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Staples

• Chiarugi 2+: my standard staple, an excellent all-around staple with a big sound. My preferred staple for Loreé, Howarth and Yamaha oboes.
• Chiarugi 2+ Nickel-silver: made of harder metal, these staples are very similar to the Chiarugi 2+ but may have more projection and resistance.
• Chiarugi 2+ thinwall: my newest experimental addition, these staples make very responsive reeds with a bright, expressive sound.
• Chudnow E: all-metal staples with a rubber o-ring instead of cork.
• Chiarugi 2: smaller bore than the 2+. Worth trying on Marigaux and non-ak Loree oboes.

Shapes

• RDG -1: This is the narrowest shape I use. The high notes sit up well.
• Joshua +2: Medium-narrow American shape. Good for pitch stability. A tiny bit wider than the RDG at the tip but less curve. Can be a fix for oboes with a saggy mid-register C while having more richness of tone than the RDG -1.
• Pfeiffer-Mack: More flared at the tip than the other shapes. Reeds on this shape require more control in the upper register but have a very colourful sound full of expressive potential.
• Caleb -1: More curved in the back than the Joshua but without the tip flare of the Pfeiffer-Mack. Provides reeds with a great deal of depth of tone and a large dynamic range.
• Samson +3: For those who like wider shapes, this tip finds a good balance between depth of tone and stability.

Thread

• My thread colours change seasonally. Contact me for current options.