4 Responses

1. Sarah

   January 30th, 2010 at 7:57 am

   1

   No. They are still made of cane, but oboe cane is from near the top of the plant, and as the cane gets wider, the wider the reeds. So clarinet and saxophone reeds come from a lower section of the plant. A clarinet reed is a single piece of cane and and oboe reed is a piece of cane folded in half and tied to a staple (the cork and metal part). Don’t even try to scrape a clarinet reed into the right shape. It won’t work!

   For now since you’ll be starting oboe, I would reccomend Selmer oboe reeds medium/medium hard and find yourself a private teacher who can make you reeds,because believe me they will do a much better job.

   I think it is cheaper to make your own reeds, but you first need to learn how to make them. I’m still in the process of learning and I’ve been playing oboe for 2 years. They run around $18 each for me, though, and 10 pieces of cane are $20. But then you have to buy the knives and the staples and the thread, and the mandril, and any other tools. The oboe is a really fun instrument to play though, because of all this fun stuff you get to do. But you have to get oboe reeds, they can’t be transformed out of any other reed. Have fun, though. Best wishes!

2. Bill D

   January 30th, 2010 at 7:57 am

   2

   An oboe reed has a piece of cane folded over itself, making it a double reed. It is not nearly as wide as a clarinet reed. I doubt a clarinet reed can be carved into an oboe reed and still sound good.

3. By Me

   January 30th, 2010 at 7:57 am

   3

   I’ve seen oboes, sax, and clarinet. First off, I know that oboes are duoble reeds. Next, I’ve noticed they (oboes) have thinner reeds then sax and clarinet. I’m sorry but you have to but reeds meant for oboes.

4. Brittany T

   January 30th, 2010 at 7:57 am

   4

   I’m afraid you can’t convert a clarinet reed into an oboe reed. It’s a very different shape and not worth the effort of trying. It’s good to have a teacher who can help you make them and shape them. There are also professional oboe players and reed makers who you can buy from. They are a lot more expensive than clarinet reeds, but when you look closely at them, you can see why. A lot of time and effort go into making oboe reeds and they can’t be mass produced. Here’s a good place to start:
   http://www.hboboereeds.com/index.html