Oboe Reed FAQs

The Medium and Medium-Soft reeds are softer than the Medium-Hard reed thus they require a more relaxed embouchure. They have also benefited from an internal re-design enhancing the tone quality and ease of playing! If you had tried the original Medium-Hard reed and thought it was too stiff, or your embouchure tired too quickly, the Medium or Medium-Soft reed is for you!

Double reeds are unfortunately not eligible for our Exchange of Strength program. Exchanges or refunds will be reviewed on a case by case basis and are not guaranteed.

Our oboe reeds play between 440-442 hz.

Please contact your local retailer to ensure their orders have been placed or shop online.

While it is not recommended and most likely not needed, some highly advanced players have found success clipping minimal amounts off the tip of reed or scraping the heart of the reed slightly. This should be done using expert tools and extreme precision. Please note adjusted reeds will not be considered for any refund or exchange.

Although it is not expected, if you experience slight leaking we suggest utilizing fish skin or Teflon tape. For best results, wrap the product around your Légère in the same manner that you would wrap a cane reed.

We are proud to offer Medium-Soft, Medium and Medium-Hard European Scrape Oboe reeds! Our Medium-Soft (MS) reed is the perfect choice for beginners, younger students or players with a more relaxed embouchure. Most intermediate to advanced players should feel comfortable using the Medium strength reed. The Medium-Hard (MH), our original oboe reed, should be reserved for advanced individuals who are used to a stiffer embouchure or players who prefer a firmer reed.

Please note strength choice is subjective and differs greatly by player. These are mere suggestions to hopefully facilitate your decision. Double reeds are not eligible for our Exchange of Strength program and exchanges or refunds will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

The life of a Légère double reed is dependent on how often and how hard a reed is played. Most players can use the same reed for several months – some have even played the same reed for over a year! We recommend rotating between two Légère Reeds to elongate their lifespan.

Some players may take a few sessions to get comfortable with the smooth mouthfeel of the reed while others experience no adjustment period at all. Synthetic reeds require no prep or maintenance so you will find yourself with extra time to dedicate to your music! Some musicians experience a slight softening of the reed after an hour or two of intense playing. This behavior is normal, and the reeds will return to their original feel after being rested for a little bit.

Légère reeds are less fragile than cane reeds, however, they should still be handled with great care. The reed may split or break if the tip, its most fragile point, is mishandled.

One of the best features of a Légère reed is that it does not need to be moistened prior to playing. It will warm up over the first few minutes, and should then be stable for an extended period of time. The reeds should be cleaned periodically with water and a mild detergent. If desired, you may gently place a small pipe cleaner through the tube for a deeper clean. For your health and safety, we advise against sharing your reeds with others.

Store your reeds inside an oboe reed case for best results. We strongly advise against storing reeds in their original packaging or leaving them on the instrument.

Absolutely not! Our unique compound is our own patented trade secret. Our reeds are made with the purest and safest, BPA free polypropylene. Unlike other brands that use injection molds or stamps to produce synthetic reeds, our products are assembled and cut on computer numerical control (CNC) machines. Guided by our own mathematical description of a reed, they are cut in halves to match our unique profiles. The halves are then bonded together again using a digitally controlled system and are later hand package with the utmost care. The result is a reed which is perfectly balanced and has just the right combination of tip thickness, heart, and flexibility.

Légère Oboe reeds use an O-ring system not only to ensure a good fit between the reed and the well, but also to denote strength. Take a look at your reed to see which strength you have been playing!

Green O-ring is Medium-Soft

Yellow O-ring is Medium

Blue O-ring is Medium-Hard

Black O-ring is formerly Medium-Hard and no longer available. Medium-Hard reeds now have a blue O-ring.