 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: AKE_
Date: 2015-03-25 12:20
Hi (first time posting),
I'm just wondering whether anyone has tried the regular (non-imperial) dupin oboes as I have tried an oboe which I'm considering buying (full professional cocobolo dual system oboe). It was great but im going in on this with just my experience of his older oboes and am wondering what others think of the horns.
Thanks, any advice or views are highly appreciated!!
AKE
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Author: Scandinavian
Date: 2015-03-25 14:52
Hello,
I played a Dupin for seven years, until 2007. No imperials around when I got it, so it was the standard model, semi automatic, grenadilla wood.
Most people back then played Dupin here then, so I had the privilege of trying a lot of other Dupins as well and I never came across a non good one.
Superb instrument, the mechanics, intonation and egality really really good. I eventually moved on to another maker since I felt that I couldn't get it to sing as I wanted in the top registers. Had to fight it a bit to much, kind of.
My experience is that Dupins have quite a lot of resistance, and also to have rather small octaves.
As far as I know, Dupin bushes all sensitive tone holes, so when they crack it's nothing to worry about really. I imagine that with a cocobolo instrument he must have bushed even more?
I've tried a couple of newly made Dupins as well, both the standard, imperial and the one which is unofficially called the Bernadotte. Some really good, some not..
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-03-25 18:07
At the end of last year I did some work on a cocobolo Dupin (adding a thumbplate and repositioning the 3rd 8ve, plus bushing the 3rd 8ve tonehole as it had a crack through it) and it's probably the nicest oboe I've ever played.
Such depth and quality of tone and it didn't seem to have a cut-off point when pushed hard. The most significant thing was the tone quality of the conservatoire fingering for C (xoo|xoo) which isn't bright and nasal like so many oboes can be, so I miss that most.
To me it played like a much larger instrument in that it had almost oboe d'amore and cor anglais like qualities which isn't a bad thing in my books.
The top joint toneholes on this particular Dupin weren't bushed, but would benefit from it. I have no idea of its age as it wasn't numbered anywhere, so I can only assume it's around 20+ years old. While the cocobolo had darkened to look pretty much like grenadilla, it was definitely cocobolo as the wood dust from drilling the pillar holes and cutting the 3rd 8ve tonehole out were dark orange. I think this one may also have a grenadilla bell to add density.
If you know Chris Braime in South London, get in contact with him as he has this oboe.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: AKE_
Date: 2015-03-25 22:03
Thanks so much guys! That's really useful to know (as all websites like oboes.us or something gave only info on the imperials) I was just a tad hesitant as its on at a great price and im glad it wasn't too good to be true (let's see after I test it out again (post-overhaul)).
I did definitely feel a decent amount of resistance but then again I do have quite a reserved sound that I usually adjust my reed to get so, nothing too unfamiliar then!
I honestly think Chris that you are talking about the exact same oboe. Its quite a dark cocobolo and is being sourced from second hand list howarths with added thumbplate and all! I must search up Chris B and see if my (old) teacher knows of him. I don't recall seeing a crack in the oboe or being told about one so that's something to double check to..
Thanks again both of you, if anyone else has an advice too that would be great. Oh and one last thing! How was the reed-friendliness? My current oboe is a nightmare with them.
Thanks,
AKE
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-03-26 02:47
The one I did the work on isn't the same one Howarth have (but is the same kind o oboe) - it was bought by a French player and then not played for around 10 or more years so was in a bit of a neglected state (and would benefit from a thorough service). Its owner has lent it to Chris Braime who in turn has lent him his Loree. The thumbplate from the Loree has been removed and transplanted onto the Dupin and the 3rd 8ve touchpiece has been moved to the left of the thumbplate.
I just saw the price and definitely think it's worth it - if I had the funds I'd snap it up in a heartbeat.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: AKE_
Date: 2015-03-26 11:21
Its so cool the history these instruments have, and yeah, I would say that the dupins were probably made around the same time (give or take a year or to) due to the way the wood has darkened (but honestly cocobolo can be a bit too much sometimes i think).
And thanks again for the info, now all I have to do now is wait for the presale overhaul and organise selling my old oboe and then its (hopefully) all smooth sailing!
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Author: Scandinavian
Date: 2015-03-26 14:40
Good luck, I hope it will serve you well!
It's a bit tricky to determine the age of Dupin's instruments since he doesn't put any serial number on them. It's possible, however, to say an approximate time of production by looking at the mechanics which has changed ever so slightly over the years.
/Johannes
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Author: AKE_
Date: 2015-03-26 20:45
Thanks Johannes, yeah its kind of rare for a manufacturer to not have a serial number but that's something I can find out if I ever find myself in zurich ( I have some relatives living in Switzerland), or I could ask the people at howarths but that's nothing too major, they probably are more knowledgable about mechanics changing.. Thanks again! What oboe did you choose over the dupin may I ask? And where does one find Bernadette's? (Just general curiosity)
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Author: Scandinavian
Date: 2015-03-27 02:08
Dupin is not stationed in Zurich, hasn't been for quite some time even though it still says so on the logotype. Luxemburg is the place to go.
