I am a histotech as well as an oboist. Like bassoons, they are a double reed instrument. Two pieces of bamboo are cut, shaved thin on one end, and tied together. Your bassoonists friends must be "pulling some all nighters" if their reeds are only lasting a week.
 
As the clarinetist said, they need to be flexible, because the vibration of the reeds is what makes the sound. Many sites show how to construct reeds as she said also. I think some companies are making reeds from plastic that is safe to use, but the quality of the sound produced is not as good as natural bamboo. Some people use the plastic ones for practice and save the bamboo for performances.


Paula Pierce, HTL(ASCP)HT

Excalibur Pathology, Inc.
630 N. Broadway
Moore, OK 73160
405-759-3953
contact@excaliburpathology.com
www.excaliburpathology.com
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