 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-07-08 04:12
Can anyone help. I have a Louis oboe with an unvented forked F. Today when I was playing, the forked F was not working properly- it was too close to the F# and muffled. On closer examination, the little pad next to the F# key is not closing properly when I finger forked F. However it closes fine when playing other notes.The height adjusting screws do not help. Any advice gratefully received.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-07-08 06:13
Hi Geoffrey. I assume you already know of course that without the F vent key you must also add the Eb key as well. As for the small pad just above the F# pad it is regulated by the upper of the two adjustment screws just to the side of the F# pad. Well , that's the set up on my Bundy Oboe. On my Howarth S2 there is only one adjustment screw there and that is also for the little pad above the F# pad. This is actually a question that Chris Pergagh could enlighten you about.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2017-07-08 06:17)
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-07-08 06:38
Thanks Barry, I appreciate your reply. I suspect though that the problem is not a height adjusting issue. Up until yesterday it was working fine and I have altered nothing. The one screw I can turn to close it when fingering forked F also affects other notes and is best left alone. The spring tension is very light and I suspect that in the very cold weather, even though I warm the wood well before playing, perhaps the rod is binding enough so that the spring tension is not enough to close it. I generally do not play the forked F with the E flat key down - it is I think less important when you are playing ring system than plateau, and the resultant different tone colour is not that noticeable most of the time, and has its own interest.. I have emailed Richard Craig- I have a concert coming up in a few weeks and dont want to part with my oboe over any of that time if I can avoid it.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-07-08 13:36
The small key between RH1 and RH2 is the F# key. That should close fully along with RH3 (and RH2) - if it is staying open, then that will ruin your forked F.
If the mechanism has become sluggish and is slow to open, either the oil used has thickened up, the key rod or steel could be bent or has rusted due to lack of oil.
How long ago was your oboe last serviced? and is it a Louis Chelsea or an Italian-built Louis LM5 or similar (as the earlier ring key ones didn't always have a forked F vent)?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-07-09 02:03
Dear Chris, thanks for the reply - this is a professional model Louis, but is fully automatic, with touch keys and dual system 123....to match my cor which is the same. The forked Fs are unvented but when all is working well, the sound quality is pretty good on them. As we have had quite cold weather, perhaps you are right, the oil has become more viscous. The rod is not corroded or bent, and the instrument was only restored by Richard Craig when I purchased it in April this year. Is there anything I can do. The tension from the springs is the lightest on any oboe I have ever owned, THanks
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2017-07-13 17:39
Could be that a bit of bumper-cork has fallen from the RH3-F# vent connection. You would only notice this when playing forked-F, if the regular RH2-F# vent closure is well adjusted.
J.
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-07-14 02:56
Thanks - I did check all bumper corks out thoroughly and these are all new, as the instrument had been restored only in April so there is nothing worn, and otherwise height adjusting screws also are just right. I think the problem is oil viscosity and coldish weather here, and the fact that the spring tension is very light. Some days it is worse than others, and on a unseasonably warm day, not really a problem at all. Thanks again for your suggestion.
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2017-07-15 00:15
This is kind of hijacking the thread but is about the forked F. When I was taking lessons, I noted that putting the Eb key down really helped with the tone quality of the forked F. But my teacher said that was bad and not to do it. He retired so I'm back to doing what i want, which is, heh, to put down the Eb key and make the best I can of the tone quality. It's not like I'm getting a pro sound anyway, so why not? The lower octave on this oboe is much better than on my previous oboe, on the forked F, but the upper octave is just as bad and just sounds weak if I don't put down the Eb key also.
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-07-15 04:20
Yes, some oboes are better than others in that regard if the forked Fs are unvented. I had a Rudell Carte oboe as my first instrument...the forked Fs were unvented and I used to have to use the E flat key. Interestingly Marcel Tabuteau always had his oboes without the vent, and his rational was that an unvented forked F sound was the last remnants of the cross fingering on earlier oboe systems. it can come in damn useful if a really unobtrusive entry is required. My current oboe is unvented and I use the E flat key with discretion, depending on what I am playing and who I am playing with, and generally, I tend not to use it.
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2017-07-16 06:17
So how would I tell if mine is vented or not, other than knowing it is a late 1990s Rigoutat Expression?
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-07-16 09:09
It's vented if it has a tone hole/pad below the Eb Key (RH side)
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2017-07-16 09:10)
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-07-16 09:16
Most are vented these days, and given the maker and the age of your instrument, it will be vented.
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