 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2017-12-27 20:04
This is just an info query. I played on a Bundy clarinet from way back, borrowed from a friend, and it was surprisingly good. Then I found out Bundy student clarinets from that era (1950s?) had a grand reputation. So, I saw someone mention a Bundy oboe on here just a little while back, and was wondering (not in the market) if it was similarly good as the old clarinets were. I started for just a very short while on a Cabart oboe that was pure trash compared to my now Rigoutat, and that Bundy clarinet was NOT pure trash compared to a pro clarinet. Sounded damn near the same from my amateur ear point of view. Can't comment on the playability because I'm not a clarinetist, but my then teacher approved of it and said she herself had started on a Bundy.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-12-28 00:54
Hello Beatrice. About a year ago now I purchased a plastic Bundy English Thumb Plate Oboe off Ebay. I always regretted trading in my original Bundy Oboe and have since been wondering where I could get another one. You will see a lot of Bundy Conservatoire System Oboes for sale on Ebay , wood and plastic and almost always without the low Bb. Chris Pergagh also posts here now and again and he says that the wooden Bundys are not all that good. I already had a Howarth S2 TP Oboe which is almost 63 years old and plays nicely. I sold my Howarth Dual System s55C because the excessive mechanism on the modern Oboe was proving too heavy for me (They have excessive 'leverage ' weight beyond the RH thumb). The S2 is lighter but the plastic Bundy that I also now have is even lighter. Anyway , I decided to get the Bundy (cost me $Aus 395 plus postage from England) and when it arrived I was delighted with how good a condition it was in. It looked almost new. It also , after a few minor adjustments , played nicely. In fact , I'm still delighted with how good it plays and sounds. I got lucky with this one considering it being a purchase off Ebay. It's certainly not a top quality instrument but I've used it in my local Chamber Orchestra group (amateur) and also in Xmas concerts over the last few weeks and everyone seems pleased with how it sounds. Of course I make sure my reeds are free 'blowing' and I"m an experienced player anyway. *Note , The plastic Bundy Thumb Plate Oboe has the low Bb and was made for the British market. It doesn't have the RH c-d trill key.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2017-12-28 00:55)
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2017-12-28 01:40
The ones that I have seen have been pretty terrible, but that can be said for most Selmer instruments. However, what suits one person may not suit another, so like everything, the best advice I can give you is try a few and see how you find them. I have only seen and heard the conservatoire models that don't have the low B Flat.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2017-12-28 12:47
Just gone back through my Ebay purchase history. The TP plastic Bundy was purchased from mac4560 and actually cost $Aus 315 (not $Aus 395) and the postage from Great Britain was $Aus 60.68 (even though it actually shows $Aus 6.68 which can't be correct) The purchase was made on the 13th May this year. For a good 'knockabout' Oboe it is excellent. Unlike the Howarth S2 which is mostly opened hole the Bundy is plateau keys (covered holes). And here's something interesting. Even though it's just got the basic keywork there is hardly a trill that can't be done on it except for the low C-C# trill which is no big deal. Even most flutes don't have that trill either. I can easily play a 5 sharp or flat key signature and I'm working through the 6 sharp & flat key signatures in Rubanks Selected Studies for Oboe which is identical to the Saxphone book. (same written range / compass)
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2017-12-28 12:48)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-01-01 03:27
Here are the differences between US and UK spec Bundy oboes:
US spec:
- Basic conservatoire system
- Range to low B natural with full length bell
- Semi automatic 8ve keys
- LH3 C-C# trill key and RH C-D trill key
- Independent LH1 fingerplate without adjustment
- Side G# key (duplicates LH G# key)
- No forked F vent
UK spec:
- Basic thumbplate system
- Range to low Bb
- Simple action 8ve keys
- LH3 C-D trill key
- LH1 fingerplate linked to LH2 fingerplate via an adjusting screw
- Barret side key (duplicates thumbplate action)
- Forked F vent
The reason why I recommend plastic Bundys over wooden ones is I've never seen a wooden Bundy oboe where the body and bore hasn't warped - I suspect they either used kiln dried grenadilla or poorly seasoned grenadilla for them.
Plastic bodied ones on the whole have straight joints and bores, but like all plastic bodied woodwinds, they will need lateral play in the keywork relative to the lengths of the key barrels to ensure they won't bind up between the pillars when cold.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: tgenns
Date: 2018-01-05 02:33
Back in the day (70's), Selmer made a full conservatory plastic model oboe with all the essential professional keys that had a good reputation. So good in fact, that a second oboist in the Chicago Symphony played one in the orchestra at the time.
I am curious if anyone has played on a newer one of these recently and also how you liked it. I noticed on Selmer’s website this oboe is not listed for sale, but it is listed on the Woodwinds and Brasswind website as Selmer model 104B. As a teacher, I see this as a good student / amateur oboe, if they still make it.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-01-05 19:09
Attachment: P1030001.JPG (712k)
I have an older 104 which I use for outdoor and other unfavourable playing conditions, but have modified it to bring it up to the same spec as a Howarth S5.
I don't now how they play with the standard bore as I reamed the bores with Howarth XL reamers. The XL has a much larger bore than the standard Bundy bore.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2018-01-07 02:57
Interesting, thanks. BTW ebay is a gamble but can pay off. I got my extremely good Rigoutat Expression for $3000 on ebay. I took it right away to my then teacher, who is a Rigoutat guy recently converted to Laubin, he doodled on it, looked at me, and said "I'd play a concert on this right now." I asked if it was worth what I paid, and got an emphatic YES back.
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Author: mberkowski
Date: 2018-01-07 04:32
I also have one of the plastic 1970's Selmer 104 oboes for outdoor use. I managed to get it for only about $300 US on ebay, cleaned it up, and invested a bit more to have it serviced. I see those instruments listed occasionally on ebay at 4x what I paid, but am unsure if they sell at that price. I wouldn't say it's up to playing in world class orchestra, but it's quite good for an old plastic oboe. Mine's scale is a bit "wide", flat on the low end. The keywork seems a little cramped; someone with large fingers might find it uncomfortable. But that's a small tradeoff for an inexpensive instrument with a left F and C#-B link.
Michael
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