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Buffet Reed Socket Depths...

Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-01-03 17:45

How deep are the reed sockets meant to be on Buffet pro oboes?

I've recently done some work on an early '70s Buffet oboe and the reed socket is 23.5mm deep. Has to be pointed out that this Buffet was bought in Hungary where I suspect Concert Pitch is around the 442-444 region as this oboe plays very sharp with the reed pushed all the way in.

I realise reed socket depth isn't an easy thing to measure as it's relative to the overall length of the top joint bore - when I used to depth reed sockets at Howarth we used a metal plug of a specific depth and a gauge to measure the top of the plug to the end of the tenon which determined how deep to countersink the socket to its final depth (usually around 0.5-1mm was removed to gain the correct depth relative to bore length). My Howarth S5 has a reed socket depth of 19mm, so considerably shallower than the 23.5mm deep socket this Buffet has.

As the owner is having trouble keeping down to 440Hz, I made a 5mm long delrin bush with a 4mm bore which I pushed into the socket so the reed won't go in so far. The joint lengths and tonehole positions on the Buffet are in the usual places when compared with my other 440Hz calibrated oboes, so this has helped to bring the pitch down uniformly, although as the reeds the owner has are much shorter than those I use, she is still up around the 441-442Hz region.

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

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