 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: TorusTubarius
Date: 2003-08-10 21:37
You pretty much named all of the really important technical factors in considering an instrument. Another thing I would keep in mind would just be what I planned on doing with the instrument in the future and how important playing is to me. It's really hard to say since only you know how much you care about the oboe and are therefore the only one qualified to place a monetary value on your devotion to the instrument. And yes the materials used in the construction of the oboe are of vital importance to the overall sound of the instrument. Playing an oboe made out of properly aged and sufficiently dense wood can make the difference between having a "good" tone and having a "beautiful" tone.
I don't know that I would agree about the French and Japanese oboes having a bright sound. Lorees like the oboe I play on are known for their characteristically darker, more full-bodied tone. I think it just depends more on the manufacturer than the country in which they are located. If you're looking at Japanese models, Yamaha has made great strides in the last couple of years. Their professional models are excellent instruments with a lovely sound. In fact, many professionals over here in the US have put their Lorees on the shelf and have converted to Yamahas, including Kathyrn Greenbank and Richard Woodhams, two oboists whose playing I personally adore.
It's really hard to say which brands of oboes are the best; the answer you get will vary from player to player and from country to country. Here in the US, Loree is still king (though as I said above, not without its challengers). I personally still find the Loree to be the best all-around oboe you can buy. However, if you are looking for a brighter sound, perhaps Loree isn't what you're looking for.
I'm taking a look at the YOB-411 right now on the Yamaha website. If that were my oboe, I would definitely be missing a few things such as:
The low Bb vent hole
The A-Ab trill key
The ring mechanism for the E-Eb trill
The right hand "banana" low C key
You'll want to take the need for these keys into consideration when you are try to decide if you need a better oboe. Other than that, there isn't really anything else keywise that you need in addition to what's already on your horn. A third octave key is nice to have, but you really don't need it. I would definitely recommend against a fully automatic octave key system since it renders the production of certain harmonics impossible, or at least nearly impossible.
When I bought my Loree, I was looking for better response, intonation, resistance, and most of all, tone. I was playing on a Yamaha YOB-811, Yamaha's former professional model before their oboes improved so much, and was finding the lack of depth in the sound and the resistance from the instrument to be frustrating. Getting a better horn made a huge difference in how I sound now.
Anyway, just some thoughts to consider.
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sömeone |
2003-08-08 04:56 |
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TorusTubarius |
2003-08-10 21:37 |
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