 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2010-06-12 10:09
My new oboe arrived YESTERDAY! I am ECSTATIC!!! It is a BRAND NEW Yamaha 441 which my husband bought for me on e-bay (as a SURPRISE! IT DEFINITELY WAS A SURPRISE!) I'll be taking it to the music shop for a thorough check before I even take it out of the case. I have ONLY GOTTEN TO LOOK AT IT!!!! It is BEAUTIFUL! I can't WAIT to play it!!! Almost as good as getting a new baby in the house (or a new fur baby!)- but NOT QUITE!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-06-12 14:46
Congratulations!
And now you have to play it in gently. You've got it at the right time of year to play it in as the humidity levels are high, but still don't play it for any more than 30 minutes at a time as it has to settle into being played, and then dry it out and always put it back in it's case afterwards instead of leaving it assembled. After a couple of weeks you can the increase the playing time by five minutes a day.
If it's the 'Duet' model (it'll have 'Duet' engraved on the back of the top joint), you can play it as long as you like as these have a plastic lined bore, but the regular 441 doesn't have a lined bore so has to be played in gently to avoid splitting.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2010-06-12 15:58
Enjoy,
Remember to bring the instrument to reputable Oboe repair person for adjustments and if needed tuning.
Oboes new or old can always be adjusted to play better - even the mechanisms can be adjusted to better fit your hands - etc..............
And yes, break the oboe in slowly - swab it requently and gradually increase playing trime over the next 8 weeks or so.
Discuss with others - if the bore should be oiled - there are differences of opinion on this topic. Do not oil an oboe with a liner!!!!!!
Try out different reed styles and see which work best with the Oboe.
Good Luck on the playing career.......................
Mark
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2010-06-13 00:06
Thanks for the instructions. I have already taken it to the shop for
evaluation. It should be ready by Tuesday evening. I'll apply these hints
when I get it back. THANKS AGAIN!
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2010-06-13 00:07
Thank You very much for the note. I've already taken it to the shop for
evaluation. It should be ready by Tuesday after 4. I'll keep your tips in
mind when it is returned to me. THANKS AGAIN!
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2010-06-13 09:17
Chris - your sig. has changed. Do you no longer work for howarth, or did I miss something?
Have you struck out on your own? Will we be seeing a ChrisP oboe any time soon with a superb new mechanism? Or have you succumbed to the silky sounds of the sax?
I think we should be told ...
Good luck with whatever you are doing now, anyhow.
J
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Author: justme
Date: 2010-06-14 02:54
jhoyla said: "Or have you succumbed to the silky sounds of the sax?"
"I think we should be told ..."
Haha Oy Vey! Simcha! ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
Inquiring Minds want to know...
Justme
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2010-06-14 07:28
No, no, no! I didn't mean anything like that.
Chris is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist (he posts on the doubler's list and the clarinet list also), not just a trained finisher.
I'm genuinely interested in what he's doing now but perhaps this board is not the right forum.
J.
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Author: justme
Date: 2010-06-14 11:37
jhoyla:-,
Haha.
Ken.
I'm just joking around, I know as I've read many of his posts.
He certainly knows his stuff, if I would have any questions regarding any of the mechanical or physical aspects of any woodwind, he's the one I'd ask, as well as many other questions.
I have nothing but respect for his many abilities of both playing and repairing woodwind instruments.
Justme
"A critic is like a eunuch: he knows exactly how it ought to be done."
CLARINET, n.
An instrument of torture operated by a person with cotton in his ears. There are two instruments that are worse than a clarinet -- two clarinets
Post Edited (2010-06-14 11:42)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-06-14 13:27
I turned my attention away from oboe finishing to the far more rewarding task of making Vuvuzelas in an attempt to destroy the 2010 world cup for the spectators and viewers at home. Seems to be having the desired effect!
I wonder how much a Howarth XL Vuvuzela will cost (in grenadilla, kingwood or cocobolo)? Easy enough to make as there aren't any toneholes - just the undrilled joints, reed socket and socket rings. The only finishing to do is fit the socket rings and tenon corks!
