 The Oboe BBoard
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-02-04 00:32
There is an old Jr Lafleur Oboe for sale (GBP299) $Aus488 at the moment. It looks about the same vintage as my recently acquire S2 Howarth. Like the S2 it's a Thumb Plate System. I''m finding it very tempting to splurge out and get it. It'd make an excellent spare Oboe I think. It's not being autioned off so for me , at that price it's very tempting indeed. However, it seems to be an unusually cheap price for soime reason. Any feedback from you guys out there ?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-02-04 03:21
Chances are it's an Italian stencil model made either by Prestini or Orsi, like the old entry level Howarth B model (although the Howarth ones had the bore reamed up to Howarth spec at Howarth).
The Howarth S10 is the same spec, but that's made by Howarth whereas the B model was an import to fill the gap in the market for a decent affordable beginner model oboe that's far better than the B&H Regent (or B&H "Reject" as I call them).
They seem to be everywhere in the UK - the majority of players having started on them. The ring key model didn't originally have a forked F vent, so the Eb key was held down to compensate for that. Later models had the forked F vent, low B-C link and also full plateaux keywork. They were last imported by Howarth in the early 2000s.
I think that around £300 is way over and above what they're worth to be honest as they're only basic thumbplate models - look for Buisson, Selmer Console/Gold Seal/Sterling or Rudall Carte oboes as chances are they're the same thing and much lower priced. You can easily identify them as the 2nd 8ve key barrel runs down the front of the top joint and meets the C-D trill key just above the LH1 fingerplate.
The keywork is either unplated nickel silver, nickel plated or silver plated depending what was ordered.
Avoid the near identical looking Artia, Amati, Corton or Lignatone oboes like the plague - they're all made by Amati (Czechoslovakia) and the top joint is often massively overbroached, so the notes below low E are horrendously unstable. The pad cups on these oboes are pointed like clarinet pad cups instead of domed like most oboe pad cups.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-02-04 05:37
Thanks for the quick response and information Chris. This particular Lafleur has the side F fork vent key and it also has the LH F key. I can't tell if it has the low B-C link but you can check on this yourself as the seller has downloaded some excellent photos that can be enlarged.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-02-04 19:41
Louis LM5 oboes are also one and the same thing.
The LH F key is definitely a bonus and rarely fitted to such a basic oboe. I suppose if you did buy a similar one in poor condition and then need to get it overhauled, you'd be paying out well over and above £300. Provided it has been serviced (which I tend to take with a massive pinch of salt when sellers say that), then it should be worth it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-02-05 08:18
Thanks Chris for the input. I notice that it also has a simple octave key mechanism. Looking at the write up of this seller , he seems to be a keen woodwind repairer who's been around for quite a while. His list of other reconditioned instruments is interesting to check out. For example , he has another student grade reconditioned Oboe for sale at the same price as the Jr Lsfleur. It's a Louis (made for Rudell Carte & Co) As you said , It's basically the same type of Oboe. However, it doesn't have the LH F key mechanism.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2017-02-05 08:23)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: wkleung
Date: 2017-02-05 17:34
Barry, the listing is no longer there. Did you buy the oboe?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-02-06 01:55
Hi Wkleung. Yes, looks like it's gone. There's another JR Lafleur & Son (model B) for sale at $Aus 715 and it doesn't even have a side F vent key. And the mechanism is badly tarnished. Makes the other one look like a real bargain. I like the new feature of this site that I only noticed several days ago. All you have to do is click on the primary image and all the other photos also can be viewed in an enlarged format as a sequence. Nice.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-02-06 05:37
Hi again Wkleung. It's now back on the listings again. I think the trick with this particular site is that , for example , you are searching for Oboe you must type in Oboes (plural) and then click on the button next to 'worldwide' . Then lots of Oboes come up that are for sale including of course those Chinese ones that the sellers quite clearly state are Oboes in C. Now fancy that now. Oboes from China that are in C. And apparently they are 'professional' Oboes. I'd love to get my hands on one just to see just how good (bad) they are. I wonder how many they've actually sold ? Anyone here ever had a close encounter with one ?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: wkleung
Date: 2017-02-06 06:25
I started on a Chinese oboe, but that was almost 30 years ago. The new batch of Chinese oboes look (and I suppose play) very different from the one I started on.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-02-07 19:00
While the Chinese oboes of late may be better in some respects of their overall design compared to Lark oboes of the past, they're still plagued with a lot of problems and most repairers aren't prepared to work on them for fear of opening a can of worms.
