Our Product Range
Bassoon Reeds
Precision Reeds
We produce reeds based on traditional and practical experience.
Reeds for Beginners
Attractive offers for beginners and advanced players: in selection and production, we pay careful attention to reeds which play easily and with clear
intonation.
Reeds for Pros
Professional requirements demand high quality reeds: using our precise production methods and individual fitting we are able to respond to your exact wishes
and requirements.
Oboe Reeds
Quality Reeds
You will find reeds for modern and historical oboes with our co-operation partners, 'Kreedo'. Profit from their many years of experience,
extremely competent advice about reeds and staples as well as the best quality available.
Accessories
The wonderful world of Oboe & Bassoon accessories can be somewhat confusing and making a wrong purchase can spoil the fun. Therefore PRO REEDS & KREEDO would like to provide you with a selected assortment of practice-tested and proven accessories.
Web-Service
Kreedo App
The Reed World in your palm! Now online the Kreedo App for iPhone.
- Kreedo in the App Store
News and Support Chat
Registering for our new News-Service by Email or Text-Message allows you to receive up-to-date info on events, workshops, offers or delivery times. Our live Chat can help you immediatly:
www.proreeds.eu
You want to surf through all PRO REEDS? Please use your desktop device. All our products you'll find in the
KREEDO-eShop
Imprint
Publisher:
Ricardo Döringer
Music-Media-Consult,
Reed & Acoustic Design
Address:
see Distribution
Websites:
www.proreeds.eu
iphone.proreeds.eu
Distribution:
KREEDO GbR
acting as
Mrs. Christel Krebs
Mr. Dipl.-Ing.Clemens Heinrich
Address:
Buber-Neumann-Weg 68
60439 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
Contact:
Phone +49 (0)69 57000547
Fax +49 (0)69 57000548
info@kreedo.de
www.kreedo.de
Register Court: Frankfurt am Main
VAT-IdNo.: DE226513663
News, Events, Announcements: 
August 17, 2010
The Stradivarius of the Bassoon
PRO REEDS is a partner in the "Le Basson Savary" research project of the Bern Academy of Art and the Swiss National Fund. The instruments produced by the Paris bassoon maker, Jean-Nicolas Savary le jeune (1786-1853) were highly regarded and were even called "the Stradivarius of the Bassoon".
An excerpt from the research project description describes the project: "In conjunction with instrument makers, musicians and specialists, a range of well-maintained original instruments will be located and then studied and measured for their playing qualities. From the Instruments, which were created over a 30 year period, a bassoon that is suitable for performances today will be looked for, selected and replicated to original specifications and reeds using historical models will be developed.
- more ...
April 13, 2010
Survey
We would like to know how long you can play your best bassoon reeds? -- Thanks for your
- Voting
March 8, 2010
iTunes Tips
New at proreeds.eu: bassoon recommendations at the Apple iTunes Store. Meanwhile, iTunes provides a wide range of interesting arrangements, podcasts and iPhone apps for the bassoon. Our Twitter readers know about the iTunes Tips already but now they're also conveniently available on our website. You might be surprised.
- iTunes App Tipps
February 22, 2010
2010 Events
The first oboe and bassoon events for this year are just around the corner. You'll find our preview as always at - Events
January 20, 2010
2010 Catalog
The 2010 KREEDO catalog is now available as a pdf file or as a page flip catalog to browse through. Of course, we'll be glad to send you the catalog in the mail and free of charge.
- PDF Reed Catalog
- Catalog Order
Reed Search on the iPhone
For your reed model search and order on the iPhone we recommend the Kreedo app:
- Kreedo in the App Store
As an alternative use the "Speedy Search" app. It is comparable to the search-plugin function of a standard browser, e.g. Firefox. The most common search engines are already pre-installed, however, the web-search list is expandable. In order to integrate the Pro Reeds / KREEDO search, simply add the following search string:
The search results will take you directly to the mobile KREEDO eShop with detailed info and delivery times. Of course, in addition to reeds, you can search for any of the more than 1000 other products in the KREEDO eShop as well.
- Speedy Search
Reed Search on other OS
- Kreedo for Android
Mobile Firefox users can install our search Plugin.
- Mobile Firefox Plugin
On this page we would like to highlight several interesting music apps for the iPhone. All the links start the iTunes App Store.
- Kreedo
The Reed World in your palm! Now online the Kreedo App for iPhone.
