Our ten-day oboe and bassoon trial is one of the most valuable services we offer, and it’s what sets Charles Double Reed Company apart.
A brief visit to a shop can only tell you so much.
We give you ten full days to get to know an instrument in your own space, discovering how it responds, how it feels, and how it fits your playing, all while it’s performing at its absolute best thanks to a full exam and adjustment in our Kingston, NY workshop before it ships.
We’ll walk you through everything step by step.
Contact us at
Or simply reach out with a question.
We’re happy to help you get started
Contact us at service@charlesmusic.com or by phone at (845) 334-0145. We will happily answer all your questions and assist you in putting an instrument on hold for a trial.
Please note that we do not offer trials outside of the US.
The Deposit
To proceed with a trial, we ask for the full value of the instrument as a refundable deposit, which we hold securely while you spend time with it. We accept cashier’s checks, and if you have any questions about the deposit process, we’re happy to talk it through.
If you decide to keep the instrument, your only additional cost is the original shipping. If you decide to return it, your cost is limited to the original and return shipping, nothing more.
What is a cashier’s check?
A cashier’s check is guaranteed by the bank itself, drawn from the bank’s own funds rather than your personal account. Most banks can issue one on the spot: you provide the funds, and they hand you a check backed by their guarantee. Because of that guarantee, it’s one of the safest and most reliable ways to handle a transaction like this.
We simply hold your check while you try the instrument. If you decide to keep it, we deposit the check. If you decide to return the instrument, we return your check to you, uncashed.
Instruments may be available right now, or they may be out on trial. Contact us to find out – call us at (845) 334-0145 or email us.
If it is out on trial, we invite you to join the waiting list. If the instrument either becomes available to you or sells, we will let you know. At that time, you choose whether to pass or arrange a trial.
There is no charge or obligation.
We aim to make it as easy as possible for you to try an instrument before you commit to it.
We don’t want you to be stuck with a rushed choice that doesn’t feel right. We’re here through every step and happy to answer every question.
Look through our Oboe Listings or Bassoon Listings and find what interests you.
Contact us. We will guide you through the next steps.
We ship instruments on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays, depending on your location, to ensure the fastest, safest delivery. You’ll have ten days from the date you receive it to test, play and compare the instrument. We highly recommend you plan to take a lesson or attend a rehearsal during the trial period.
Our track record is long and very positive, and we’re happy to provide references.
For instrument trials, we ask for a refundable deposit by cashier’s check rather than a card.
We understand that sending payment before you’ve had the instrument in hand can feel like a leap of trust, so we’re happy to help put you at ease.
Charles Double Reed Company has a stellar 40+ year track record, and we’re glad to share references if that helps confirm our legitimacy. If you’re within driving distance, or would simply rather not send a deposit in advance, you’re always welcome to make an appointment and try instruments in person at our Kingston workshop.
Yes. We know that this is a major purchase and we’ll work with you to arrange a trial at your convenience. While we can not hold an instrument for months, we are very flexible.
We know that it may take you a week or two to arrange for funds to be available. We’ll be patient. Please communicate your expectations to us when you place an instrument on hold for a trial.
While the instrument is in your care, we ask that you treat it as you would your own, keeping it safe, swabbing it after every use, and letting us know right away if anything unexpected happens.
Since you’re responsible for the instrument during the trial period, we recommend giving your insurance company a quick call to let them know you’ll have it in your possession. A temporary policy is often inexpensive and offers real peace of mind while you’re getting to know a new instrument.
Simply let us know, and we’ll walk you through the return. We ask that the instrument be returned promptly, fully insured, and packed just as well as it arrived, instructions and a due date will be included when it’s shipped to you.
In the rare event an instrument comes back damaged due to inadequate packing or misuse, we’d need to charge the cost of repair and hold your funds until it’s resolved. That said, in over 40 years, this has never happened, our trialers take wonderful care of the instruments they borrow.
Here’s a short video about safely shipping an instrument.
Yes. New Fox instruments come with a Fox Warranty. Pre-owned instruments come with our Charles Warranty.
We provide a formal insurance appraisal at no charge ($125 value) with every instrument purchased from us.
If you ever need the appraisal updated or replaced, we will gladly provide an updated copy at no charge for as long as you own the instrument. If a significant amount of time has passed since the original appraisal, we may ask for new photographs.
