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How to check my new/old oboe

Author: cowtime
Date: 2008-01-07 00:13

As some of y'all know, from the "new and lurkers" thread, I bought a very very used old Armstrong oboe last week just to see if I can get back into playing after a 36 year break. If this goes well then I'll start the fund for a good one. Admittedly I've forgotten most of the little I knew back in the day. This horn I got is in very rough shape, as to be expected at the low price, but it plays after a fashion. I realize that more or less of the problem is also me.

Well,I've got a question. I've read on here about checking the pads using cigarette papers to see how well the pads close.Some of the corks are in pretty bad shape. I used the papers and the only ones that are hard to pull out are the pads that are directly pressed under my fingers and the lowest pad on this oboe(right above where the bell attaches). With all the rest, when I press the key to lower a specific pad the paper slips with various degrees of ease from a light pull to practically falling out without a pull. Is there anything I can do to correct this? I'd rather not pay someone to work on it since this horn is really not worth it and I have no one that is really knowledgeable about oboes in my rural area . I would like to get it into decent playing shape on my own if I can. I figure if I can learn to adjust on this one it will be worth it as a mechanical learning tool if nothing else.

Oh, and an update- although I am torturing the husband and dogs, I'm still having great fun and more determined than ever. I'm anxious for my Fox reeds to get here to see what kind of change that will be from the awful reed I have now.

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How to check my new/old oboe new

cowtime

2008-01-07 00:13