 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2016-05-21 19:06
Dear friends,
Video: https://youtu.be/wIvK49fm-zg
I think the problem is obvious, when i play forked F, the resonance key does not come up. In the video, i first show that the spring is indeed working, and proceed to try the E and D keys individually. I took off and oiled the relevant pivots but to no avail. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks!
Regards,
Howard Ng
Post Edited (2016-05-21 19:08)
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2016-05-22 11:13
Howard,
Your vid. shows that the key springs closed, but not that it springs open as it should.
There is a tiny leaf-spring under the F-resonance that springs it upwards. Has this detached?
Just pressing RH ring finger should allow the key to rise and stand open. Please do the following test:
1. Depress RH-ring finger (D-key, E tone-hole). at this point the F-res should stand open. In your case - no.
2. Press the F-res open. Does it stay open?
3. Press the F-res closed with your finger - does it stay closed?
If so - it could be that the leaf-spring has broken. If at 3 the F-res springs back open, it could be the problem is with the rocker-mechanism behind it.
J.
Post Edited (2016-05-22 11:15)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-05-22 19:48
It's the forked F vent - not the F resonance key which is a different mechanism entirely. F resonance keys are found on most German spec oboes where a small vent key opens along with the F key.
But in this instance, the forked F vent usually packs up when the pillars move due to changes in humidity causing the F vent and the rocker to bind between them, so have it taken to an oboe specialist repairer so they can refit both the F vent pad cup and rocker key barrels by shortening them by a very small amount so they move freely. The RH3 fingerplate is sprung with a fair amount of tension so when released, it will close the forked F vent (which is lightly spring open).
It's a pretty common problem on the majority of oboes having the forked F vent remain closed instead of opening and closing along with RH3 (while RH2 is open) as there should always be a bit of end play between the pillars on cross mounted keys such as the Eb and low C# pad cups and the lower 8ve rocker to be sure they will function under all conditions.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2016-05-22 22:25
@Chris, I've always used the two terms interchangeably, so thanks for the correction.
The tests I described should help Howard narrow down the problem to either the vent itself, or the rocker mechanism.
J.
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Author: wrowand
Date: 2016-05-24 02:48
I'm not an oboe technician, but in the US at least, "F resonance key" and "forked-F resonance key" are synonymous.
I think the "forked F vent" would refer to the vent under the key operated by the right-hand middle finger, since that is the vent that allows the forked F to sound (being the first open vent nearest the reed socket).
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-05-24 04:10
No - the forked F vent is the small vent key that is on the side of the lower joint and is opened to compensate for RH3 being closed when playing F with the forked fingering.
The F tonehole is directly under RH finger 2 and the F key tonehole is on the side and controlled by the F key. The F resonance key (if fitted) is an extra vent key that opens a small tonehole on the opposite side of the lower joint to the forked F vent tonehole and only opens when the F key is opened when playing F with the keyed fingering(s).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2016-05-24 10:44
Thanks for the advise guys, it is indeed the binding of BOTH the Fork F vent key (thanks for the term correction) and the rocker key beside it. I re-oiled both rod screws in connection to them and also took the advise of a technician from the to "hammer" with a small piece of soft wood the adjacent pivots to remove the binding; it turns out to be a simple procedure that everyone can do, if you have the right tools. Cheers!
Howard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-05-24 19:28
I wouldn't advise doing that as it could potentially do more harm than good and straightening such small rod screws and key barrels as a result of repeated hammering each time they bind up is very difficult.
It may work in the short term or in an emergency to get you through a concert, but you really need to have the binding keys dealt with properly so you shouldn't have to resort to these temporary and possibly damaging measures.
So take your oboe to have the F vent and rocker key barrels gently fraised back by a minute fraction of a millimetre which is enough to free them up with some but not excessive lateral play between the pillars.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2016-05-25 12:02
Thank you for the advise Chris. Hopefully, this gets me through the next few concerts, and i will have a chance to see a proper repairman soon. Cheers!
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