What Lorée does

Lorée (legal name F.Lorée – de Gourdon) is a privately held, family-owned French manufacturer of professional and student double-reed woodwind instruments, founded in Paris in 1881 and operated for four generations by the de Gourdon family. The company's core output is the F.Lorée professional line — handmade oboes, English horns (cor anglais), oboes d'amore, bass oboes, and piccolo oboes — built at a single atelier at 48 rue de Rome in the 8th arrondissement of Paris using traditional woodwind-making techniques combined with modern acoustic tuning, 100% Made in France. The maison absorbed CABART (founded 1893) in 1974, adding a student and semi-professional line that includes the simplified "Petites Mains" oboe designed for children aged 7+. Lorée holds the French government's Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV) label and is positioned in its own marketing as "la référence mondiale du hautbois."

The product platform extends well beyond instruments to a comprehensive accessories and consumables catalog — cases and covers, reeds (American and European scrape), reed cane sourced from the Var region, tubes in proprietary AK, dm, and Glotin variants, mandrels, plaques, shapers, swabs, binding thread, the "Contactless" PPSC thumb rest, and proprietary F.Lorée natural bore oil used during a 3-month instrument break-in. Revenue streams include one-time professional instrument sales, CABART student instrument sales, accessories (with a 10% discount on orders over €100 ex. VAT), short-term professional instrument rentals, long-term CABART rentals (minimum 3 months, maintenance included), and on-site maintenance/repair services at the Paris atelier. Distribution combines direct sales from the Paris showroom (preferably by appointment), a contact-form-driven online order desk, an international retailer network referenced on the website, and rental operations.

Lorée's go-to-market is anchored by a roster of more than 100 named professional musician ambassadors — principal oboists and cor anglais players at the Berlin Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Metropolitan Opera, Cincinnati Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Israel Philharmonic, Medellin Philharmonic, and others — whose profiles and testimonials populate the multilingual French/English website and Facebook/Instagram channels. The customer base spans professional orchestral oboists, conservatory students, advanced amateurs, children/beginners, and oboe professors at institutions including Eastman, Guildhall, Juilliard, University of Michigan, and DePaul. Professional instrument prices are quoted on demand, while accessories are publicly priced in EUR ex. VAT.

Name

Lorée

Legal name

F.Lorée – de Gourdon

Website

https://loree-paris.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lorée (F.Lorée – de Gourdon) is a four-generation, family-owned Parisian manufacturer of professional and student oboes, English horns, and related double-reed instruments founded in 1881. It serves professional orchestral oboists, conservatory students, and beginners worldwide through a Paris atelier, an international retailer network, rentals, and a branded accessories catalog.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instruments (Oboe / Double Reed Manufacturing)

NAICS

Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online-Only Musical Instrument & Sheet Music Retail (CRALAEAI), Instrument Rentals & Leasing (Band/Orchestra Programs) (CRALAEAG), Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads) (MPAIAJAF), Instrument Parts, Repair & Maintenance (Luthier, Tech Services, Spares) (MPAIAJAG)

Keywords

• Handcrafted oboe manufacturing
• Professional double reed instruments
• Woodwind instrument accessories
• Oboe maintenance services
• Student oboe production

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional instrument sales (F.Lorée): One-time sales of handmade professional oboes (Royal and other models), English horns, oboe d'amore, bass oboes and piccolo oboes manufactured at the Paris atelier. Sold direct from the workshop and via international retailers.
2. Student instrument sales (CABART): One-time sales of CABART-branded student and semi-professional oboes (p+3 conservatory, s+3 automatic, "Petites Mains" simplified for children), plus student English horns. CABART has been part of the Maison since 1974 (founded 1893).
3. Accessories and consumables: Direct sale of branded accessories including cases, covers, tubes, reeds, reed cane, shapers, swabs, mandrels, bocals, polishing cloths, thread, humidifiers, thumb rests, key rings and T-shirts. Orders over €100 ex. VAT receive a 10% discount.
4. Maintenance and repair services: Repair, maintenance, and advisory services carried out at the Paris atelier. Marketed on responsiveness and tailored custom advice.
5. Instrument rentals: Long-term rental (minimum 3 months, unlimited period, maintenance included) of CABART student instruments and short-term rental of the full F.Lorée professional range (oboe, English horn, oboe d'amore, bass oboe, piccolo oboe). Price on demand.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lorée (F.Lorée – de Gourdon) manufactures and sells handcrafted professional and student oboes, English horns, oboe d'amore, bass oboes and piccolo oboes from its Paris atelier, complemented by a full accessories catalog (cases, covers, reeds, reed cane, tubes, shapers, swabs, thread, mandrels, plaques, thumb rests, consumables), instrument rentals, and an in-house maintenance/repair service. The professional range (F.Lorée) and student range (CABART, integrated in 1974) are sold directly from the workshop and via an international retailer network, with the company positioned as the world's oldest continuously operating oboe specialist.

