 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: KevinB
Date: 2010-03-13 12:19
Hi
I think the forked F vent mechanism on my Howarth S20C+TP seems to be misbehsaving.
Forked F's were sounding okay until a couple of weeks ago when they started to sound very wooly and soft. I was at a loss as to why this should be until I noticed something about the way the rocker that operates the vent is behaving.
Now forgive me if this is a little verbose, there's probably a one-line technical way to say this but I don't know the jargon
Okay, so the forked F vent is operated by the RH3 key being depressed (so long as others like low C, C# RH2 etc are not depressed) which lifts the pressure off a rocker between the natural F tone hole and the forked F vent thus allowing the spring of the forked f mechanism to open the vent hole.
What seems to be happening on mine is that whilst the pressure is released by the pressing of RH3, the rocker is stiff so the spring pressure of the vent key can't overcome it. End result, no opening of the vent and a pretty foul F.
If I operate the mechanism from the other end (i.e. lifting the pad off the tome hole) then the whole mechanism works fine all the way to closing the RH3 tone hole.
Also, if I finger forked F and then manually open the vent, opening and closing RH2 correctly operates the vent.
Finally, if I finger forked F and then manually open the vent, then release RH3 the vent closes as expected, re-depressing RH3 doesn't open it so it's definitely the first rocker (operated by RH3) that seems to be the culprit.
I've oiled the rocker, even gone as far as taking the rocker pin out and cleaning it (it was already clean so made no difference) and re-oiling but none of these make any difference.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Kevin.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-03-13 12:44
Hi Kevin,
How long have you had your S20c for? If it's relatively new the F vent can bind between the pillars as the wood settles as you're playing it in as the pillars will have moved due to the higher moisture levels in the wood.
The keys that are mostly affected are the 8ve rocker, the F vent and rocker, the Eb and C# pad cups as they're all mounted between pillars running across the grain of the body (most keys run with the grain)
Oiling it won't solve this problem as the key is binding between the pillars - you will most likely have to take it or send it to Howarth (contact them first) so they can shorten the key barrel on the F vent rocker (and probably the key barrel on the F vent itself) to allow it to work properly.
The factory is in Worthing (01903 239219), and I think there are trains that run directly from Cardiff to Brighton - Worthing is a few stops before Brighton if you plan on taking it to the factory, otherwise you could take it to London depending where you'd best prefer to take a day trip to.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: KevinB
Date: 2010-03-13 13:10
Thanks for the advice Chris.
I've had it for just over 6 months and I believe the previous owner had if for at least a year. Is it possible that it's the instrument getting used to different humidity, amount of play etc that it's getting from me compare to the previous owner and that's causing the wood to shift a little as if it were new as you suggest?
At the moment it's an annoyance rather than a major problem so if I take a trip to either shop (I'm, in the South West so either will be a day out) is it likely that they'd be able to do a "while you wait" job on it?
Cheers
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-03-13 13:25
This is a 'while-you-wait' job (shouldn't take anymore than an hour to do), but do call them first to make an appointment so you can be dealt with by one of the repairers or finishers when you get there.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ian White
Date: 2010-03-13 15:27
I'm doing these all the time just outside Oxford.
You guys in Worthing make them too well Chris!
Ian
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Author: KevinB
Date: 2010-03-13 16:49
Brilliant, thanks Chris. Something to do over Easter I think.
Cheers
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