Author: joepie
Date: 2015-08-30 19:41
Hi Everyone,
After 2 years, I return to one of my all time favorite oboe topics: the Altuglas.
It so happens to be that my Marigaux 910 is in the shop for maintenance, and I got a Loree to be able to play while it is being re-tuned.
To my astonishment, the Loree is a lot more free blowing than my dear old 910. While playing the Loree, at times I felt hardly any resistance and the music just flowed. I really had a zen moment there and then. So I checked the bore, and is deeply grooved! A terrible and ugly sight really. I was now shocked twice in a row.
Anyways, I have some special personal circumstance so to speak. It is now five years after, and I have recovered from 'The Big C'. The whole region of my embouchure took a direct hit in the terrible therapy that followed.
But I was lucky. I recovered completely, no scratches - at least on the outside. As a result of the therapy, the tissue around my throat is permanently weakened to some extent. Though completely functional, I do need a really really free blowing oboe.
My trusty 910 is over 30 years old, so the bore must be old school and supposedly the quality of free blowing wasn't as developed back then. Actually I'm not sure about this, I have only played on my 910 like for always. But I regularly struggle a bit, being hampered by the airflow. The Loree making this all the more obvious.
So I have many reasons to celibrate life, and after my double shock with the Loree, I think I should consider buying a new oboe, rather sooner than later.
But now my question: As I know some of you have been playing on the Altuglas for a longer period by now: could I bother you to confirm that it is indeed very free blowing? And perhaps you can share pros and cons. Or if you swapped oboes, I'm curious why you did. I love to read eleborate stories about my favorite top of the list oboes - the Howarth XL Cocobolo being up there with the Altuglas.
Many thanks for your input,
Joepie
PS. I was so impressed, that I was about to book an appointment with Marigaux in Paris. Though London is about the same distance from my home. The temptation though ....
Post Edited (2015-08-30 23:05)
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