 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2010-03-13 15:25
I use an old hard rubber oboe for practising sometimes and recently, the B - LHindex - sounds terrible.
I tracked it down to the small key just below the LHindex. It isn't closing completely. When I keep it closed, the B sounds very nice.
The play on the key is a fraction of a mm so only a small adjustment is necessary.
When the oboe gives up on me, normally I blow the dust off my Sawicki book and put it right. I've taken my oboe apart to clean it and change pads. But this is just a tiny problem and I know we can make things worse if we choose the wrong screws to turn.
This key is controlled by a spring, 2 screws and is supported by 2 other tiny leather pieces on 2 keys.
i.e. small but very complicated!
As in the movies, I'm scared that I may choose the wrong wire to cut, and I don't recall any oboe repair scenes in the Bruce Willis Die Hard series.
So I'm wondering what to pull, push, turn, replace etc.
Steve
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-03-13 23:12
If you look at the C key (the small key in between LH1 and LH2) it has two adjusting screws on it - the uppermost one (nearest the pad) controls the closure with LH2 (when playing A) and the lower of the two adjusting screws (at the lowest end of the linkage piece) regulates it with the Bb key (controlled by the linkage to RH1).
This lower one is the one you will have to adjust for B to work properly, so adjust it and check the closure of both the C key and the Bb key so they both close with the same pressure.
Press the upper part of the linkage bar to open them both so you can get a cigarette paper under the pads, then release the bar to let both pads close onto your cigarette paper to check they both close together.
Also check the closure of the C key with LH2 and the closure of the Bb key with the closure of LH3, as well as the closure of the C key with LH3 (though this isn't as important as the Bb key and LH2 closing the C key, but the C key should still close with LH3).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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