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Re: J Michael oboe is a nightmare

Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-11-03 16:18

With automatic octave keys they change over when going from G to A in the upper register without the need to physically open the upper 8ve key - while the octave key (for the thumb only) is held down, the lower vent is open from E up to G#, then releasing LH finger 3 for A up to C causes the upper vent to open while the lower one closes at the same time.

Just as a saxophone does, though oboe automatic octave mechanisms are a lot more complex than sax ones and much harder to set up so they work perfectly, they don't have the 'margin of error' that sax 8ve mechanisms do which make sax 8ve mechanisms much more reliable even on old and fairly worn out mechanisms, and on the worst built ones where there's a lot of excess play they still work to an extent - hence the reason why they're such a bad idea on a badly engineered oboe due to the more complex nature of an oboe's auto 8ve mechanism as any lost motion, poor adjustment, soft metal, bad design, etc. can cause nothing but trouble.

And as the Barrington oboe is made in Shanghai anyway, buying one directly from the factory where they're made will be a fraction of the cost of buying the exact same one (besides the name engraved on the bell, take your pick of names - they're all on the same product!) from WWBW only for it to get sent back to China.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

Post Edited (2006-11-03 16:23)

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