Richards Medium Oboe Reed

Richards Medium Oboe Reed | Piano Gallery, Idaho Falls

Richards Double Reeds have been handcrafted by Richard Rath for over thirty years — an active educator and performer whose deep knowledge of current performance trends and instrument design informs every reed he makes. The Richards Medium Oboe Reed is expertly crafted using the traditional American long scrape in a unique "W" pattern to produce a dark, stable, and centered tone with even response throughout the full range of the instrument. Each reed is individually handmade from the finest select cane, gouged and shaped in-house on a 47mm brass staple to the specifications of older Loree staples, and pitch-tested to A-440 before leaving the shop. A narrower shape matched exactly to the staple focuses the tone, improves upper register intonation, and promotes a darker, more centered sound with minimum tension and biting — the product of three decades of refinement by a working educator and performer.

Product Overview

The Richards reed philosophy is built around a set of specific, deliberate design decisions that distinguish these reeds from mass-produced alternatives and reflect Richard Rath's thirty-plus years of experience as an active oboist, educator, and reed maker. The long American "W" scrape is the defining tonal choice — producing the dark, stable, centered tone character that American oboe tradition prizes, with the even response across the full instrument range that makes the reed predictable and musical from the lowest to the highest notes. The long scrape removes material from the reed blade in a way that creates more flexibility and resonance than shorter European scrapes, contributing to the reed's stability and tonal focus.

The use of select cane that is gouged and shaped entirely in-house reflects a level of vertical integration in reed production that most reed manufacturers don't attempt. By controlling the cane selection, gouging, and shaping in their own shop rather than sourcing pre-gouged or pre-shaped cane, Richards is able to maintain consistency and quality at every stage of production rather than depending on the quality decisions of upstream suppliers. The brass staples are specified to the dimensions of older Loree staples — a specific reference to the staple geometry associated with some of the most tonally respected oboe reeds in the American tradition.

The narrower shape is a particularly significant design choice — a narrower shape produces a more focused, centered tone with better upper register intonation than wider shapes that can spread the tone and cause the upper register to go sharp. Combined with the exact matching of the shape to the staple dimensions, this creates a reed system where the cane shape and the staple taper work together precisely rather than as independent components that happen to fit together. The unique shape is specifically designed to hold the upper register up — keeping high notes in tune without the biting and jaw tension that players sometimes resort to for upper register pitch correction.

Ideal For

• Intermediate and advancing oboists who want a handcrafted American-scrape reed built by an experienced educator and performer with over thirty years of reed-making expertise
• Players who want the dark, stable, centered tonal character of the American long scrape with even response throughout the full instrument range
• Students whose teachers have recommended a medium-strength reed for their current level of embouchure development
• Ensemble and orchestral oboists who need reliable, consistent upper register intonation without tension or biting
• Oboe players in Idaho Falls looking for a premium, individually handcrafted reed from a respected American reed maker with decades of performance and teaching experience

Key Features

Long American "W" Scrape
The traditional American long scrape in a "W" pattern produces the dark, stable, centered tone character associated with American oboe tradition — flexible, resonant, and tonally focused throughout the full instrument range.

Handmade from Finest Select Cane — Gouged and Shaped In-House
Every reed is individually handmade from select cane that is gouged and shaped entirely in Richard Rath's shop — quality control at every stage of production rather than dependence on pre-processed cane.

47mm Brass Staples — Loree Specifications
Finest brass staples to the specifications of older Loree staples — a specific dimensional reference to one of the most tonally respected staple geometries in American oboe reed tradition.

Narrower Shape Matched Exactly to Staple
A relatively narrower shape matched precisely to the staple dimensions focuses the tone, improves upper register intonation, and promotes a darker, more centered sound with minimum tension and biting.

Pitch Tested to A-440
Each reed is individually pitch-tested to A-440 before leaving the shop — reliable standard-pitch intonation confirmed by the maker.

Even Response Throughout Full Instrument Range
Designed for consistent, predictable response from the lowest to the highest notes — a playing quality that reflects thirty years of educator and performer perspective in reed design.

Medium Strength
The medium strength balances responsive flexibility with tonal focus and stability — suited to intermediate players and any oboist whose embouchure and breath support are developed enough for a balanced, moderately resistant reed.

What's Included

• Richards Medium Oboe Reed (1 Reed)
• Free standard shipping

Technical Specifications

Experience This Oboe Reed Today

The Richards Medium Oboe Reed is available now at Piano Gallery in Idaho Falls. Stop in to pick one up or reach out online to order yours — thirty years of educator and performer expertise in every handcrafted reed.