 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2012-04-30 16:59
Hello! I am wanting to have a plate welded on to my f key (and possibly d key) on my oboe to make it more user friendly. What is the term for this so I can research it on the web? Have any readers had some aftermarket additions to their oboes?
I have very short fingers. I actually have to shop in jr. size large for gloves that fit. Anyway, this would make life much easier. If the procedure is reasonable I will try it.
Thank you in advance.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-04-30 17:31
Any kind of keywork alteration is possible and can be done by most woodwind specialists - no two people have the same physiology, so building up keys or altering touchpiece heights, lengths or angles can be carried out so they fit the individual's hands better.
At the moment, you can build up the F key touch yourself by glueing cork to it to raise the height of it more if it's too low for you, then that will give you a good idea how much it needs building up by. Then you can either leave it as is if that works fine or have the touchpiece built up with sheet metal shaped to fit it (or the key filed down and then built up with a thick piece of nickel silver which is more expensive to do) - it can either be soft soldered or silver soldered depending if you want this alteration made permanent or reversable.
Depending on what the keywork spec is, if you're finding the RH finger spacing a stretch, you may not be able to have an extension plate fitted to RH3 to bring your fingers in closer if it has a split D#-E split plate as that may interfere with the mechanism unless you can do without the D#-E trill or don't mind the increased height of the fingerplate extension (and an extra spring will need to be fitted to the outer ring). If it has a plain fingerplate for RH3 without a hole through it, then it's a relatively simple job to solder an extension plate to it - either semi-permanently by soft soldering it so it can be removed later on, or permanently fitted by silver soldering it on and having it silver plated so it's now part of the mechanism but this will be more expensive to do and also to revert back to its former condition.
What make and model oboe is it?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2012-04-30 17:41)
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2012-04-30 18:23
Hi Chris, thanks for the quick response. Very informative. I may try gluing on some cork. What kind of glue do you recommend?
As for my oboe, it is a fox 333. I know, not that fancy. I have issues with reaching the left hand pinkie keys too.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-04-30 19:32
You can use model glue (for plastic models) as that's very easily removed from the keywork should you want to.
If you're struggling with reaching the LH pinky keys, they may need lengthening which is an expensive process which involves cutting the touchpieces and splicing in lengths of metal to extend them, then plating and refitting them. The G# key may need bending or repositioning as well to allow the low B touch to be moved upwards.
In all honesty, you're best finding the nearest specialist oboe repairer or maker to you as they should be able to carry out this kind of work, plus you'll need to be present so they can see how much they need to extend the keys by so they fit your hands better.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2012-04-30 20:07
Model glue it is. I wasn't sure whether any work would be really expensive or even worth it. Thanks for your response!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-04-30 20:44
If it helps you reach the keys so you can play better, then any work of this kind is worth it!
Instruments are made to a general design but this may not suit everyone, so sometimes keywork alterations have to be made. There are many pros out there on all manner of instruments who've got specially adapted keywork built specially to suit them.
Oboes have perhaps of the largest finger spacings of all woodwinds, so it's not a surprise that many people have trouble reaching certain keys comfortably.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: oboesax
Date: 2012-05-01 13:05
My daughter has rather short fingers. We had alterations made to her English horn. On the left hand, the first finger had a plate added, bringing that finger closer to the rest. The left pinky keys had a plate added as well. There may have been another alternation that I don't specifically recall. Her oboe tech did a great job--he himself has short fingers and had modified his own oboe the same way. In all it cost me about $250, and it is well worth it.
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2012-05-02 00:29
Hey thanks for the information. I will ask our local oboe repairman (I think we only have one for the whole state) if he can fix me up. Otherwise I'm going with airplane glue and cork.
Have a great day!
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Author: wkleung
Date: 2012-05-04 01:17
My first oboe as well as my Marigaux 910 both have a roller on the F key that makes sliding more manageable. Would that be something you were thinking of adding?
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2012-05-04 07:16
I am not sure. I don't know what the roller looks like but will google it. I want to add a plate to the f# key and maybe other keys, depending on cost.
Perhaps I'm better off saving for an oboe specifically modified/made for small hands. I know I'm not the only one out there.
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Author: oboi
Date: 2012-05-04 09:38
Do you use a thumb cushion? I have a thick thumb cushion that moves my whole RH a bit lower. While I can still easily play my oboe without it, it is a must for my playing the EH. In that case, I secured the whole thing to the bottom of the rest so that it's double the thickness rather than if I had just slotted it on the rest, as it was originally designed for. I trained myself to keep RH2 as low as possible on the F# tab and generally have no RH issues except for reaching C#. My LH is a whole other matter, though.
It might be worth trying out different brands and see which ones are more ergonomical for you (the ones designed to ease all hand sizes, not the student models specifically made for young kids).
The exact angle that you put your reed into the instrument also dramatically affects the ease of reaching the keys. I'm talking about tiny amounts.
But definitely look into key modification if nothing helps. I know for example I do still have awkward hand positions and less-than-ideal finger curvature which can never be solved without a key overhaul. At this point not worth it, but definitely would consider custom-made keys if I were ordering a new instrument from the manufacturer.
Post Edited (2012-05-04 20:28)
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Author: JRC
Date: 2012-05-04 13:18
I use adjustable thumb rest. No, no, not one of those every expensive Loree and others. Brook Mays use to carry Selmer adjustable thumb rest but they changed their catalog recently. You have to order specific item number now. If you did not know about it, you cannot find this.
460620CBJ Adjustable Thumb Rest 1 @ $41.67
This is very well made. It is originally for clarinet but works for oboe and English Horn just fine. The screw positions are the same as well. Just unscrew the old one and screw in the new one. I have a small hand. This adjustable thumb rest make right hand on my EH to reach keys much easier.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-05-04 16:15
With pro oboes, the finger spacings are all pretty much the same due to tonehole placement which again is pretty much the same from make to make. The only oboes I've seen with fingerplate extensions are student models which are designed for young players, so they won't have all the extras you expect on a pro model.
There are intermediate and pro oboes such as Rigoutat Riec and Marigaux M2 that have fingerplate extensions - the Rigoutat Riec is designed for smaller hands and the Marigaux M2 has them due to repositioned toneholes to bring the finger spacing back to where it would normally be.
If you were to specially order an instrument with modified keywork, it could mean a long wait for it and you have no other choice as it's a one off, so if it's not to your liking (tone wise), then there isn't another built to the same spec to try it against.
So you're best trying all manner of makes and models to see which you like best out of them all (picking the one you like the tone and playability best of all, irrespective of the keywork at this stage) and then getting it modified afterwards so it's still your instrument of choice but now made more comfortable for you to play.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2012-05-04 17:00)
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