Contrareeds.com provides resonant, responsive and warm sounding reeds to fulfil the needs of contrabassoon players everywhere.
Handmade by Fraser Gordon, Principal Contrabassoonist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Professor at the Royal Academy of Music, London, cane is hardness tested to enable you to choose your reed strength preference, ensure no duds (!), and individually tested to check consistency. They are bound with colour according to cane source.

Fraser studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) with Janet Bloxwich, David Hubbard and Alan Warhurst. He began making and playing on his bassoon reeds during his studies. Upon joining the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) as Principal Contrabassoon he started making reeds for contrabassoon. Thus began the important search for a design/model which would be consistent enough for his role within the orchestra.
He now is self-sufficient as well as being able to provide students and professionals with a range of responsive contrabassoon reeds, allowing them to achieve the sound and colours they desire within an orchestral setting.

Fraser is fortunate enough to play on two vintage Heckel Contrabassoons.
One made in 1968 formerly owned by his RPO predecessor David Chatterton, and another from 1965, belonging formerly to the late Dominic Weir, of City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras.

main photo credit - Ken Dundas