 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: seifrij
Date: 2015-07-31 21:22
I'm a longtime clarinet/sax player, and want to learn oboe. I bought a used CABART grenadilla wood oboe (from Craigs list) after meeting the seller and inspecting the instrument. All pads and keyworks seemed just fine and he had one reed, which I inserted into the socket and it was a nice fit.
I ordered a couple new reeds (inexpensive, just to learn) and when I got them, the cork base on each was TOO SMALL for the opening in the oboe. Then I looked carefully at the reed that came with it, and realized it had about 1 thickness of masking tape wrapped around the cork. Just for kicks, I also wrapped one of the new reeds with a layer of masking tape (roughly added .3 mm to the diameter of the reed base) and it now fits snugly into the instrument. With this adaptation, the instrument does seem to play well, though I am, of course, still learning how to control the embouchure.
So.... I wondered - do older oboes have a different diameter opening for the reed socket? Are there reeds that have a thicker cork base to fit correctly?
Any help appreciated.
Post Edited (2015-07-31 22:55)
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Author: rgombine
Date: 2015-07-31 22:30
I have an instrument from 1984 that some corks are loose in -- although mostly older staples that are pretty compressed from age. They do fine w some ungummed cigarette paper, a solution which might be less sticky over time than masking tape. So I guess all I can confirm is that it is something that I have come across in the past but I'm not sure if it is something that is particularly attributable to an older instrument.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-07-31 22:55
Reed sockets are variable from oboe to oboe - even instruments from the same maker but of different ages may have reed sockets with slightly different diameters.
The average diameter of an oboe reed socket is 7mm, but they can vary by as much as +/-0.5mm.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2015-08-01 02:56
I've always had the opposite problem in that I have to carefully sand down the cork to enable the reed to slide in at a reasonable tightness.
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Author: oboi
Date: 2015-08-01 10:09
My reeds are never loose, but often too tight. It does depend on the brand of reeds. I'll use a bit of cork grease on the tighter reeds and they'll eventually compress. If you're not picky about reeds, find a brand that have larger cork diameters. I use Chiarugi staples and they are often really tight in my instrument.
I have an EH bocal that is very loose on my instrument. I wrap a few layers of teflon tape around it, but have to be really careful when pulling it out and making sure it doesn't get too wet before taking it out. Otherwise the teflon will just slide off the cork or remain in the reed well. I'm just going to get it recorked one of these days. But yeah, the teflon could be worth a try.
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Author: hibiscus80
Date: 2015-08-01 18:30
I learned as a freshman high school student in the 1940s that cork plumps-up when heated. Just hold the cork part of the reed over a candle flame and you can make it fit perfectly in the oboe reed well. This works with other cork parts on other instruments as well. The cork will burn too much if you are not careful.
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