Kerry
Not very playable, very inconsistent cane.
I find these reeds to have a very good (dark, full, stable) tone and Kerry is very responsive to any problems (I have ordered quite a number so far and have had very few problems). I have been playing oboe for 40 years and have tried about 12 other professional reedmakers in the past and these are tops. I will stay with the “The Reedmaker”
Have placed several orders – Good consistent reeds at reasonable price and guarantee.
These reeds are great! The first reed I ordered wasn’t quite to my taste (after all, ever player is different) but it was immediately refunded and fixed as per requests. I feel very confident ordering knowing that should something be off, the problem will immediately be solved in a pleasant and timely manner.
The intonation on these reeds is dead on, the tone lovely, and the reeds themselves defiitely playable.
Hello! Thanks for the site. In response to the one comment here, I do need to say that all my reeds are totally guaranteed! If you have an issue with a reed, TELL me!! I will send another out! I have never received any comments in a bad way on my reeds, due to the fact that they ARE guaranteed!
Also, Not every reed is going to work for every player, and there are many great reedmakers that might have the perfect reed for your embouchure.
If Anonymous would give me a call (Toll Free), I will be happy to make any changes to their reed, or refund their money. Also, I must say that I sell to many professional players, who have a “Consistent Embouchure”, and they keep coming back!
Thanks again, and I do hope that you will try my reeds!
Sincerely yours,
Kerry Willingham
http://www.reedmaker.com
Very playable, but inconsistent.