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Re: Loree AKs vs. Normal Bore, higher register?

Author: oboeblank
Date: 2007-01-15 20:01

Bobo, you probably need to try out, at the most a dozen oboes to really feel comfortable handing over that credit-card.
I felt that there was less variation between two AKs than between two standard bores, with everything being equal-very good scale, even intonation, etc. etc. I had tried a couple of AK Royals, but they seemed to heavy in tone, or covered and weighed a bit more than the normal AK. Incidentally, a Royal weighs as much as an Oboe D'Amore! I do find that there are certain characteristics that are very common to AKs-they seem to have an added resistance, whereas the standard oboes seem more free blowing. There is also a ring, or halo in the sound that was very hit and miss with the standard bore.

It's funny that you should mention the G-D slur issue because I had the same problem, but it is easy to fix. Have the technician check the height of the half-hole plate, the B-A vent, A-G vent and the E-C key connection and it is usually taken care of. In my experience, I have found that a leaking upper joint will make that particular slur a nightmare.

The right oboe will show itself, that sounds a bit Zen, but it is true. At the end of my two-year oboe-trying-spree I narrowed the field down to 5, from the eleven available. And from those 5 down to 3. So, you don't need to try as many as I did. I did enlist the help of a colleague who listened and played the same oboes I did. Incidentally, he validated my choices by picking the same 5, and ultimately picked the same AK as the winner of the 3 as I did. If you can find another pair of objective ears to listen or even play those oboes that would be helpful, but don't let their opinion matter more than yours.
Hope this helps.

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