What are the most common brands of arundo donax available on the market?

Сrafting bassoon reeds is an art form that has captivated bassoonists on around the world. This  technique involves gouging, profiling, bending, and shaping to create  , quality reeds. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned , exploring different techniques  crafting canvery useful, but the choice of source material is also of particular importance.

I receive many inquiries related to providing more detailed information about bassoon canes manufacturers and the corresponding brands.

Here I will provide only basic information about the most popular of them, which will help you to more thoroughly research a particular brand that you are specifically interested in.

GLOTIN /FRANCE

The Company is located Glotin Lagny sur Marne near Paris, and in Fréjus (Var) where it operates the reeds (formerly BIAZOTTO - and SERF)

The Company Glotin was founded in 1945 by Albert GLOTIN. After more than half a century of work and passion, and thanks to its entrepreneurial spirit, GLOTIN has developed the manufacture of all reeds for Oboe, Bassoon,English horn, Folk and Baroque instruments...

This manufacture includes finished and semi-finished products such as cane and staples, but also tools and accessories.

The know-how of GLOTIN, its rigour, quality and efficiency are implemented to satisfy the musicians.

GONZALEZ /ARGENTINA

In 1983 Juan José, together with his son Juan Pablo, founded a company with the intention of growing Arundo Donax and selling it to different foreign reed makers. That is how Argendonax SRL is created, first being a supplier of raw material, until 1995 when the first reeds are launched to the market under the brand “Zonda”. These were the perfect result of many years of research and technological development. The goal was to manufacture the best reeds in the world.

In the year 2000 the Gonzalez FOF (For our Friends) Clarinet reeds were born, first presented at the New Orleans Clarinet fest, thus starting our brand. This brand that has become a synonym of prestige and quality. company with his knowledge on marketing techniques and institutional identity design.Over the years the company acquired new machinery achieving a daily production of 12,000 reeds (between clarinet and saxophones). This equipment has helped to increase not only the quantity but also

the quality of our products to the highest level.Currently the brand Gonzalez is a leader among manufacturers of canes in over 30 countries worldwide.

NEURANTER /FRANCE

NEURANTER has been making cane for three generations.The members of this instrument-making family are Professional Musicians, a fact that enables them to track all the latest developments in the world of music.

DONATI  /FRANCE

Until the mid-1980s, the reed came from a selection of “wild” Var cane plants.

In 1985, the Donati family invested in 15 hectares of plantations located in Sauvebonne valley. Today, almost 30 hectares of plantations, divided across plots of land with diverse geological and climatic conditions, produce the musical reed Arundo donax for the Donati brand, used by the world’s greatest musicians.

RIGOTTI  /FRANCE

To the heart of the gulf of Saint-Tropez, the long of rivers and brooks, one sees reeds. It’s here that been found Cogolin, small Provençal village, universally reputed for manufacture of carpet, pipes but especially for Establishment Rigotti which that since 1966 produce pads, reeds and tools for wind instruments (clarinet, saxophone, flute, oboe, bassoon...).

Managed until 2012 by Franco Rigotti, then by his son Daniel, craftsman of trade, "manufacture of reeds" has forged a solid experience and a reputation to the height of its ambitions. The meeting with the bassoons , the obaoes, the saxes and the clarinettists more distinguish in temoigne.

Rigotti Establishment in the noise of machines, employ to serve and to provide the best quality. Know-how in the production of parts of an infinite precision to come from the best reeds of the world allows for a long time to export in the entire world, and more particularly with U.S.A, Japan and Europe.

K.Ge /CHINA

K.Ge Reeds has a branch office in Shanghai which handles the harvesting of tube cane as well as processing the cane to the tie-on stage.To produce reeds of consistently high quality, a good and reliable source of cane is essential. What better way to ensure that than to grow it yourself, which is precisely what Ke-xun has done. The cane used for Ke-xun's reeds comes from Anhui Province in China, which has been a famous cane-producing region since about 1960, supplying cane for local oboists, clarinetists and bassoonists.Ke-xun discovered that the climate of Anhui is very similar to that of the cane-producing Var region in France, but also he discovered that the cane from Anhui had much greater resilience and a higher fibre density than other canes, including the French cane. The cane from Anhui is generally of medium to medium hardness, its texture is silky, fine and smooth, and its colour is yellow to golden brown. Above all, its best quality is its consistency.

MARCA / FRANCE

MARCA processes the product originating from these plantations under its own management. All cane are prepared in MARCA factory, with the best quality made. After the first selection is made, we use special machines for prepare the raw material. 

ALLIAUD /FRANCE

We are happy to provide you with cane tubes for 80 years and three generations.

Located in the south - east of France (84), we are specialized in reeds for the manufacture of double reeds for oboe, baroque oboe, bassoons, and English horns and bassoons.For more than 80 years, we have been committed to providing a quality products and service to our customers.

The reeds are harvested in winter from December to the end of February, they are at least two years old.Howewer, the reeds remains fragile, it must be stored in a dry and well ventilated room.As the wood ages, it dries and becomes harder.

Rouché /FRANCE

Rouché tube cane grows, like Vic and Molinier, in Fréjus, in the South East of France.The cane is medium hard and give your reeds a warm sound.

VIC  /FRANCE

Vic tube cane grows like Rouché and Molinier in Fréjus, in the South East of France.The tubes are sorted by hand, have a warm golden colour inside and are rather hard.

Güner /TURKEY

Güner tube grows in the Mediterranean climate of Turkey. The manufacturer himself is an orchestra bassoonist. His high-quality cane is perfect for a well-balanced playing and offers a warm, flexible and round tone. A high percentage of thin fibers allows the right density for longer lasting reeds. The canes good hardness will fit your individual reed making style.

GHYS /FRANCE

Ghys cane come from the south of France - Region of Var and Provence.One of the best quality cane!

RIEGER /GERMANY1955 -1960With the support of his bassoon teacher, Georg Rieger, a skilled toolmaker, makes his first tools and machines for reed making bassoon - at first exclusively for his own needs. 1961 -1973With the first handmade gouging and profiling machines for bassoon Mr. Rieger starts a small manufacture in a shed by his house. Due to a growing production a first extension of the workshop is necessary.1985Johann Rieger, Georg Rieger’s son, joins the company as a mechanical engineering master in order to cope with the growing demand of tools, machines and canes.1990The company Georg Rieger is turned into Georg Rieger GmbH.2000The company is relocated in the industrial zone Bad Rotenfels. With the help of meanwhile four permanent employees and two temporary workers the company sells tools and machines worldwide. All our products are developed with a special focus on quality, longevity and functionality.

DANZI /ITALY

The company Danzi sas was founded in 1996 and from this period are built for bassoon reeds professional ready to play all handmade,

All materials used for both the reeds bassoon, oboe and clarinet and woodwind temperate ect .. are created with wood from the Var region in France - the best existing material and still used. His goal was to give all the basic structures for sound so simple, but balanced with all the dynamics, fundamental for a musical journey with these wind instruments..