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Selmer, Bundy, and Plastic... Oh my!

Author: sylvangale
Date: 2006-05-07 06:38

I had a very interesting oboe experience today.

A community group that I play with decided to perform outdoors at the local park's fair and I had mentioned that I didn't think I would have been comfortable playing a wooden instrument outdoors. Turns out the band managers wife owned a plastic Bundy oboe which she would lend me for the event... I wouldn't see that oboe till the day of the event though.

Just to be safe I decided to pick a rental at a local shop. I had the choice of either Selmer 1492 or Yamaha 211 oboes. The Selmer I tried was quite nice vs the Yamaha and so I picked that out.

Before heading out to the gig with the Selmer, the oboe stopped functioning or rather the C note was playing as an out of tune B due to a key sticking and then a spring on the key that connected the body with the head popped out. I stopped at the music store to exchange the oboe for something else.

Well here's the nightmare... 3 used oboes and 1 new oboe other than the one I had already picked out had adjustment issues that prevented them from being usable. I was quite shocked especially when after 2 oboes had playing issues, they brought out the new oboe and it was WORST of all of them. I feel sorry for anyone who purchases one of their oboes... and not just because of a +$2000 price tag for an oboe lacking Bb and left F.

I gave up and left.

I went to the gig oboe-less and got to see the Bundy. Before I was given the instrument I was told that there was something that needed to be explained before I was given the plastic instrument. It had cracks. Somehow the head and bell were snapped completely off the body and they were super glued back in place.

I was told to be careful about assembling the instrument, but if the oboe fell apart there was more superglue in the case.

I don't know how, but that oboe played quite decently and well in tune. I guess the superglue fixed the oboe quite well.

It turned out to be a very nice performance in the end.

Regards,
Stephen
Los Angeles, CA

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