Professional bassoon reeds and cane
Bassoon reeds and cane.
Eisen Reeds offers a selection of handmade, high quality bassoon reeds and density tested, hand selected and processed cane for bassoon reeds. My reeds are well known amongst professional musicians for their resonant sound, their reliability, consistency and durability. Bassoon players in major orchestras all over the world are appreciating the quality of my bassoon reeds and cane.
Quality and experience.
Sourced from a single, small farmer in southern France, I use high-quality cane to make my bassoon reeds. Almost 20 years ago I travelled to the South of France to find the best available cane for bassoon reeds. I met a farmer who shared the interest for high quality bassoon cane and am I am still working with him to guarantee a consistent quality of the raw material.
I only use manual, hand operated precision gouging and profiling machines. Each piece is carefully picked, shaped, and tested for top performance.
With almost 20 years of experience playing in both symphony and opera orchestras, I know how important it is to have reliable reeds and consistent material. Working in various positions in the section has taught me the significance of having consistent reeds in daily life as a professional player.
I have consistently improved my skills over time and developed a strong method for selecting the best quality material, rigorously discarding inferior material after every step in the process from the raw material until the finished reed.
Every reed is tried and tested before shipping. I take pride in only sending out reeds I would use myself.
This commitment results in premium reeds meeting top quality and performance standards. My customers especially appreciate the consistency durability of both reeds and cane.
Products
I offer finished bassoon reeds and a small selection of density tested, hand selected, gouged and profiled cane of the highest quality.
Bassoon reed shapes:
Rieger 1a: resonant sound through the register, clear attack, flexibility and resistance
E1: custom - designed shape inspired by Hombach / Ole Kristian Dahl shape. Longer blade (29 mm), equal resistance through the register and darker sound. Needs fast air and good breath support
The standard measurements for processed cane are:
Length: 118 mm
Gouged 1,30 mm
Profiled approx. 0,95 mm - 0,63 mm
Density categories: soft, medium soft, medium, medium hard, hard, very hard
Prices:
Bassoon reed, finished (density tested cane): £/€ 20
Bassoon cane, gouged and profiled:
Soft: £ 2.50 / € 2.80
Medium-soft: £ 3.20 / € 3.50
Medium: £ 3.95 / € 4.10
Medium-hard: £ 4.25 / € 4.75
Hard: £ 4.25 / € 4.75
Very Hard: £ 4.25 / € 4.75
As the yield of certain categories can be as small as 5-10% please accept that delivery time can vary.
For different measurements please get in touch.
I also offer online or in person reed making lessons - I will take you through the whole process from cane selection to the final steps of customising your reeds to your taste and answer all your questions about the material we all have to deal with.
About me
The sound of the bassoon always fascinated me, and I might be one of the few bassoon players who actually chose the instrument as a ten year old child.
I studied with Prof. Alfred Rinderspacher and later Prof. Ole Kristian Dahl at the Musikhochschule Mannheim. Very early on in my studies I observed how important these little mouthpieces are for making your music sound great. As I struggled to find anyone teaching me a method of reed making, I set out to find as much information about it as possible. I went on a journey to the South of France to see the plantations where they grow arundo donax, understood why the quality varies so tremendously and learned why the cane needs to “suffer” to produce good quality. I also met Jean-Marie Heinrich - one of the very few people trying a scientific approach to understand the temper of this unpredictable, moody material.
It fills me with fascination, frustration and admiration to see how much we depend on this giant grass being bent into shape. As much as some bassoonists seem to dread to sit down and make reeds, I always have enjoyed the craftsmanship and precision needed to get consistent results.
After a orchestra academy with the Guerzenich Orchestra in Cologne, I held temporary contracts with various Orchestras in different positions in Germany before being appointed as Principal bassoon in the State Orchestra Oldenburg. 2017 I was appointed as Associate Principal bassoon in the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
contact/order
Please send me a message with your order.