Deutsch 
English Oboe d’amore Reeds
For the oboe d’amore, the right combination of reed length and model characteristics determines both tone colour and stability. To help you find the reed that truly fits your instrument and your sound ideal, we’ve gathered all essential information in one place. Choose the model that best matches your bocal, your instrument – and the way you like to play.
Only one strength?
All our oboe d’amore reeds are made in a medium strength as standard.
There is a good reason for this: anyone who plays the oboe d’amore is usually not a beginner, but already has a solid oboe foundation – a well-developed embouchure, steady breath support, and a clear sense of tone.
A reed that is too light would rarely be of any real help here and would more likely become a source of instability. Especially on the oboe d’amore, reeds that are built too softly tend to react sensitively: certain registers can become unreliable, some notes speak unevenly, or lose their tonal focus.
A medium reed, on the other hand, offers the ideal balance – it remains flexible in response while keeping the characteristic core and depth that define the warm sound of the d’amore.
Heavier reeds are certainly possible, but our d’amore reeds already have sufficient substance and a well-supported inner structure. Players who prefer a slightly firmer feel can easily achieve this themselves: trimming about one to two hundredths of a millimetre from the tip is usually enough to make the reed noticeably more resistant – without changing its character.
Each reed can thus be adjusted to your personal playing style while retaining the tonal balance that defines our d’amore models: stable, warm, and reliable across all registers.
Reed length
the shorter the reed, the higher
the overall pitch.
Most oboe d’amore reeds measure around 50 to 51 mm in total length. These dimensions have proven reliable over decades and, in combination with a Lorée, Marigaux, or Mönnig bocal, provide a stable and well-balanced intonation.
How to find your ideal reed length
Take the reed with which you play most comfortably and measure the total length from the end of the staple to the tip of the blade. If it measures, for example, 50 mm, the following applies:
– If you play in tune with this reed, stay with 50 mm
– If you tend to play flat in ensemble or orchestral settings, choose a reed with a slightly wider staple or try a shorter bocal
– If you tend to play sharp, choose a longer reed (51 mm)
Note on how the reed fits onto the bocal
Oboe d’amore reeds with medium-wide staples (e.g. Lorée or Chiarugi 2) usually sit a little further onto the bocal than models with narrower staples (e.g. Guercio D12). As a result, the total length of reed + bocal becomes slightly shorter.
When evaluating an oboe d’amore reed, consider not only the reed length itself but also how deeply it sits on your bocal. Only the harmonious balance of both factors will produce accurate intonation and a naturally even playing feel.
Which model fits your style?
Key Characteristics and Model Comparison
Our oboe d’amore reeds differ in tone colour, response, and overall playing character. To help you find the model that best suits your instrument and bocals, we’ve summarized the most important features below at a glance.
Lorée
The Lorée model offers a warm, highly expressive tone with a large and resonant sound volume. It remains stable and well-balanced across all registers and allows for subtle nuance in colour and dynamics. This is our most versatile oboe d’amore reed and blends beautifully with bocals by Lorée, Marigaux, Howarth, Josef, and Mönnig.
Chiarugi 2
Chiarugi 2 is known for its balanced, elegant tone and medium sound volume. It responds easily, plays with excellent intonation stability, and has slightly less blowing resistance than the Guercio D12 model. Ideal for bocals by Lorée, Marigaux, and Mönnig.
Guercio D12
Guercio D12 produces a compact, focused sound with a small to medium volume. It plays with exceptional stability and control, making it especially suitable for chamber music or orchestral passages requiring a more subtle tone. It pairs beautifully with bocals by Guercio, Mönnig, Grässel, and Mollenhauer, and its slightly narrower staple fits many older German-style bocals perfectly.
All Kreedo oboe d’amore reeds are crafted with utmost care to achieve a balanced combination of core, projection, and flexibility – resulting in a warm, resonant sound that reflects the distinctive character of the oboe d’amore.
Only one strength?
All our oboe d’amore reeds are made in a medium strength as standard.
There is a good reason for this: anyone who plays the oboe d’amore is usually not a beginner, but already has a solid oboe foundation – a well-developed embouchure, steady breath support, and a clear sense of tone.
A reed that is too light would rarely be of any real help here and would more likely become a source of instability. Especially on the oboe d’amore, reeds that are built too softly tend to react sensitively: certain registers can become unreliable, some notes speak unevenly, or lose their tonal focus.
A medium reed, on the other hand, offers the ideal balance – it remains flexible in response while keeping the characteristic core and depth that define the warm sound of the d’amore.
Heavier reeds are certainly possible, but our d’amore reeds already have sufficient substance and a well-supported inner structure. Players who prefer a slightly firmer feel can easily achieve this themselves: trimming about one to two hundredths of a millimetre from the tip is usually enough to make the reed noticeably more resistant – without changing its character.
Each reed can thus be adjusted to your personal playing style while retaining the tonal balance that defines our d’amore models: stable, warm, and reliable across all registers.
Reed length
the shorter the reed, the higher
the overall pitch.
Most oboe d’amore reeds measure around 50 to 51 mm in total length. These dimensions have proven reliable over decades and, in combination with a Lorée, Marigaux, or Mönnig bocal, provide a stable and well-balanced intonation.
How to find your ideal reed length
Take the reed with which you play most comfortably and measure the total length from the end of the staple to the tip of the blade. If it measures, for example, 50 mm, the following applies:
– If you play in tune with this reed, stay with 50 mm
– If you tend to play flat in ensemble or orchestral settings, choose a reed with a slightly wider staple or try a shorter bocal
– If you tend to play sharp, choose a longer reed (51 mm)
Note on how the reed fits onto the bocal
Oboe d’amore reeds with medium-wide staples (e.g. Lorée or Chiarugi 2) usually sit a little further onto the bocal than models with narrower staples (e.g. Guercio D12). As a result, the total length of reed + bocal becomes slightly shorter.
When evaluating an oboe d’amore reed, consider not only the reed length itself but also how deeply it sits on your bocal. Only the harmonious balance of both factors will produce accurate intonation and a naturally even playing feel.
Which model fits your style?
Key Characteristics and Model Comparison
Our oboe d’amore reeds differ in tone colour, response, and overall playing character. To help you find the model that best suits your instrument and bocals, we’ve summarized the most important features below at a glance.
Lorée
The Lorée model offers a warm, highly expressive tone with a large and resonant sound volume. It remains stable and well-balanced across all registers and allows for subtle nuance in colour and dynamics. This is our most versatile oboe d’amore reed and blends beautifully with bocals by Lorée, Marigaux, Howarth, Josef, and Mönnig.
Chiarugi 2
Chiarugi 2 is known for its balanced, elegant tone and medium sound volume. It responds easily, plays with excellent intonation stability, and has slightly less blowing resistance than the Guercio D12 model. Ideal for bocals by Lorée, Marigaux, and Mönnig.
Guercio D12
Guercio D12 produces a compact, focused sound with a small to medium volume. It plays with exceptional stability and control, making it especially suitable for chamber music or orchestral passages requiring a more subtle tone. It pairs beautifully with bocals by Guercio, Mönnig, Grässel, and Mollenhauer, and its slightly narrower staple fits many older German-style bocals perfectly.
All Kreedo oboe d’amore reeds are crafted with utmost care to achieve a balanced combination of core, projection, and flexibility – resulting in a warm, resonant sound that reflects the distinctive character of the oboe d’amore.
