Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-04-28 12:36
You can do anything for fun. It doesn't harm anyone. If you would like to start gigging on it, I wouldn't suggest a sax fingered oboe, let along a metal sax fingered oboe. You'd just as well play the part transposed on soprano sax. Most Music Directors are just happy to have the notes played, cause lots of work is pro bono now, and you just can't get any self-respecting oboist or doubler to do work pro bono.
I guess if you don't understand why oboists make their own reeds, and go as far to say "Are you kidding?", I'd say the oboe may not be for you. I'm a purist (although I play clarinet with a 64mm barrel, and I wish played with a 66mm because that's how it's designed), so I enjoy the process of making reeds. There's just no getting around it, at all. Well, unless your John Mack, and have your own personal reed maker. (I think that is correct. Some famous orchestral oboist didn't make his own reeds. He probably adjusted them though).
I really don't know what else to say. It's kinda like someone saying, "I like cakes, but I hate baking". Well, I guess then you'll just have to eat someone else's cakes.
If that's unclear, basically if you don't have the time to spend making your own reeds, maybe it's best to just enjoy listening to others until the mood hits you. If it's any consolation, it will help your sax and clarinet approach to reeds as well.
Also, this instrument you posted above is priced at $1,800, well beyond the price of a decent student instrument. A Yamaha 241 goes for $800 or less, and the older 211 is $600. I suggest staying away from selmer, although others disagree. It wouldn't save you any money to purchase the sax-oboe, and the resale value would be pretty much non-existent. I don't have $1,800 to throw away, and I'm afraid that's what you'd be doing if you purchased this instrument. This instrument is suited for a museum, not to be played. It is a lovely part of history, but not a part of the contemporary.
Good luck,
Drew S.
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