Author: vboboe
Date: 2005-10-08 07:35
Helpful insightful & presumably knowledgeable comments re Yahama, thanks
pros & cons
... intermediate model Yamaha 441 or Fox 330 suited to student, or get more advanced other model right away and grow into it?
Can't discuss Buffet rationally or sanely, as Buffet's not on my list of more advanced other models, rhymes with tuffet, which makes me hum the nursery rhyme little miss muffet, eating her curds and whey, yuck, and the spider which sat down beside her ... yikes ... and that links to another silly song, there was an old lady who swallowed a fly (etc) ... mental musical associations matter when it comes to oboe preferences !!!
... the Yamaha 441 (model number surely isn't directly related to actual A pitch since they do 800's too ???) would be very convenient to order and economically buy locally, irrespective of pro Canadian recommendations (thanks, eh?) plus current playing experience with 411 has lead to fondness
But, getting a Fox 330, would have to order from further away, same country, across the winter frigid great white north (death to plastic) with additional postage & handling expenses, and there seems to be some problem (tongue in cheek) with soaring fuel costs due to some natural disasters south-side recently, so it makes sense to get Foxy sooner rather than later ...
Yamaha is wood, and i love the feel of wood, but sound in wood is a significant variable, and my ears aren't experienced enough yet to have distinct preferences. But, Yamaha isn't as thick as some other models, and has a bit of a nasty rep for cracking, sooner rather than later
Fox is plastic which i like for durability. It makes sense to have a rugged dependable and relatively fuss-free backup oboe which is likely to outlive a thin-wall wood
... so, be sensible sez me, buy such an intermediate model first, then get a more advanced model in thicker wood much later when i'm ready for more labour-saving additional keys and alternative fingerings
... and by then also able to air-support a richer, darker sound in the upper register for a whole page, not just a few bars
... not to mention support a heavier oboe altogether
... seems somehow disrespectful trying to play a pro oboe with inadequate embouchure or air-support and um, largo eighth note fingering flexibility
... are there enough years left on my life's timetable to delay this decision?
Teacher thinks plastic is a toy oboe, would sniff if i don't play wood and wouldn't take me seriously thereafter, too many grey hairs, no future career prospects, uh, like, have eager younger student, no time available
Band master doesn't care, he wants all the correct (beep) incindentals in sixteenth sequences in A-flat or D-flat in tune with good tone at minimum 120 syncopated rhythm, within three rehearsals, play ball or strike-out, sticky keys? mal-adjusted screws? crashed? too bad!
Fox's case has a generous accessory slot for the basic extras always need to have with an oboe
... but, Yamaha barely has enough room for a reed case let alone any accessories
It's a catch 22 situation {:-/
Sigh ... maybe it's not up to me ?! Maybe Perfect Oboe will find me when it feels i'm ready for it ?! With that kind of indecisive buck-passing, may as well stick to renting!
Another shorter topic ... brighter doesn't equal sharper, well, theoretically agree. It's more to do with delivery, agree. Semantically guess i need to revise my terminology for greater accuracy in communications ... feel free to elaborate on the diffs, OK?
Great learning tool this board :-)
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