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Re: older oboes

Author: GoldenBoy
Date: 2015-04-02 10:18

Vintage Lorees from the 60s and early 70s (B and C series) are considered by many to be some of the best oboes ever produced as are Laubins from around the same time or even a bit earlier, however they may not be the right thing for someone just getting started on the oboe. Then again if you like the clarinets from that time, an oboe to match might be exactly what you want, as it will match in tonal concept and scale. Just keep in mind that oboe has a much more complex mechanism that is more susceptible to problems due to age, and a much smaller bore that is more adversely affected by changes that can occur over the years. I have had repair techs flat out refuse to do work on my vintage Lorees because they're a pain to fix unless meticulously maintained. Definitely have a qualified oboist play-test any vintage instrument before you buy it.

A few keys have been added to oboes over the years, but they are mainly keys that make life very slightly easier, and not something you'd miss desperately. (Just make sure you get an oboe with a left-F, which you would indeed miss.)

Mostly the way oboes have evolved is in exactly the same way clarinets have, so your experience will translate well. Tonal concept has moved generally towards a rounder, mellow, never-even-remotely-ugly tone that is the same across all registers, and scaling has moved closer to equal temperament, rather than a "spread" scale where the low register rides a little low and the high notes sing a bit high.

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