Westwind Oboe Shaper Tips

Westwind offers a range of proven shapes that are precision reproductions of classic shapes, as well as specific replicas of shaper tips used by renowned Oboists, English Horn players, and teachers in the industry. Westwind shaper tips are better than the originals too, because they're manufactured using the finest modern machining techniques including highly accurate, computer-driven production methods. In short, Westwind offers the best old shapes made better.

Brannen X

This classic oboe shaper tip is a precise reproduction of the Brannen X tip offered by Brannen Woodwinds in the 1950s. It is one of the most popular oboe shapes of all time. Westwind sampled over a dozen original tips and then averaged the results to make sure they were being faithful to the original specifications.

Mack+

Westwind developed these contemporary oboe shaper tips for John Mack in partnership with Bob Gilbert, the founder of RDG Woodwinds.

John Mack used the M+ tip for his own reeds, but he also liked the M and M++ and wanted to give his oboe students some options to choose from. The + and ++ tips are respectively, .001 in. and .002 in. wider than the "M" model. All three RDG/Mack tips have a narrower tip than the original Pfieffer/Mack tips, reflecting a refinement in Mr. Mack's definition of his ideal tip later in his career.

Pfeiffer-Mack

This classic oboe shaper tip is a reproduction of the original John Mack tip made by Freddy Pfeiffer. Westwind sampled over a half dozen original tips and then averaged the results to make sure they were being faithful to the original specifications. This tip lies in the middle of the comparative series, although the belly is narrower in proportion to the tip than most of the others. The tip is wider than the more contemporary rdg-Mack tips which were developed for Mr. Mack later in his career.

All shapers and shaper tips have a 30-day trial period. Compare several, choose one, and send back the rest for a full refund minus shipping. Returns after the 30-day trial period will be subject to a 10% restocking fee in addition to the cost of shipping, but must be returned in like new to new physical condition.