The short-scrape contra reed (right) gives a penetrating sound and is unusually strong and responsive in the third octave. The hand-adjusted gouge allows the blades to vibrate freely, even though they are left largely in bark. Meanwhile, the reed is sensitive enough to produce a clear but delicate pianissimo. This reed, if completely dry, must be soaked for about 20 minutes in warm before use, and must be kept damp for optimal response.

Our standard contra reed (left) offers instant response and a wide dynamic range. Analogous in design to our medium bassoon reed, it is made of very hard cane but engineered to respond easily in all registers.