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Re: What oboe would u like?

Author: kroboe
Date: 2005-09-29 08:42

So many makes, some well known, others never heard of. I miss one aspect though. Oboes are not like cars, oboes come as individuals. Some makes will vary noticably in quality, and others will be consistently good. But two oboes will never be the same. That is why pros. usually visit the factory or the importer of the make of their choice when they are going to buy a new instrument. They try out all the oboes they can lay their hands on to pick the one they find most to their liking. Because if they don't they know that there is a chance that they might come home with a less than perfect instrument, even if the make is well renowned. The reason for this is that oboes are mostly handmade very delicate instruments, full of tiny details. The valve system has to work perfectly within almost microscopic marins. The adjustment has to be perfect. Only then can you begin to asess the musical quality of the instrument. Most people will have no problem accepting that the correct positioning of the keyholes are important, but not so many are aware that the shape of the inner bore is also vital in this context. It has to be a perfect cone. Small variations will result in problems with individual notes. Wooden instruments will invariably have such variations in the measure of the bore. The makers deny this problem, but it still exists. I know an expert craftsman who used to make these adjustments to the inner bore on new and expensive instruments, and to my knowledge always to his customers satisfaction. So, an oboe is not just or primarely a Yamaha, Loree,Howarth or Marigaux, it is an individual. Therefore, if you are in the marked for a new oboe and are prepared to lay some money in it, I strongly advice you to seek the help of an experienced oboist before making your choice. And for your encouragement, remember that those oboes reaching the stores are the same oboes that were discarded by the pros when they visited the factory.
kroboe

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What oboe would u like? new

tweety

2004-11-18 00:21