We have customers from all over the world. Read what they have to say about Good Tone Guild Double Reeds!

6/10/08

I just finished practicing the Poulenc Trio with one of your reeds.  I believe that it is the nicest reed that I've ever played.  It has a wonderfully centered and focused tone.  Thanks!

Cathy


May, 2008

Hi Meg:

Your [D'amore] reeds are great.  I've hand a chance to play them on the Bulgheroni d'amore.  I think they tend to speak and project the best when mated with the Hiniker bocal rather than the Dallas (Lickman) bocal.

I think your reeds have a really tasteful balance of darkness / brightness.  As you pointed out in your instructions, they do take a little breaking in as they seem a bit stiff at the start.  Good job.

Thanks!!

Pax et Bonum,

Russ Campbell


March 2008

I have had noticeable improvement in my playing since using your reeds.  Many have commented on my lush tone.  I thank you for giving me great reeds that let my oboe really speak!


Thanks,

Linda Henry


April 15, 2007

Just a short note to say thanks for your quick response and great reeds. My son had an important audition coming up on Friday, and due to a couple of reed mishaps and eather changes, we realized on Wednesday
night that he was down to only 1 really good sounding reed. We decided we needed at least a couple of "back-up" reeds in case the good one failed, so I searched the net to find a reed maker that could get us two reeds by the next day.

We called Meg, who guided us through the selection process and sent the reeds out that same day. He had never tried Good Tone before, but while warming up, he gave it a try, and it actually sounded better than his "#1" reed, with a distinctly better response in the lower register. He ended up using the Good Tone reed (no longer the "back-up"reed) and played a successful audition. Thanks for an excellent product and a great "emergency response".

David
Long Island, NY


Hi Meg,

Thank you so much for the reeds. I read through all your information with great interest and passed out the reeds tonight to my students. We agree that they are pretty hard to begin with, but I gave my students your advice about breaking in. One mom even commented on how much better they sounded - and it was brand-new one! Thank you, thank you!

I'm a bassoon player by trade (masters in bassoon from Kent State in Ohio) and I started teaching oboe because I was tired of people asking me if I would! Finally, I think I've found reeds that will work for me and my students. Watch for my next order!

Thanks!
Elizabeth


Dear Meg,

At long last a few words to thank you for your part in helping me to resume my career as an oboist after my quintuple by-pass surgery.
 
I underwent cardiac surgery in mid summer about five weeks before our annual two week chamber music session at Bennington College in Vermont, an event my wife, also an oboist, and I have attended since the late 1960's.  My intention was to attend while I was healing, as a non-playing spouse. However about three weeks after my surgery I began to feel that it might be possible after all, to do a little playing at the conference.  That's when I called you and requested some very unresistant reeds.  The reeds you sent were perfect.  Although the sound I produced at first was quite light I was able to gradually increase my endurance.  What a joy it was to be playing again!  I am indeed thankful for your concern and expertise.

Marty Lipnick


 Greetings, Meg- Thanks for your response. I'm not in a major hurry - I think my first rehearsal is next week, but the reeds I have from my previous order are still hanging in there...so no need to do a major rush. I wanted to thank you for finally helping me find a reed I can buy and actually use for performances! The reeds you made for me last spring worked very well- I got tons of compliments on my english horn playing as well (I purchased the set of 3 eh reeds). I'm looking forward to more good reeds from Good tone Guild:)

thanks again-

Jan


I have been searching for more than a year for the perfect reed source and I have finally found it! The reeds arrived quickly and required very little work to get them to be exactly what I was looking for. They have great tone and response in all registers! The artist staple also makes a big difference; it gives the reeds a fantastic resonance. I don't think I can blame bad playing on my reeds anymore. I will certainly order from the Good Tone Guild again!!

________________

I have yet to meet a reed maker who is more accommodating and knowledgeable.

Thank you so much!
Marv Johnson
Teaneck, NJ

Meg Cassell's Good Tone Guild™ oboe reeds are terrific! Good Tone truly describes the product and is not just a fancy brand name. I have found that her evaluation of a reed's resistance level has been right on the mark and very consistent. The cost of an individual reed is reasonable, and the Value Pack option is the best buy around. She also has helpful information for students on reed care, etc. Service is fast and courteous. Good reeds, good price, good service who could ask for anything more?

Ruth Dahlke
Professor of Oboe
Minnesota State University, Moorhead

Hello Meg, Just saying thanks for the great reeds. The largest part of Reese's oboe experience [over the last three years] has been played using your reeds, and no matter what oboe you play, it pretty much all comes down to having a good reed. So, thanks again for providing your great workmanship -- it really is an art--and the wonderful personal service you provide. You're the best!