I wonder how differently a Howarth XL Vuvuzela plays in comparison to a Marigaux, Loree, Rigoutat, Fossati, Buffet, Puechner, Yamaha, Fox, Dupin, etc. one?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2010-06-14 13:44)
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Author: Ian White
Date: 2010-06-14 16:50
Better get them made & on the streets pdq Chris - the bottom is due to drop out of the market on 11th July.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-06-15 09:36
I thought an orchestral/concert Vuvuzeva is what the world wants which is an oboe with no keywork. Imagine if concert audiences all had these with them! Although the concert version should give a concert A-440 (or whatever their regional pitch is) so the players already have the 440Hz ringing around the auditorium as they get seated.
And just how off topic has all this become?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2010-06-15 10:05
WAY OFF TOPIC. BUT, I'm learning things I never knew before so it's not bad at all! Thanks!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-06-15 11:00
Have you got your oboe back from being checked?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2010-06-15 11:49
This afternoon at 4. I can't wait! I have a lesson then too. Timing is PERFECT!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-06-15 12:32
This is where flute, bassoon and sax players (as well as plastic bodied woodwind instrument, brass, strings, percussion and keyboard players) have the upper hand as they can play their instruments right out the box for as long as they like.
The first few weeks are critical in that you don't overplay a brand new wooden instrument to get it used to the greater humidity level in the bore (bassoons have a bore liner in the descending bore so aren't affected too much), so stick to 30 mins maximum playing time and then dry it out well and put it back in its case. You can leave it for a few hours in between playing to let it rest and then play it again after that, but set your playing time this early on to 30 minutes each practice/playing session.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2010-06-15 16:21
Yes! I know this but THANK YOU! for your advice. ALL ADVICE FROM YOU GUYS IS GREATLY APPRECIATED! While NOT a woodwind novice, I AM DEFINITELY AN OBOE NOVICE! I have a wooden clarinet which is now about 40 years old. It is in EXCELLENT condition after being repadded and recorked in September of last year. The cost of it in 1969 was $200.00. When we took it for that maintenance work, the guys told us it was now worth about $4000.00 AMAZING!!!! I DID NOT REALIZE INSTRUMENTS APPRECIATED SO MUCH! (Good thing it is covered on our homeowners policy.) But over all those years pretty much the only thing I had to do was to replace a cork and a pad every once in a while.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-06-15 21:26
I've got to renew and update my insurance, and the cost of instruments is phenomenal! I didn't realise the list price of a Yamaha YBS-62 is over £6000 (GB£) and then there's the cost of my other saxes, oboes, cor, d'amore, all manner of clarinets, flutes, piccolo and a bassoon and contra. I dread to think how much my premium will be once I revalue everything and it's already costing me a fortune.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2010-06-16 01:00
YES. I got it back this afternoon. All it needed was a "Minor Key Adjustment" and cleaning. I was able to use it during my lesson. IT SOUNDS BEAUTIFUL! Now if only I could do it justice! ALAS! i'll have to be patient and wait a little while longer.
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Author: mschmidt
Date: 2010-06-16 01:37
Does your homeowner policy have a specific rider for the instruments? I found that my homeowner's insurance did do a reasonable job of covering the instruments I had stolen, but I had to work at it; they wanted to give me $875 for my Prestini oboe, because that's what my parents paid for it in 1975. (It is a replacement value policy).
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2010-06-16 09:14
My parents paid $200 for my Buffett Crampon R13 clarinet in 1969. Last September, I took it to Stu's Music for an overhaul - new pads, new corks,etc. While it was there, I also had it appraised. The appraisal value FLOORED me. It was $3500.00. That caused us to call State Farm Insurance (our homeowner's policy is with them) to question the coverage of musical instruments. They told us that ALL of our musical instruments (3 guitars, a flute, a clarinet, and a Clavinova piano) ARE COVERED under our policy (after the $1000 deductible). THAT WAS A RELIEF! The agent told us that there is a rider we could purchase specifically for the instruments but it would probably not really be worth it. So we didn't do it. Maybe NOW. We'll be talking to the agent today.
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