 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: oboemama5
Date: 2014-09-19 23:25
We just got my daughter's oboe back from the shop, where they had a terrible time getting a stuck swab out of the top joint (still not sure how it happened so badly really!), and now it kind of looks like a mess inside - like what looks to be a centimetre square patch of gouge near the half hole key (on the back wall, not where the tone holes are), as well as other scratches further up. It still seems to be playing fine now, but I'm in a panic about how to tell if it'll be completely wrecked. Or if it can be repaired if it is? And how do I bring it up to the repairman? He knew it was important to be careful, and even made his own tool to do the job because his original one wasn't going to fit the bore of this oboe, so I don't know why it seems so messed up. It's a highly reputable place (not a chain store) that is pretty much the go-to place for oboists here, so this seems strange to me. And yet he didn't even mention damage when I picked it up....any advice?
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2014-09-20 01:17
When I was apprenticing in instrument repair, my instructor told me, "Remember, your name is on every instrument you work on. Don't leave tracks."
You should have a very competent player play the horn and see if everything still responds as it should. Don't be afraid to mention this to your repair guy - he knows what he did and was hoping you wouldn't notice.And I wouldn't go back to him again.
Just my 2 cents worth...
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2014-09-20 12:33
That repairperson should pay for the the bore repair, if not the entire instrument.
If it's a good instrument, certain repairmen such as John Symer or John Peterson of RDG can put a sleeve in the instrument, but this is no cheap job. ($600+) The instrument will never be the same however. Good luck.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
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Author: heckelmaniac
Date: 2014-09-21 12:22
I have come across at least three oboes that had severe bore damage due to the removal of a stuck swab with an electric drill motor with industrial drill bit.
Completely ruined the instruments. The slightest damage to the bore of an oboe, especially up near the reed receiver can cause the instrument to be unplayable.
In one case, David Teitelbaum installed a 6" sleeve, and the oboe played well after this work. One oboe with bore damage had a curved (warped) bore,
so it was not possible to drill out and install a sleeve. I sent this oboe to Tom Hiniker and he simply made an entirely new wood top joint, reusing the original keys. (Tom no longer accomplishes repair of any kind- he is just making oboes nowadays). One Loree oboe I acquired did not play well at all, absolutely unstable throughout. I simply could not see anything amiss with the instrument. The bore looked good to me, no matter what angle I held it or what back lighting I used. Cooper happened to be visiting me at the time. I ask Cooper to have a look. After what seemed an eternity of inspecting the bore Cooper said, "You will not believe this. Someone got a swab stuck, removed the reed receiver, began drilling from the top, and must have had second thoughts."
As a result of the drilling there was a V cut just below the bottom of the reed receiver perhaps not even 1/4 inch in length. That was all it took to completely destroy the playability of the instrument. I sent the oboe to David Teitlebaum. David drilled out the bore below the reed receiver to a depth of 3/4 of an inch and installed a P.E.T. sleeve. The oboe played very well after the sleeve was installed. When buying any oboe instrument, it is always advisable to inspect the condition of the bore with an "eagle eye."
Oboes.us
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Author: oboi
Date: 2014-09-22 11:32
Hi Oboemama,
I see you're from Edmonton. There is only 1 oboist in town that actually does repairs. He would be the only person in theory that has a clue of how to deal with an oboe, although I've never had my oboe repaired by him, so I don't know about the quality of his work. All the other repair shops in the city hardly deal with any oboes, so aren't reliable other than for emergency work.
I'd definitely get an expert to have a play to see if the gouge has done anything wacky. I can recommend you some people if your daughter doesn't have an experienced teacher.
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