Sincerely,
Bee McFaddin (mom of Reese DuBlois, a college scholarship recipient for oboe)

When I have used Good Tone Guild™ reeds on my English horn in shows on Broadway, in operas such as "Carmen", in Bach arias, chamber music, and other concerts, people have commented "you make such a warm sound--so beautiful, and so in tune." I owe comments such as this to the quality and consistency of Good Tone Guild™ Reeds.

Thanks again,
Sarah Davol
New York Freelance Oboist and Recording Artist;
(Modern and Historical Instruments)

Dear Miriam, Carol and list, I have just received reeds from Meg Cassell at www.goodtoneguild.com and wanted to Thank you Miriam and Carol for reffering me to order from Meg. For starters Meg made me feel like a special costumer, gave me her devoted full attention, listened carefuly, asked me questions and knew what I was looking for. But again i must say I was really impressed with the fact that she was very friendly and I didnt feel like i was buying from her for the first time.

Happy Reeds
Sameer Al-Abdullah

Thanks again,
Lynne Cohen
New York City freelance oboist;
Instructor of Oboe;
Rowan University

We got the package Friday, and Thorin played all five reeds about five minutes each. He likes the reed case (a good motivator to mess around with the oboe, since yesterday was the last day of school), and he says, “The reeds are really nice.” True to your company name, his tone is the best it has ever been even with the fresh, unbroken-in reeds. I wish we had found you when he started playing last September, but better late than never.

Thanks,
Eric

Thank You,
Chip Robinson
Cambridge, MA

Thanks again,
Gloriana Saenz-Azuola
San Jose, Costa Rica

Hello Meg, The reed case [for six reeds] arrived last week and I thank you so much! It is beautiful, and the kids that I have in the summer have been enthralled by it, I guess because it is so different. They are giving Christmas hints to their parents for one, because it fits so nicely in the back of the Fox oboe case. The reeds stay so secure in these cases, I wish that I had known about them years ago!! Thank you for everything, Meg. I appreciate you so much!!

Every Blessing,
Barbara Girdler
Columbia, MD

Thanks so much for the most recent reed order! They all play beautifully. I can't imagine ever having to use your guarantee. It's great to find a consistent and fast source for reeds. My schedule makes it tough to make enough reeds for myself, let alone for students. All the reeds I've received from you have a nice dark sound and very even intonation. I do a lot of recording work. The microphone acts as a microscope for any deficiencies. Your reeds stand the test!

Thanks again,
Phil Feather
Studio musician;
Professor of Oboe;
California State University, Los Angeles

I have been ordering Good Tone reeds for my daughter, Marissa, for over a year now. Marissa is a junior in high school and plays principal oboe in the Youth Symphony of Fresno as well as just received word that she will be principal oboe for California all-state honor orchestra. All auditions were using Meg's reeds! In addition to the quality of the reeds, Meg is conscientious and considerate in all of her dealings. She always lets me know the status of when the reeds will be arriving. Although Marissa's oboe teacher would like Marissa to become more proficient at reed-making herself, she had to be realistic knowing that Marissa's schedule not only includes music (oboe, piano and voice) but dance classes, many AP classes and school activities. Meg has provided Marissa the opportunity to use quality reeds without having to spend the time to make them. She has allowed Marissa to spend time studying and working on her oboe playing.

Thanks Meg,
Diane Honda aka Mom
Fresno, California

You sent me an oboe reed order awhile back (2 green #3, 1 red #4 on Chudnow staples). Oh, I just love the tone - I don't think I have ever sounded this good.

What lovely reeds!,
Judy Norris
Alberta,Canada

Hello, Just dropping a line to say thank you so much for your wonderful products. I cannot tell you how many times I have ordered a reed from a company, waited a week or two only to be disappointed when it arrives. Being in the double reed world, I am only too sure you know the hardships of being a double reed player. Your skill as an oboe player depends on your reed on a day-to-day basis. I must tell you, that at the beginning of my senior year this year I was more than ready to quit band simply because my oboe-reed troubles outshadowed the good oboe-reed times. For years, I looked for a reed that was anything like the ones your company offers. Now, I am excited and confident every time I take my oboe out of its case because I KNOW my reed will work perfectly. I can't thank you enough. You saved me from quitting and missing out on my last year in band. And now with your product, I am confident during college auditions. Your product and your company are gifts from God.

Thanks again,
Paige Haubold
Henderson, Nevada

I am very happy and fortunate to have found oboe and English horn reeds that play as well as these from Good Tone Guild™ Double Reeds. They respond well in all registers and can be played with all the dynamics necessary. They also adjust very easily if the need arises. I will and have recommended these reeds to the professional and student players I know. The customer service is of the highest level! Thanks, Meg, for your excellent product!!

Glen Berger
Los Angeles Woodwind Performer