 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: saraho
Date: 2016-07-04 01:53
I was just wondering when did you upgrade your first oboe (e.g. from a student model to an intermediate/graduate model)? Was it after a few years of learning the instrument?
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Author: ckoboe777
Date: 2016-07-04 02:25
I upgraded to a used Loree when I was able to make my own reeds. If you're getting something as expensive as a pro instrument, you should make reeds for the instruments you trial out. And to make reeds and test them out, you would need to be somewhat experienced at playing oboe.
-ckoboe777
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Author: oboi
Date: 2016-07-04 02:46
When you (or more likely, your teacher) feel it the instrument is limiting your improvement, you should upgrade. If you know you are going to be playing for a long time come, I'd get an instrument with as many keys as possible (particularly left F, E-flat, at least a B if not B-flat) outright so as to avoid relearning left fingerings later on. There are may excellent used instruments. Better bet than a new lower-quality instrument.
I think I rented a beginner's to try for about 2 or 3 months, my first foray into oboe. When I liked it, I bought an intermediate. About 2 years later I bought my pro. My intermediate at that time was limiting me somewhat because they were not in tune with my teacher's reeds. That's also the time I started learning how to make reeds. By then I also knew I wanted to learn oboe to a very high level as well, so a pro instrument was the obvious next step.
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Author: matt_lin18
Date: 2016-07-04 03:32
I started playing in 6th grade with a 25 year old Selmer, that was decently maintained. After one year, my band director saw the potential and took money out of the budget to purchase a new Yamaha 441. It was sitting right on my chair the first day back to school 7th grade.
Biggest difference for me was the addition of the left F key which the Selmer did not have. There were some extra keys too on the Yamaha but I didn't have the repertoire yet to require me to use those keys.
If your current oboe is missing important keys like left F, I would upgrade as soon as possible. Other wise if it is in good condition and playing well, I might wait a few years before you upgrade. A teacher's advice would be best.
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Author: ckoboe777
Date: 2016-07-04 11:28
Please do not take this to be anything offensive, but oboi, I don't agree that it is right to switch instruments just because the reeds that you use don't work with your current instrument. Reeds should be made specifically for an instrument, and if they don't work with your instrument, you should change the way you make your reeds.
On a totally separate note, what do you guys play on now?
-ckoboe777
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Author: mschmidt
Date: 2016-07-06 00:28
I would say "as soon as possible," i.e., as soon as you (or your parents) can afford to upgrade.
Think about it: what would be "too soon?" The only potential problem I could see is that you (or your parents) lay down a whole bunch of money and then you decide you don't want to continue playing. But, even then, you can probably get a good fraction of your money back by reselling, especially if you buy a used instrument.
My parents were poor. When I was in junior high, I suffered with a rented school instrument for a year before my teacher really twisted my parents arms until they bought me a Prestini, which was a pretty decent intermediate instrument. But then without access to a good repair person or a good teacher who could tell me where to go to get the thing sealed up properly, I was struggling with reeds, constantly trying to compensate for the leaks and ending up with a bad sound.
Finally, as an adult, I got a good used Marigaux, and my playing greatly improved. Then, the Prestini was stolen and not recovered, I got a great Lorée with the money from the insurance settlement, and I started sounding even better. I constantly wonder how much better I would have been in high school with a great instrument and a great teacher.
My apologies to those of you who have read this story from me before. I'm pretty sure I've previously posted it here, at least in pieces.
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2016-07-07 10:17
I agree with Oboi, and I agree with Ck.
When the oboe is hindering your ability to improve, it is time to look for a new oboe. Most things that hinder your improvement are a lack of full conservatory keywork, blow out bore, or an oboe that requires you to scrape a reed to compensate for it's inabilities. For example if the oboe is blown out and spreads in the top register, therefore you're scraping a the back too much to make it focus and the whole reed eventually collapses, you'll never learn how to make a solid reed.
I also would agree with CK that changing oboes because your reeds are not matching the instrument at the time is not the most solid reason, but if your teacher's reeds consistently don't line up with a new oboe, it's certainly easier to find one that does! Most oboists aren't really interested in spending the months (and I do mean MONTHS) of reedmaking to really settle in with a new oboe, not to mention settle in with their student's new oboe, so it's easiest to "subscribe to their system" until your competent to branch out on your own.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2016-07-07 17:56
Hi there,
My first Oboe was a rental, then I had a plastic Fox, then I had a intermediate Fassoti, then a Loree and now a Marigaux 901.
You will know when to upgrade as your experience and skill level improve over time. When your current Oboe does not serve you well ... you will require something new and an Oboe better suited to your skill and professional intent.
Good Luck,
Mark
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Author: saraho
Date: 2016-07-08 01:45
Many thanks for your replies.
I have got myself a used Howarth S40 on approval. It's significantly better than my student oboe, especially the sound and intonation. It's also much easier to blow and all the notes speak. Quite pleased with it :-)
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Author: oboi
Date: 2016-07-24 06:25
ckoboe777,
I'm able to adjust my reeds for various setups now, but at the time I was struggling like mad because the band conductor was emphatically telling me that I was out of tune. I had to pull out the reed (gasp) or put in a sawed-off staple bottom insert. Looking back, one major factor was the level of my playing, but the other was that my reeds were naturally more sharp because I was on my teacher's reeds (which weren't made specifically for me). This forced me to learn how to make reeds. I didn't buy a new oboe because of the reeds, but certainly there was a major improvement in intonation after I got my new oboe.
I now play a Marigaux 2001.
It's interesting to note that I know someone who bought a beautiful Laubin but whose pitch centre was so different from their other instrument that after months of changing reed setups, I think the Laubin was sold. The reeds could not be reconciled. Not that they wouldn't ever be, but how much effort would have been needed?
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Author: Wes
Date: 2016-07-24 07:44
Yes, my Laubin and my Loree don't prefer the same reeds but for me, it is simply to use a narrower shape for the Laubin. They both like stable reeds with the proper crows and both are easy to play in tune.
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