 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Eina Kari Rajesh
Date: 2014-08-27 16:22
Hi. Am a first time poster and here to seek your insights on the Chinese oboe.
I have gained a little proficiency on clarinet playing and decided to try on oboe. Hence, ordered a plastic oboe on ebay for a little over $200. The oboe is described as follows,
Features:
Treble Oboe
Tone / C tune
Professional grade musical instruments
Pronunciation smooth, accurate scale
Sound mellow, beautiful, beautiful
Main pipe: rigid hose, musical tone keys made using nickel copper and gold, silver plated surface
The new structure, with precision, the operation reflects agile, comfortable playing
Packaging: luggage, accessories: lubricants, cleaning cloth, screwdriver
I have read quite a few posts here and on other websites and also got visual description on a couple of oboe instructional videos. All these understandings made me to go for a cheap plastic oboe and get good reed to learn the basics and know the art of oboe playing.
And my question, is rigid hose oboe good enough for begginers? Will this make a decent instrument with good/expensive reeds? And can you give me any other suggestions on starting my self lessons avoiding/making any bad habits? And also please suggest reeds for this oboe, where cost is not a matter.
BTW, I would like to take grade exams, though only after grade 8 on clarinet, so I am not here just to have your opinion but to follow those ideas and suggestions as I did with clarinetBB.
Thank you in advance.
Cheers!
EKR
Post Edited (2014-08-27 16:47)
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Author: Oboelips
Date: 2014-08-27 21:47
Can you post a photo? I cannot imagine an oboe made from hose, rigid or otherwise, as an oboe has a conical bore, and hose is cylindrical.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-08-27 22:57
Eina, where are you based?
This is a conservatoire system oboe, so if you're based in the UK, not many players and teachers play pure conservatoire system (there are some, but not as many play/teach thumbplate and dual system).
That shouldn't be a problem but it's best to have a teacher who plays conservatoire system as there are several fingering differences between the different fingering systems.
I recently played one of these oboes and it didn't play too bad - there were some tuning problems and the keywork isn't exactly the most ergonomic.
But as a starter oboe you should be alright with it provided all the pads are seating and it's all well regulated. Not many repairers will be prepared to work on Chinese instruments should anything be or go wrong with it, so bear that in mind.
But should you get on alright with it and want to progress, then consider a Howarth S40c or S45c, Cabart 74, Rigoutat Riec or similar intermediate model oboes built by reputable makers who also make pro models as they have heritage.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Eina Kari Rajesh
Date: 2014-08-27 23:32
Thanks Chris, honestly, I had been waiting for your response. That was very helpful and nice to know that it's good enough for me as a beginner.
I am based out of Chennai, India. So, I feel like conservatoire or thumb plate system will have no difference here. And, also finding an oboe teacher is very unlikely, so I will start on my own. I found many oboe videos useful, the instructional video series by the US Field Army Band, among others.
I hope you saw the pictures of the oboe. Which reed and strength did you use with the Chinese model that you played recently? Can you suggest me any particular reeds to start off with?
I am yet to make the payment to my order. With your likely positive feedback I shall make it immediately.
EKR
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-08-28 00:30
Hi Eina, I used my regular reeds on this type of oboe. The owner of it is from Hungary and moved to the UK recently where she plays for one of the county youth orchestras and has lessons from a well respected oboist in her county who really wants her to get a pro level oboe as she really needs something much better so she can progress further in both her playing and studying.
You should start on a soft reed, so best find an oboe teacher to advise how you should adjust them as oboe reeds inevitably will need some adjustment to make them easier for the player to use.
Conservatoire system is more universal, so should you choose later on to get a better instrument, you will be able to get one readily as opposed to having to wait while a thumbplate is added.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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