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Re: Fitting A LH C# Key...

Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-09-09 23:37

Good to see a very similar mechanism has already been made! I've wondered if a similar style LH C# mechanism has been made before. I've seen a few oboes where the LH F touch is placed where I've put the C# (and the long C# is where the LH F key is now situated) - Leon Goossens' thumbplate system Loree had the LH F and C# in that configuration, but I wanted to keep the LH F in the usual position.

I've now finished the D#-E lever and clutch so that's the feather keys all finished, removed the banana key link from the C key and fitted a C# touchpiece with the linkage arm, but the rocker will need to be L-shaped (like the Triebert one) to reduce the amount of travel in the LH C# touch. At the moment it moves as much as the LH Eb touch which isn't bad, but it's still better to reduce the travel as much as possible.

I fitted the C# linkage arm with an adjusting screw, but it's probably best without one so I'll just fit a plain one there instead. There's already an adjusting screw in the mechanism (on the LH C#/low Bb key barrel) so no real need for an extra one where there's a fair amount of sliding motion which will mean the screw tip will wear the silencing material.

The main reason I want a LH C# is I find sliding between low C and low C# pretty awkward, plus saxes and clarinets have a LH C# key so why not add one to my oboe as well? I tried it out earlier and it's doing almost exactly what I want of it (apart from the amount of travel which I'll sort out in due course).

It's trial and error making this as I haven't done anything this involved and realised there's more I didn't factor into the mechanism such as linking the low B and Bb as that can't be done in the usual manner, so it is a pretty major undertaking but the effort will be worthwhile.

I'll have to leave it looking as it is for a while until I don't need it, then I'll have the keywork silver plated. Didn't exactly pick the best time to do this as I've got a lot of oboe playing over the next few months, but I do have my plastic back-up oboe which I could use instead, but it would be good to road-test this one.

It'll be like driving around in a car with various panels in grey primer before having the final paintjob!

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

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Fitting A LH C# Key... new

Chris P

2011-09-09 11:17