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Forrests Music Inc
1849 University Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94703
USA
email: sales@forrestsmusic.com
phone: 510-845-7178 800-322-6263
facebook: https://facebook.com/ForrestsMusic
instagram: http://instagram.com/forrestsmusicberkeley
Store hours:
Mon-Fri 10:00AM - 5:30PM PST
Sat: 10:00AM - 5:00PM PST
Sun: Closed
It is 11:46 AM on Sunday September 21st, 2025. We are closed now.
Closed for New Year's day, Martin Luther King day, President's day, Memorial day, Independence day, Labor day, Thankgiving, Christmas, & Inventory
Suggestions for first time, or less experienced, oboe players.
We have so many products to choose from it can be very confusing to the less experienced player. These suggested products are all good "middle of the road" products and you won't go wrong choosing them.
You don't need to buy one of each immediately (other than the reed)! As you learn to adjust, and then make, reeds you can buy what you need.
Of course there is a good deal of personal opinion involved in selecting products, you should always ask, and defer to, your teacher.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us by phone (800-322-6263) or email (sales@forrestsmusic.com). We're always happy to answer questions and offer advice.
Reeds:
Reeds are graded by strength; a beginning player will
want the softest strength to start with.
Forrests Green Label Oboe Reeds
MOST POPULAR STUDENT OBOE REED. MEDIUM-SOFT, MEDIUM, and MEDIUM-HARD These reeds are consistent and play well in a variety of climates. They are hand finished and inspected upon arrival by our oboe specialists. Perfect for beginners of all ages! Strengths available are Soft, Medium Soft, Medium, & Medium Hard.
Order 3 or more for $15.26 each! The shopping cart will calculate the discount.
MOST POPULAR STUDENT OBOE REED. MEDIUM-SOFT, MEDIUM, and MEDIUM-HARD These reeds are consistent and play well in a variety of climates. They are hand finished and inspected upon arrival by our oboe specialists. Perfect for beginners of all ages! Strengths available are Soft, Medium Soft, Medium, & Medium Hard.
Order 3 or more for $15.26 each! The shopping cart will calculate the discount.
See all our oboe reeds
Knife: Your teacher will probably have a strong opinion about which
type of knife you should buy. The beveled knife is different for right and left handed people, the
double hollow ground is not.
Chiarugi (Rigotti) Beveled Reed Knife, Right Handed
Beveled edge with a hollow ground back and ebony handle. The steel is not too hard, for easier sharpening on a fine India, hard Arkansas stone, or a diamond "stone".
Comes with sheath.
Beveled edge with a hollow ground back and ebony handle. The steel is not too hard, for easier sharpening on a fine India, hard Arkansas stone, or a diamond "stone".
Comes with sheath.
Chiarugi (Rigotti) Beveled Reed Knife, Left Handed
Beveled edge with a hollow ground back and ebony handle. The steel is not too hard, for easier sharpening on a fine India, hard Arkansas stone, or a diamond "stone".
Comes with sheath.
Beveled edge with a hollow ground back and ebony handle. The steel is not too hard, for easier sharpening on a fine India, hard Arkansas stone, or a diamond "stone".
Comes with sheath.
Chiarugi (Rigotti) Reed Knife
Double hollow ground blade with wood handle. Sharpen on fine India, diamond, or hard Arkansas stone.
Comes with sheath.
Double hollow ground blade with wood handle. Sharpen on fine India, diamond, or hard Arkansas stone.
Comes with sheath.
See all our knives
Plaque: You can't go wrong with this, it's the most
commonly used plaque. You might order more than one; they're easy to lose!
Flat Blued Steel Oboe Plaque
By far the most commonly used plaque, this model has pointed tips.
By far the most commonly used plaque, this model has pointed tips.
See all our oboe plaques
Cutting Block:
Medium Ebony Cutting Block
29mm diameter with a non-slip backing.
29mm diameter with a non-slip backing.
See all our cutting blocks
Mandrel: This is a good, yet reasonably priced choice.
Chiarugi (Rigotti) Oboe Mandrel
Stainless steel tip in a standard style ebony handle. #2 is the size tip we have always carried, which fits Forrests, Lorée, Pisoni, Stevens and most Chiarugi staples.
#1 is a smaller tip which fits Glotin and Chiarugi #J-19-47 staples.
Stainless steel tip in a standard style ebony handle. #2 is the size tip we have always carried, which fits Forrests, Lorée, Pisoni, Stevens and most Chiarugi staples.
#1 is a smaller tip which fits Glotin and Chiarugi #J-19-47 staples.
See all our oboe mandrels
Cane: You will want to start with gouged, shaped, and folded
(sometimes called GSF) cane. This is a very good quality cane and the dimensions are consistent.
Rigotti Oboe Cane, Gouged Shaped and Folded
Standard shape, bundle of 10 pieces. Order 5 or more bundles for $35.06 each, 20 or more bundles for $31.16 each! The shopping cart will calculate the discount.
Standard shape, bundle of 10 pieces. Order 5 or more bundles for $35.06 each, 20 or more bundles for $31.16 each! The shopping cart will calculate the discount.
See all our oboe cane
Thread:
Reed Thread, FF (Tex 138), 200 Yard Spool
Nylon reed thread in the thicker FF gauge, 200 yards on a double ended spool. Colors available are: Aqua, Burgundy, Gold, Lime Green, Mahogany, Multicolor, Navy, Peach, Pink, Purple, Red, Royal Blue, White, & Yellow.
Nylon reed thread in the thicker FF gauge, 200 yards on a double ended spool. Colors available are: Aqua, Burgundy, Gold, Lime Green, Mahogany, Multicolor, Navy, Peach, Pink, Purple, Red, Royal Blue, White, & Yellow.
See all our thread
Staple:
Forrests Oboe Staple
47mm, fits Lorée mandrel Order 10 or more for $3.14 each, 20 or more for $2.79 each! The shopping cart will calculate the discount.
47mm, fits Lorée mandrel Order 10 or more for $3.14 each, 20 or more for $2.79 each! The shopping cart will calculate the discount.
See all our oboe staples
Easel:
Oboe Easel
Ebony easel with a groove to mark the center line of your cane. Maximum cane length 76mm.
Ebony easel with a groove to mark the center line of your cane. Maximum cane length 76mm.
Scroll over image to zoom
See all our easels
Reed making book:
The Oboe Reed Book, by Jay Light
A manual and reference guide for making, understanding, and adjusting oboe reeds. The author tells the reader what to do, what NOT to do, and clearly explains why. A highly recommended book for every oboe reed maker. Printed in manuscript format and spiral bound. 116 pages.
A manual and reference guide for making, understanding, and adjusting oboe reeds. The author tells the reader what to do, what NOT to do, and clearly explains why. A highly recommended book for every oboe reed maker. Printed in manuscript format and spiral bound. 116 pages.
See all our oboe books
