One reed only! (Soprano, alto and baritone saxes -- never got along with a tenor for some reason, even with a "doubler's" mouthpiece -- and clarinet.) Or no reed (flute, piccolo, tin whistle, zampona -- even did a wee tune on an upended Royal Doulton figurine once at a gig for a lark). It's not that two reeds are fundamentally bad, but the lack of exhalation with the oboe gets real old real fast, and the twit who decided that a thumb should be the source of all power (bassoon) ought to have been shot before it was too late.