Reed Daddy

11 comments

1 KDB { 04.04.11 at 12:48 pm }

Professional--Plays Most days--Used 6-10 reedmakers--Reedmaking: Buy but adjust

I don’t really like to rate reeds until I have purchased them consistently for a couple of months since reeds can be so different from reed to reed. I have now used Mr. Anderson’s reeds for over a year and I must say they they are superb for the oboist who does not have the time or inclination to make reeds. I have played the oboe for over 15 years and play regularly in the symphony setting, pit orchestras and a woodwind quintet. As Mr. Anderson points out, different reeds have different uses so what I look for from a good reed maker is someone who makes reeds that are consistently functional and useful. Almost every reed I get from him has a use. It might not be for the Brahms symphony, but I can use it perfectly for a pit orchestra. Mr. Anderson has asked me for his preferences and he does his best to honor them. I found most of his reeds to have the best core qualities of reeds. They are stable yet fully functional (i.e. they work throughout the entire range whether they are principal or secondary) with a wonderful dynamic range. His reeds can be darker sounding or lighter depending on the reed, but again, this can be good if you need different sounds for different pieces. For one concert, I specifically asked for something darker yet functional and I pretty much got exactly what I asked for. One other thing, I live in Idaho at a higher elevation, so not very many reeds that I’ve tried have consistently responded they way I like here. Mr. Anderson’s reeds have exceeded my expectations at this elevation and rarely need much adjustment (which I’m accustomed to doing with most reeds).

2 Bill { 02.21.11 at 5:04 pm }

Professional--Plays Most days--Used 1 reedmakers--Reedmaking: Professional reedmaker

Though “Dan” may have ordered a reed from me some time, I have no record of an order from anyone named Dan in the last 8-12 months as far as I can tell. I think you could describe my reeds a lot of different ways, but wild isn’t one of them. So, if Dan was unhappy, he could’ve contacted me directly, as always, in order to try and give him what he wanted. I think if people posting are sincere in their concerns, they should give makers a chance to respond.

3 Bill { 10.28.10 at 7:51 am }

Professional--Plays Most days--Used 1 reedmakers--Reedmaking: Professional reedmaker

To address the two recent comments left here, I’d like to say that I thought they were a bit unfair or incomplete. Mr Cushman failed to mention that he thought my reeds were second best of the many reeds he tried. He did say he felt two might be leaking, and I told him I would take them back and replace them if there was a problem. He never returned them and never complained that they were too resistant, which is something I could have easily remedied.
As for MidnightKat, in spite of her having played for 16 years, not everyone has the same embouchure strength. I was again not informed that the reeds were too heavy or given the opportunity to adjust them. And although she calls me a gentleman, there was no “took the money and ran”, since I responded to all her inquiries on the same day she sent them (I keep all Email correspondence and checked). On my site, it states “allow two weeks for delivery”, and her first inquiry was about five days after her order. That would be pretty quick for anyone to send out reeds (though I have done it on occasion), but I think people need to keep in mind they are not dealing with Walmart and all reeds are made by hand by one person. I am sorry they didn’t re-order, but would suggest that they or anyone ordering drop a note about their needs i.e. easy playing Principal reeds. Lastly, as far as the opinion of ” I’m not going to sit here and play notes A-X and then switch reeds so that I can play the rest of the notes X-B”, as a professional of 30 plus years, many players not only have different reeds for first or second, but different reeds for, Bach, Mahler, Beethoven Hindemith etc.. I sell them that way but make the disclaimer that many people would be happy playing my second reeds as principal and vise versa. The only real difference is the reeds I choose as second don’t play high G as well. It’s a very small difference, not to get too crazy about. Thanks for the chance to respond.

4 D Cushman { 09.11.10 at 9:59 am }

Advanced--Plays Most days--Used 6-10 reedmakers--Reedmaking: Buy but adjust

I found the 3 reeds I purchased quite consistent from one to another, and I liked their tone. Eventually I concluded that they were too resistant for me and I found I was unable to produce much dynamic range with them (similar to another reviewer here).

5 midnightkat { 08.10.10 at 5:12 am }

Advanced--Plays Most days--Used More than 10 reedmakers--Reedmaking: Usually make my own reeds

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. The reeds did indeed play better in the upper register; however, they did not perform as well in the lower. I am not totally aboard the concept of of making a “Principal” and “Second Oboe reed”. A reed ought to preform well throughout the range and not only in one, I’m not going to sit here and play notes A-X and then switch reeds so that I can play the rest of the notes X-B.
I never received an order conformation or shipping conformation; this almost felt like “he just took my money and ran!” I did email Bill and spoke to him about that and he assured me that everything went through – very courteous gentleman.

6 Anonymous { 08.11.09 at 5:04 am }

Advanced--Used 2-5 reedmakers--Plays most days--Buys but adjusts

Excellent reeds, handmade with care. Shipped within a reasonably short period(usually 7 days at most) and very consistent. If you need a professional quality reed, I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

7 Anonymous { 06.21.09 at 8:26 am }

These reeds were amazing! I was so thrilled to get them, they had a great, dark tone and played beautifully right out of the box. He contacted me right away to find out what I wanted in my reeds and service was very prompt. I had a demanding concert schedule and these reeds were very dependable and consistent and are still playing great a month later. I highly recommend these reeds for sound and service.

8 BC { 01.27.09 at 7:53 am }

I have tried several reedmakers and Bill’s reeds are by far the most consistent that I have found so far. I am a professional musician who plays oboe and Engligh horn as a second instrument. All of the reeds I ordered were good enough to be used in a performance situation with little or no adjustments.

9 Denver Ob/EH { 11.17.08 at 10:16 am }

I am an experienced player and needed an English horn reed to play at mile-high Denver. Bill listened to all of my concerns, was immediate in replies and had the reed to me in 3 days. Great service and a lovely reed.

10 Bill Anderson { 08.19.08 at 6:03 am }

I just wanted to invite everybody to check out my new site ReedDaddy.com. At the moment, it is up and running but I am still waiting for my first tool supply orders to arrive. I will be carrying knives, mandrels,thread as well as other reedmaking and oboe supplies. I am going to make an effort to carry alternatives to traditional items as well as brand names in order to offer more value for the money. Everything should be up by mid-September, so if you visit now, please come back again then.

11 Administrator { 08.14.08 at 9:09 pm }

New Page up for Reed Daddy.