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Re: Very Flat low B-flat

Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-04-15 22:37

"Re: flat Bflat, even with a resonance key in the bell -- it is possible that the vented pad is not lifting sufficiently, and therefore not opening the hole adequately, to raise the pitch. However, if the Bflat is in good relative intonation with B and C, then it is best to leave it alone, as too much embouchure adjustment would be required to correct for the variance when playing those notes together in a passage. If the Bflat is markedly flatter than the other low notes, then ask a repairperson to modify the pads or to bend the silver to permit the pad to raise higher."

With instruments fitted with a bell vent (that's soldered directly to the key barrel), if the bell vent pad is not opening enough, that means the venting is poor for the lowest two large pads as the bell vent will only open fully as the larger pad closes and neither more or less. It's soldered directly to the same key barrel as the large pad cup so it can't be adjusted to open any more or less without altering the opening of the larger bell key pad.

The lowest pad on the bottom joint should have venting between 2.8mm and 3mm, and the bell key will have to be adjusted so it closes at the same time - inevitably the bell key will need more venting than 2.8-3mm given to the pad above it in order for it to work properly.

If the bell key venting is too low, the bell key will close too early and prevent the lowest pad on the bottom joint closing - even if it is in regulation. But adjusting the venting on th bell key itself involves bending the bell key around, so should only be done by an oboe specialist.

Or if the bell vent isn't opening enough, it could be the low B-Bb adjustment is out - the feather keys could be bent, the bell key could be bent or the adjustment for low Bb could be out. In all three cases this will mean you'll probably have trouble getting low Bb to work at all.

Yamaha 400 series oboes used to have a long bell key barrel, the same length key barrel as on their 800 series (but without the bell vent pad cup and arm or vent hole) which meant fitting the vent key was straightforward - drilling the low Bb vent tonehole and cutting the bedplace and then fitting the bell vent cup and arm to the key barrel.

But I see the current 400 series have a short key barrel and the lower pillar is higher up the bell, so this will be more costly to fit a bell vent, and probably not economical to do so.

Current 400 series:
http://wwbw.com/Product/ZoomImage.aspx?img=Yamaha/126718.jpg
Compared with the 800 series:
http://wwbw.com/Product/ZoomImage.aspx?img=Yamaha/22505.jpg

The earlier 400 series bells were almost identical but without the bell ring and vent key (the key barrel and pillar positioning was still the same).

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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