Product overview

Lorée Paris (Maison F.Lorée – de Gourdon) operates a single integrated brand offering built around two product pillars: the F.Lorée line of professional double-reed instruments (oboe, English horn, oboe d'amore, bass oboe, and piccolo oboe, 100% Made in France in Paris since 1881) and the CABART line of reliable student-grade oboes and English horns (founded 1893, integrated into Lorée in 1974), including the simplified CABART "Petites Mains" model for young beginners. This instrument portfolio is supported by a comprehensive accessories catalog (cases, covers, reeds, reed cane, tubes, swabs, mandrels, plaques, shapers, thread, thumb rests, stands, and consumables such as F.Lorée bore oil and cork grease), plus long-term student rentals and short-term professional rentals, an in-house maintenance/repair service, and a worldwide network of endorsing musicians. The flagship professional model referenced by principal oboists is the Lorée ROYAL oboe (conservatory configuration, also offered with gold-plated keys), and the company is labeled "Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant" for its traditional craftsmanship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• F.Lorée: Professional oboe and English horn line — full range of professional instruments including oboe, English horn, oboe d'amore, bass oboe, and piccolo oboe. Marketed as the company's flagship professional brand.
• CABART

Products and services

• F.Lorée professional oboe Handcrafted professional oboe manufactured in Paris by F.Lorée (de Gourdon family), available in conservatory and other configurations with silver- or gold-plated keys. Sold to professional orchestral oboists and soloists direct from the Paris atelier and via international retailers.
• Lorée ROYAL oboe (conservatory model, gold-plated keys) Flagship Lorée Royal professional oboe in the conservatory configuration, available with gold-plated keys; played by named principal oboists at international orchestras.
• F.Lorée English horn (cor anglais) Professional English horn (cor anglais) handcrafted by F.Lorée in Paris; part of the full professional double-reed instrument family available for purchase and short-term rental.
• F.Lorée Oboe d'amore Professional oboe d'amore manufactured by F.Lorée in Paris; part of the full professional oboe family offered for purchase and short-term rental.
• F.Lorée Bass oboe Professional bass oboe manufactured by F.Lorée in Paris; part of the full professional oboe family offered for purchase and short-term rental.
• F.Lorée Piccolo oboe Professional piccolo oboe manufactured by F.Lorée in Paris; part of the full professional oboe family offered for purchase and short-term rental.
• CABART Oboe (student) Student-grade oboe under the CABART sub-brand, in grenadilla wood with silver-plated keys. Offered in the p+3 full conservatory plateau system and the s+3 full automatic system; targets music students and advanced amateurs.
• CABART "Petites Mains" Oboe (children) Simplified CABART "Petites Mains" ("Small Hands") student oboe designed for children aged 7 and up, with shorter reach, closely spaced ergonomic plateaux, simplified "t" conservatory model descending to low B, adjustable thumb rest, left-hand F key and ~100 g weight reduction.
• CABART English Horn (student) Student-grade English horn (cor anglais) under the CABART sub-brand; full conservatory "x+3" plateau system in grenadilla wood with silver-plated keys, 3rd octave key and left-hand F key; supplied with a silver-plated bocal, case and cover.
• Long-term rental of CABART student instruments Long-term rental of new or recent CABART student instruments (including "Petites Mains" and p+3 oboes) for an unlimited period with a minimum of 3 months. Maintenance is included throughout the rental period and the contract is modifiable to model change or purchase.
• Short-term rental of F.Lorée professional instruments Short-term rental of the full F.Lorée professional range (oboe, English horn, oboe d'amore, bass oboe, piccolo oboe) to professional musicians; price on demand.
• Maintenance and repair service On-site repair, maintenance and personalised advice service for oboes and English horns carried out at the Paris atelier at 48 rue de Rome, 8th arrondissement; marketed on responsiveness and tailored custom advice.
• Cases for instruments Hard cases for oboe, English horn, oboe d'amore, bass oboe, piccolo oboe and combined oboe+English horn, in pochette-style covered pégamoïd or leather, integral compact "MB", purple leather "BAM" formats, and matching CABART student variants.
• Covers for instruments Soft protective covers for oboe, English horn, oboe d'amore, bass oboe, piccolo oboe, combined oboe+English horn and CABART student instruments, in black nylon sheep-lined or black/purple leather sheep-lined variants with pocket and carrying strap.
• Finished reeds Finished oboe reeds offered in American scrape and European scrape for oboe and English horn, plus reeds for oboe d'amore, bass oboe and piccolo oboe.
• Reed cane (raw, gouged, shaped) Raw, gouged and gouged-and-shaped reed cane (Glotin and du Var provenance) for oboe, English horn, oboe d'amore and bass oboe, sold per kg, per 10 or per unit.
• Reed cases Wooden reed storage cases covered in black or purple leather, sized for 3, 5, 6, 10, 12 or 50 oboe reeds, with matching variants for English horn and oboe d'amore.
• Oboe tubes (bocals / internal metal components) Internal tubes for oboe in 45–48 mm sizes and brass, gold-plated, German silver, silver-plated, "dm" and "AK" variants, plus "Glotin" series for oboe d'amore, English horn, bass oboe and piccolo oboe.
• Mandrels Standard mandrel for oboe and F.Lorée mandrel compatible with oboe "dm" tubes, English horn, oboe d'amore and bass oboe (model specified at order).
• Reed-making plaques Reed-making plaques in blue steel (flat or convex), wood or plastic for oboe and bassoon.
• Reed shapers Reed shaper handles and interchangeable shaper tips for oboe (N°-1N, N°-1, N°1, N°-2, N°2) and English horn (N°-1N, N°-1, N°1).
• Cleaning swabs Microfiber and silk pull-through swabs plus rigid top-joint swabs for oboe and English horn.
• Binding thread (nylon and brass) Nylon binding thread in many colours (purple, mauve, fuchsia, navy, blue, turquoise, red, bordeaux, orange, yellow, green, kaki, chocolate, grey, black, white, neon pink/orange/green) and brass wire for oboe (0.30 mm) and English horn (0.40 mm).
• Other accessories (bore oil, thumb rests, stands, tools, etc.) Miscellaneous accessories including F.Lorée polishing cloth, fish skin, plastic tubes, screwdrivers, cork grease, humidifier, octave vent remover, mute, F.Lorée natural bore oil, multiple thumb rests (standard, "Dutch", adjustable, "Contactless"), thumb saver, grenadilla tenon joint caps, elastic neck strap, plastic oboe/English horn stand, F.Lorée tool bag, F.Lorée key rings and F.Lorée T-shirt.

