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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2012-11-13 17:06
Hi all you reed makers ............
I have a few reeds with unstable octave F.
Usually, I solve the problem by deepening/ lengthening the windows.
However, this remedy really has not resolved the problem to my satisfaction.
What other scraping/cane variables could be affecting the Octave F.
All the other notes are okay ... not particularly great reed however a playable one.
Mark
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-11-13 17:33
What F fingering is most affected - the key F fingering or forked F fingering?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2012-11-13 17:50
The key fingering.
Mark
PS: I played some of my older reeds ... the F was stable.
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Author: JMarzluf
Date: 2012-11-13 19:20
This can happen if the reed is too open, or if the tip is too long and/or wide. If the reed is too open, try pinching it closed at the tip, and using the other hand to squeeze gently on the back/windows. If the tip is too long, try thinning the sides of the tip and clipping up to pitch (almost always good advice). If there is too much "flare" or overlap at the tip, try carefully trimming away some of the extra material from the edges of the shape, along the tip only (just a hair can make a huge difference in stabilizing the upper register).
I have also found that the F can be unstable if the low C pad is too close to the D vent. This can be modified by carefully bending the little arm under the C key that extends over to the C# key. You may want to have a repair tech do this for you, but I have had success doing it myself. A little dab will do you. It is easily reversed if need be. Some folks intentionally lower the C pad, in an effort to bring the pitch down on their half-hole notes. It works great, until you try playing an F.
Good luck!
Jonathan
Jonathan
http://www.marzlufreeds.com/
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Author: Wes
Date: 2012-11-13 19:40
The unstable F2 is an acoustic situation, sometimes seen in older Lorees. due to the low Q resonance of the bottom part of the instrument, trying to change the F2. A similar situation occurs in English horns on G2 and Ab2, higher on the instrument which only goes to low B.
I have no comment on how to fix the instability by reed(or bocal) changes. Does pressing one of the low keys change it for the better? Loree may have fixed this by some bore or hole size and position changes as I haven't seen it on newer instruments. It very well could occur on other makes. On the EH, it can be fixed by fingering changes. Good luck!
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2012-11-13 20:07
Hi,
Thanks to all who responded to my question.
I play a Marigaux 901.... so it's not a Loree problem.
The reed is not too open ....it is actually narrow. I'll have to check the over lap though.
I have a feeling it might be due to the gouge ..... I have a recurrent problem ... that after about 10 months of "light" gouging ... the cane does not easily gouge and the machine needs to be serviced again!
In the past every time I reached that point with the gouger ... the subsequent reeds were very very poor!
I'll try changing the single radius blade and see what happens. Each piece of cane from this gouged batch made very poor reeds indeed.
Comments?
Mark
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Author: Wes
Date: 2012-11-14 06:26
The suggestion above to try to raise the C key is a great idea because that could possibly change the resonance of the lower half of the instrument, affecting the F2. Perhaps some other key heights could be checked by a repair expert who works on and tunes Marigaux instruments.
On my 2006 Loree, I notice the the F2 is a little stronger than the E2 or the F#2, which may be a related phenomena, easily compensated for while playing. Loree may have changed the lower half of the instrument to allow this but not allow a detuned resonance that causes unstable pulling off of the F2 note.
This phenomena is also seen on clarinets where the G3 in the second register is very strong while still being in tune. Again, it is compensated for while playing without even thinking about it.
Good luck on this, but I doubt if reed adjustment can eliminate or seriously help it.
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2012-11-15 04:52
FYI, the intonation and stability of the octave F is affected drastically by the dimensions of the bore of the bell. If you commonly have problems with the F, try putting colored electrical tape in the bell in loops going around the inside of the bore. Change the location, and put a strip or two going length-wise. Tabuteau, Mack, de Lancie, and many others played with the bell dimensions frequently.
Anyways, if this is just the one reed, I find that the definition of the lay (also called the integration line) between the tip and heart is most commonly the culprit in such a situation. Try defining the line a tad more so it's clearer. This frequently stabilizes the F for me.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
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