I played a Ludwig Frank for 5 years after the Dupin. The Bernadotte is an oboe model by Dupin, as far as I understand it's the imperial bore but without the funny looking exterior. Beautiful oboe! What wonderful times we live in when we have so many instrument makers making all these wonderful instruments!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-03-27 02:30
From what I've heard, only six oboes were numbered - something to do with a tax loop-hole and his oboes changed hands in some very strange situations such as arranging meetings with potential clients at railway stations.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: AKE_
Date: 2015-03-27 11:17
Oh god, yeah I remember hearing about that now. I was on the website and it doesn't mention Luxembourg once which left me confused (forgetting having a conversation with someone at howarths about this) so I assumed Zurich from the stamp.
And wow, yes the Bernadotte is awesome looking, like a Ludwig frank (which is a great choice if you ask me).
Chris, that sounds really cool how the oboes went kinda underground to save money (I imagine a mafia style exchange ahaha, slightly over the top with that). But that does make sense.
Where did you guys learn all of this about dupin? The internet doesn't have much on it from what I can see.
Thanks,
AKE
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Author: Scandinavian
Date: 2015-03-27 12:54
The Bernadotte looks just like the standard model, so no hump on the bell as the Imperial and LF Brilliant.
When I bought my Dupin my professor (I was studying then) went to Luxemburg with an envelope containing the amount in cash, French francs. That was, and still is, the way he makes business.. I have friends and colleagues who plays Dupins and visit monsieur regularly, so I get quite a few stories..
Yup, Ludwig Frank makes great instruments but I have since moved on to another maker
/Johannes
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Author: AKE_
Date: 2015-03-28 01:09
Ah I recalled one on the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dupinoboe/photos/a.1430225860601568.1073741828.1429069167383904/1443385275952293/?type=1&theater (I think) but still, looks awesome if you ask me!
Buying an oboe like that sounds so cool, it's a really cool industry (well done for choosing the oboe 6 year old me!) and which oboe do you play now then?
Oh and other news, the service for the dupin has been completed and apparently is playing beautifully which is very exciting, but I'm going to hold out until an s40 cor Anglais has gone through a service too (it just sounded the best out of any of the other horns, which is weird being a graduate model but still it is the best English horn I have played to date!) so I will be visiting howarths then (likely after Easter) and it should hopefully go smoothly from then onwards!
Thanks for all the help, if you have any other advice I would gladly hear!
AKE
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Author: AKE_
Date: 2015-04-13 21:05
I have tested the oboe and have it on approval (I also got a chance to test the legere synthetic reeds (a whole other story)) and it turns out whilst trying it I met Stella Dickinson (if you know her) who was a former owner of the oboe! So I found out quite a bit about the instrument (i.e. it is one of the six(? (As chris suggested earlier)) dupins with a serial number showing info on date of manufacture etc..)
The oboe is amazing, post service the wood and silver is a lot brighter (esp. The cocobolo), its quite I bright tone and whilst resistant I found it quite versatile! I'm highly tempted to make the leap after the week on approval so yeah..
Thanks for all the help,
AKE
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-04-13 22:19
I was also up there today testing out the Légère reeds (both oboe and sax reeds) as well as trying out a few notes on Backun clarinets - shame I didn't get a chance to speak to you.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2015-04-13 22:35)
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Author: AKE_
Date: 2015-04-14 01:00
Oh god, yes it would've been great to talk to you. It was a really fun event (I was downstairs trialing the oboe and cor for the most part) and meeting Stella and Mr Hartmann was amazing! BTW did Mr Hartmann mention anything about when the légère reeds would be produced?
AKE
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-04-14 02:26
I had a chat with Guy Légère outside the shop before I went home (around 4:30pm) and he's not going to put them into production until they've got them absolutely right.
At present, the prototypes play beautifully in the lower register and lower half of the upper register, but when it comes to anything above G they require some lipping up to get the top notes playing up to pitch which can get very tiring on the chops - have to admit I started getting tired chops after a while, but it was good to be able to have this opportunity to try out something to get an idea of what it will bring and all feedback and comments on these reeds made have been taken on board by loads more players and players of far more experience than came to try out the reeds today.
I do wish Guy Légère the best in this venture as it will make life so much easier for players who just want to play and not have to worry about the reed drying out or changing on a daily basis due to humidity fluctuations.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: AKE_
Date: 2015-04-14 14:27
I had a quick play around on them too, I tried it on the new oboe so I was testing two variables at the same time (I probably did see you then (it was around 2-ish)) but I definitely struggled in the upper register trying to maintain stability. And yes I definitely hope that it works out, especially as I double cor anglais a lot (fingers crossed he makes them for cors in future too).
Either way, thanks for all the advice on the dupin! Its going great currently!
AKE
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