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• DeliciumminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDelicium (www.delicium.fr) is listed in the site's legal notice as the publisher of the loree-paris.fr website (SIRET 51820075300011, 148 Avenue Henry Chéron, 14000 Caen). Acts as the website design and hosting partner.
• Apollo Studio (Agence Web Caen)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNormandy-based web agency credited in the site footer ("© 2019 Loree - Paris - Apollo Studio - Agence Web Caen") for website design and development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rigoutat: Paris-based oboe maker specializing in handmade professional oboes and English horns. Closest direct competitor to Lorée in the French professional oboe segment, sharing the same orchestral customer pool.
• Patricola: Italian oboe maker producing handmade professional oboes. Comparable in artisanal positioning and target customer (principal orchestral oboists), competing with Lorée in European orchestral markets.
• Howarth of London: British maker of professional oboes and English horns, with strong presence in UK and US orchestras. Directly competes with Lorée for English horn (cor anglais) and oboe players in the Anglo-Saxon orchestral market.
• Marigaux: French oboe maker based in La Couture-Boussey, producing handmade professional oboes and English horns. Directly competes with Lorée's F.Lorée line for the same principal-oboist customer base in major orchestras.

Broad incumbents

• Yamaha Corporation: Global musical instrument conglomerate producing a full line of double-reed and other woodwinds. Competes with Lorée mainly in the student (CABART-comparable) tier and through broader orchestral instrument offerings.
• Selmer Paris: French woodwind manufacturer best known for saxophones and clarinets. Operates broadly in the woodwind industry with partial overlap into Lorée's professional orchestral ecosystem.
• Buffet Crampon: Major French woodwind manufacturer (clarinets, saxophones, oboes) owning multiple premium brands including the BC oboe line. Competes broadly in the oboe segment but does not specialize exclusively in oboes the way Lorée does.
• Powell Flutes: US-based handmade flute maker with a long heritage and similar premium orchestral positioning. Operates in an adjacent wind-instrument segment with comparable brand-prestige dynamics among professional musicians.

Regional players

• Muramatsu Flutes: Japanese handmade flute maker with similar artisanal positioning in the professional wind instrument space. Comparable as a craft-based, family/heritage-driven manufacturer targeting elite orchestral musicians, though operating in flutes rather than double reeds.

Emerging players

• Jupiter Band Instruments: Manufacturer of student and intermediate wind instruments with growing presence in education channels. Competes with Lorée's CABART student line primarily in school-band and beginner contexts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LoreeParis
• Instagraminstagram.com/loree_degourdon

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lorée