DON'T whatever you do buy an Odyssey oboe - they're massively overpriced for what they are and are one and the same thing as a generic Chinese oboe of around half the cost. And steer well clear from the clear ones as the top joint bores are around 2mm wider than they should be.
Also beware of Orsi oboes from the '90s onwards as they often have really sloppy key fitting - the key barrels on most have been reamed out too large for the rod screws.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-02-15 03:31
Dear Barry - avoid the temptation of the Dark Side. Chris P gives good advice, but ask yourself if you really "need" a second oboe. If you do, get as good a one as you can afford. Myself, my second oboe ( My first is a Fossati) is a very old "Triebert" ( but at that time - 1930s was made by Cousenon) - it does not have all the whistles and bells but has a nice singing sound. plays in tune. Most of the cheap ones out there are cheap for a reason. Refer to Peter Hurd and http://oboes.us and there is a break down of most of the main makers. If you are tempted to try a Chinese oboe, I would recommend only perhaps http://www.aw-oboe.com.au This is an Australian guy who lives in China and oversees the whole process, and the instruments are very reasonable and play extremely well. I had a student who and one of the cheaper Chinese oboes and it was total garbage, and after a year of her playing on it, it needed repair and no repairer worth their salt would touch it. You do get what you pay for out there and it is very rare to get a "bargain' Richard Craig Woodwind in Adelaide also comes hight recommended - Ebay, you really have to know what you are doing and then you can still come to grief.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-02-15 04:26
Hi Geoffrey. Yes I cetainly agree with you there. It has been sold anyway. If I was to get a second Oboe it would be from Richard Graig or even from Howarth's and it would be another S2 as the one I have now plays so nicely and has rejuvinated my Oboe playing. I don't even miss the S55c dual system even though it was an excellent Oboe and I loved the fingering system. It was just too heavy for me with all the complex mechanism on it. Richard Craig now has it and I"m sure it will find a proud owner after he services it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-02-15 05:20
My Cor is a 1930's Louis ( Those LM 5 Louis that you see advertised are not made by Louis as the company was well out of commission when those were made), and Richard Craig has the matching oboe. I would dearly love it, but it is $1400 and then he would have to refurbish it and that is well over $1000 and I just cannot justify spending that money because I am on a benefit- So I look and dream, My Cor is also dual system, and I am happy with that, even though at 61 I am a little younger than you - it is also fully automatic which does not fuss me that much, but there you are. Good luck and happy oboe playing
Geoff Pearce
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-02-15 06:06
Just a bit of interesting information about my 1955 Howarth S2 English Thumb Plate Oboe. It weighs 118 g lighter than the S55c Dual System which suits me just fine. The S55c was 704 g and the S2 is 586 g. The S2 is a bit heavier than I expected but the keywork is solid sterling silver and the blackwood is of the older denser type with more 'heft' that is not often seen these days because the older quality Mpingo (Ebony) is just about depleted apparently. Interestlingly , it's still 'up for sale' on Richard Craig's site. He needs to update what's for sale. But it's good to have it still up there because you can still look at the pictures of it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-02-15 06:09
Thanks Barry - I have seen it - will bring you great joy. if ever I am up your way I will drop in and see you if you would like an oboe visitor
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-02-15 13:42
Hi Geoffery. It would be a pleasure to have you visit me sometime. I just e-mailed my Mo # and House number to you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