- Practica
Practica has everything you need to keep organized, efficient and productive in each of your scheduled practice sessions. Great idea, good handling, nice design.
- StayInTune
A surprisingly accurate tuning device for the road. The bass tones are not perfect but otherwise completely okay for the bassoon. Tonal range from 390-480 Hz. What more do you want?
- Pitch Primer
A tuning app that meets the toughest requirements including record and play-back functions. Developed by the specialists at the Sibelius Academy in Finland.
- Metronom Tempo
The metronome app leaves nothing out. It includes, among other things, rhythm subgroups and retrievable settings.
- Bassoon
The fingering charts app for every bassoonist! In addition to the standard fingerings, you can add individual fingerings as well. This is very practical, especially for the rarely-used, unique fingerings of contemporary music, for example.
- Instrument in Reach
This versatile App is a fingering chart for Bassoon, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone und Baritone. An advanced version with alternate fingerings will soon be released.
- Karajan Beginner
- Karajan
This program has become very popular in a very short period. Ear training on the go -- simply great. It's available as a free beginner version or as a affordable, premium version with many additional functions.
Catalogue Request
Order your free KREEDO catalogue today, and treat yourself to the convenience of our print catalogue anytime, anywhere - even away from your computer. Text fields with * are required.
Data Privacy
Personal information, which is collected on the PRO REEDS websites, is handled very confidentially. Your data will not be given to third parties and are used exclusively for the purpose of processing your requests.
News-Services:
Registering for our News-Services by Email or Text-Message allows you to receive up-to-date info on events, workshops, offers or delivery times. (Text-Message at present only in German and within Germany, Austria and Switzerland)
- Sample Newsletter
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Text Message
Data Privacy
Personal information, which is collected on the PRO REEDS websites, is handled very confidentially. Your data will not be given to third parties and are used exclusively for the purpose of processing your requests.
Tips & Tricks:
There isn't only one way of doing things and, of course, we don't want to blow things out of proportion.
But there are at least as many reed making techniques as there are bassoonists; all of us are constantly trying out new ideas for improving our material.
Therefore, Pro Reeds would like to support you with some helpful tips and tricks. Experienced reed makers will already know most of these tips, but we hope that even you will find a couple of gems.
Reed Storage
Reeds are sensitive and should never be stored in direct sunlight for very long. On the other hand, it is certainly helpful to allow raw cane that is still a bit green to ripen in the sun. Good air circulation is the most important criteria for good reed storage cases. Inadequate ventilation easily creates condensation or mold.
Reaming
Regardless of whether you ream the shaft when it is wet or dry, we recommend you use a mini-brush to remove all shavings, since this action can reduce ambient noise. Reamers (spiral or diamond), additional reed-making tools and mini-brushes are available at KREEDO.
Playin 'Pro reeds'
After you have received our reeds, we recommend you play them in little by little. Before the first playing, they should be soaked 5-10 minutes. They shouldn't be played more than 30 minutes the first day.The breaking in time can also be shortened or improved through frequent "soaking - drying" cycles (3 min. soaking / 6 hours drying).
If you find that after being played in, the reed plays somewhat light for your personal taste, we recommend you keep the reed in a closed case overnight. If it's somewhat heavy, leave it out or in an open case overnight. Additional changes in tension can, of course, be made by very carefully lifting up or pressing down the first wire (see also wire)
Depending on the cane category, our reeds normally reach their optimal playing and sound characteristics within 2-5 days.
Cane Storage
Here the issue is not only the type of storage but also the duration. The times given are general guidelines.
- Cane tube should be properly stored and cured between three to four years before being worked with. Storage and curing times of more than ten years no longer contribute to improvements in the quality.
- - Green or unripe cane tubes can be placed in direct sunlight to aid in ripening. In our experience, however, the results are unsatisfactory.
- Reed blanks should remain unworked for at least one week - a month or longer is better.
- Finished reeds tend to become very dried out, especially during the cold season when left in heated rooms with low humidity (see also Soaking). Use of a humidor has proven helpful when storing reeds for a longer period under such conditions. In our experience, cases with good air circulation are preferred for reeds that are used daily. Humidors which are optimal for storing reeds will be available at PRO REEDS in the near future.
