 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: veggiemusician
Date: 2015-08-30 21:01
My Marigaux has developed an unstable F# after a routine service... however I am away at the moment so not possible to return the instrument for a second look for some time.
The 1st octave F# feels oddly resistant and unstable and although its not "flying" each time I hit the F# the oboe feels unpleasant to play in any sharp keys.
I am wondering if there are any simple venting adjustments I can try? I find holding down low B helps the problem. It is also not a reed issue as my other Mariguax is fine. The oboe in question also starts to gurgle on just the low D... there are no leaks or cracks.
The only adjustment screw I have played with is the one adjusting the height of the D pad. If it is at the correct adjustment so that there is slightest play in the E key, the F# is unstable - If I lower the D pad it becomes more unstable... If I raise it becomes better, but the E and F# pitch becomes too high. If I fully open D pad screw so that it also starts to raise the F vent, the F# feels fine but right hand notes are just a bit too sharp.
Looking at the two Mariguax's, the "good" one has the little pad next to the F# key a bit higher than the F# key pad - the D pad is lower... the unstable instrument pads are all the same height.
Any ideas?
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Author: Wes
Date: 2015-08-31 00:45
These instabilities are, in my opinion, fundamental acoustic situations that are present in oboes, d'amours, and English horns. The older Lorees often had them and my mentor told me to add the low B key for G2 and F#2, although my instruments do not have those situations. It is suspected that Loree made bore and/or key height changes which helped.
The reason for these instabilities is that the bottom half of the oboe below the F# is also a resonator, even with small open holes, and it tries to pull the frequency of the F# off because it is at a slightly different frequency than F#. This also can occur with the D2, but not as pronounced and the tuning is less affected.
For English horns and oboes d'amour, the situation is similar but acts at the next chromatic note higher, because those instruments only go to low B, not Bb as in the oboe. On my d'amour and my English horn, the affected notes are G2, Ab2, and Eb2. The G2 and Ab2 are corrected by fingering changes and the Eb2 by playing more softly as it is ok in tuning.
Sorry for the complex commentary. What to do? The pad heights in the bottom joint may be a little low and raising them may help. Consulting an expert oboe tuner would be good if you can find one.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-08-31 03:08
Was it serviced by an oboe specialist?
The RH main action venting on Marigaux oboes is reliant on the venting of the low C key, so that should open by around 3.6-3.8mm, then regulate the closure of the F# pad (in between RH 1 and 2) so both RH 2 and 3 close it with the same pressure. Then adjust the screw on the low C key touchpiece arm until it lowers the RH2 fingerplate enough to allow the altissimo C# and D to speak cleanly, then adjust the RH 3 fingerplate to remove any lost motion (with the adjusting screw on the side next to the F key pad).
The adjusting screw on the C# key overlever (connected to the tab on the C# pad cup) or on the banana key linkage to the C key could be causing the venting to be too low on the low C key, so if there's a lot of the screw tip showing on both of those screws, back them off until the low C key pad is opened up sufficiently. Then make sure there's no lost motion between the banana key and the low C key (not really important, but it feels more positive when the free play is removed).
If the low C# key has no adjustment left on the screw, then you'll have to bend the wire under the low C key touchpiece to gain more venting. If you've done that and there's still no increase in venting, then check the key corks on the banana key aren't too thick as they should only be around 0.3-0.4mm thick - the adjusting screw on the small linkage arm is then adjusted to remove any lost motion. If there's no adjustment left, then you'll need to carefully and correctly bend the C key to gain more adjustment, but this is something you should leave to someone used to dealing with oboes as you can do damage if you're not sure what you're doing.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: veggiemusician
Date: 2015-08-31 14:38
Thank you - The oboe was with one of the best repairers in the UK.
I'll check the exact height of the C Key when I get home tonight. There was a little play between the Banana key and the C mechanism so opened the C# lever a little opening the C pad.
It did make the note a little more stable, but it became far too sharp and seemed to make notes round it brighter in sound so I returned it back to default.
I then Tightened the Banana key to lower the C pad and although its a bit dull it seems to keep the F# from flying up so easily.
The B and Bb pads on this oboe do seem higher than on my other Marigaux.
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Author: OboePrince
Date: 2015-09-15 08:25
That is too good of an oboe not to send it to a tech.
American Oboist. I currently play on a Rigoutat Riec. She is beautiful.
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Author: veggiemusician
Date: 2015-10-27 21:26
You are right - I sent it directly back home to Marigaux and received fantastic service. I was regularly sent updates on the work being done on the M2 and everything is great now
Jerome Broun
Principal Oboe UAE NSO Symphony Orchestra
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