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Re: Chauvet oboe

Author: heckelmaniac
Date: 2010-09-18 02:38

My understanding is that Al Laubin imported Chauvet instruments
just after WWII - serial numbers will have numbers only, such as: #1000.
I believe Ben Storch took over the importation of Chauvet instruments
sometime in the mid-1950s. Serial numbers begin with "BW."
Ben accomplished all of the "fettling" (voicing: bore reaming, tone hole sizing and under cutting)- he was a master of the art. The BW series serial numbers I believe run fromBW1 to about BW 500. The very best BW Chauvet oboes seem to come from serial numbers between (say) BW100 to about BW275. Some truly exceptional instruments made within that range of serial numbers.
Ben dropped the line c. 1965, and started the "Gordet" oboes, made by Kreul
("German Gordet"), Bulgheroni ("Italian Gordet"), and Malerne ("French Gordet, though a few may by Chauvet). Ben also had the "BenWal" line- most were by Malerne.
The Chauvet importation into North Amerca after 1965 was through Linx and Long on W. 48th Street in Manhattan. All the post Ben Storch era Chauvet instruments were finished and voiced at the factory. Post 1965 Chauvet instruments had serial numbers beginning with "AC." I believe just about 700 or 800 AC instruments were made. Chauvet closed its factory circa 1974.
Overall, the Chauvet BW series oboes will be more desirable, and have more "Laubin like" timbre and playing characteristics than the later ("lighter sounding") AC series instruments. It is not as common to find an AC oboe that plays as well as a BW oboe, though on occasion, I have had an AC that
must be described as absolutely first class.
The Chauvet brothers learned their craft working at the Loree factory.
One of the Chauvet brothers worked for Al Laubin for a time (in the 1960s?) as a key maker. The history of the Chauvet factory and the Chauvet brothers is very sparse. My dear (late) friend Wally Bhosys passed some of Chauvet history on during some of his legendary "fireside chats."
Some top notch oboists (such as Warren Sutherland) played Chauvet oboes exclusively for an entire career.
And Chauvet instruments were very well made. I have had several Chauvet oboes that had many decades of school or institutional use. After accomplishing thorough overhauls, all were ready for many more decades of service.
And Ben Storch also accomplished magnificent work on the BW Chauvet English horns. The BW English horns in the 200-300 serial numbers seem to be the most desirable, though I scarcely ever come across an indifferent BW
Chauvet English horn of any serial number. The AC Chauvet English horns though can often rival a BW- most of the AC English horns will be excellent.
A story about one BW Chauvet English horn I sold a couple of years ago.
It was the only Chauvet English horn I have ever had made of Palissander, Madagascar Rosewood, Dalbergia Baronii. It was a very fine instrument, though
I say I have had a few preferred over this specific horn. The new owner is an amateur who plays in first tier amateur orchestra in a major city.
For one concert, the principal oboist was unable to play, so the orchestra hired a professional to sit in as principal. At a break in a rehearsal, the professional oboist asked the owner of the BW English horn whether he could try her instrument. "Yes." So he played for a few minutes, and then said to the owner emphatically, "name your price!" She simply replied without missing a beat, "no!" I have also had similar experience trying to purchase Chauvet oboe BW144- my "name your own price"tactic was simply to no avail. Chauvet oboe BW144 is one of the most remarkable oboes I have ever played.
I place some Chauvet instruments in the "Rolls Royce" category, or at least
in the "Mercedes-Benz" category.
In my experience, Chauvet instruments tend to be way under appreciated, and usually far under valued in the marketplace.

Truly, Peter

Oboes.us

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