Knives
Dull knives make it impossible to work with cane and produce satisfactory reeds. It is relatively easy to find good knives in a specialty shop, but maintaining their sharp edge is difficult for many bassoonists. Sharpening them improperly can render valuable and expensive reed making tools almost unusable. Our recommendation is to have your knives sharpened by an expert about every six months. (These scissor and knife sharpening experts also provide this service for unusual edges). The edge holds especially well if you use a standard whetstone to touch it up from time to time (synthetic "Arkansas Stone" or "Belgian Brocken" with a granulation of 6000-8000). Use water or sharpening oil depending on the stone.
Using a strop and polishing paste is often a good idea for beginners. Four to five strokes in both directions and you quickly have a sharp knife again. This method is only partially suitable for the very wedge-shaped reed scraping knives, however, since the edge becomes rounded if a strop is used too often.
Bocals
Bocal diameters at the reed end can vary significantly. That leads to very different reed seating on the bocal, which appreciably influences the intonation. The wide variety of bocal diameters makes it impossible, however, to create bassoon reeds which exactly fit all bocals.
WAs a result, we have measured a wide range of bocal cones from the modern and historical bassoon family and have adapted our reeds to the most frequently found diameters. Please find our recommended insertion depths on the following chart.
Sandpaper
At any rate it should be waterproof and various granulations should be available. Fine sandpapers are also good for working the inside of the tip opening.
Drying times
If you order semi-finished reeds, take lots of time when finishing and scraping the blade. Reeds that have been quickly thrown together are rarely satisfying. Unusable reeds also happen when, because of impatience, the reed is not allowed to rest and the second step is done before the first. As every bassoonist knows, in order to test the reed, it must be soaked first. However, the full range of change to the playing characteristics or sound qualities from scraping develops only after the reed has completely dried out again. As a rule, a drying time of 24 hours between the various scraping steps is adequate.
Soaking
Our recommendation: soak the reeds for five minutes before the first use. Afterwards the first wire should not be too tight - it may certainly have a bit of play. The wire can be lightly pressed down without constricting the reed, only if it still sits loosely at this point. It is certainly possible that your reeds will become very dry during the hot season or because of room heating and lower humidity. In that case, we recommend soaking the reed for 20 to 30 minutes and then probably allowing them to dry out overnight again. Here it is important to guarantee sufficient air circulation to avoid moisture blockages. Depending on your routine or preferences, follow that up by soaking the reeds once again for 1-3 minutes and the reed is ready to play.
Wires
If the first wire is drawn too tightly, it seriously diminishes the reed's ability to vibrate! In our experience, the first wire should not be tightened further, once the reed blank has dried. As a rule, the tightness of the first wire is usually okay following the first soaking. In other words, the wire should sit with a minimum of play. (see also soaking)
Reedcast
Reedcast what is that? you may ask. Of course, the term is taken from podcast, which is again taken from iPod and broadcast. Podcasting is simply the production and broadcasting of audio or video files via the Internet. These files can be listened to either with an iPod/iPhone or simply played on your computer or laptop (at present only in German).
- Episode 1
New Reeds? What it important?
Our podcasts are playable via this page. If you want to subscribe to our podcasts, please start iTunes on your computer, switch to the iTunesStore and search for Reedcast. Podcasts can only be subscribed to via iTunes at the moment, afterwards they can then be synched with your iPod/iPhone.
We look forward to your suggestions about possible issues we can use for future Reedcasts as well as your feedback.
Web-Tips
The increasingly popular video sites on the Web have started to contain numerous bassoon clips. Everything from worth seeing and hearing to rather strange and humorous is included. With "Web-Tips" we would like to begin pointing out various tidbits like...
- Bassoon Lights
- Teddy Bär
- Selfmade
For Jazz fans:
- Rino Vernizzi
Jazz Quartet (only audio)
- Michael Rabinowitz
Jazz Bassoon II
- Paul Hanson
Electric Bassoon workout
- Paul Hanson
Electric Bassoon setup
Bassoon-Tuning:
- Whisperkey
System Rauch
Events
Exhibitions, workshops and IDRS events surrounding the oboe and bassoon family of instruments. Wherever our logo 
appears, PRO REEDS & KREEDO is also present for you:
International Music Fair 2012
from 21. to
24. March 2012
Messe Frankfurt, Halle 1.1
Frankfurt am Main,
Germany
www.musikmesse.de
41rd Int. Double Reed Society Conference
from 7. to
11. July 2012
University of Miami
in
Oxford,
Ohio - USA
www.idrs2012.org
