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Re: Chronic Flatness

Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2015-01-22 07:30

I'd have to agree with Wes on the importance of getting a very good c crow for starters. While some reeds crowing a little flatter or sharper do manage to play pretty well in tune, my best results happen with a solid c crow and one that crows a double octave with a slight predominance of the lower c. It helps eliminate biting and biting is a pernicious enemy of oboe playing. It is extremely harmful.

A couple thoughts... do try to get some time with a local pro player or noteworthy oboe teacher. Even a couple lesson will help and ask the teacher to play check your oboe.

And sorry if this seems a little silly... are you sure your tuner is calibrated to A440?
Modern ones can be set sharper or flatter and older tuners really need to be calibrated with each use.

I saw your post about short reeds on a 47 mm staple. perhaps get some 46 mm tubes and then 67.5 mm would be the absolute shortest I'd use. Some of the softer cane in my supply works best at those dimensions on 46 mm tubes.

Here are a couple samples of softer cane at that short dimension:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OP4Ah7fOJA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-HfuALrjv4

A good investment would be the David Weber Reed Maker's Manual.

Lots of great tips and pics about the subtleties of getting reeds working and well adjusted.

Good luck.

-Craig

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