 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: RonaldMF
Date: 2018-07-06 19:35
Hello, I want to buy my first oboe, and since I will in places with a lot of change of temperature I'm looking for a resin intermediate oboe.
How are the resin Howarth oboes? I'm looking between the s40c and the Fox 300.
I'm going to buy it new.
Or if you know another one that you can recommend.
The only problem is, I will order it internationally, so I can't test them. (There are only Plastic selmers in my country).
Edit: The retailer told me they don't have full plastic. The top joint is plastic and the bottom joint is made of Grenadilla.
Thanks,
Ronald
Post Edited (2018-07-06 20:49)
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Author: Hotboy
Date: 2018-07-06 22:52
Both the Fox 330 and Howarth S40C are very good instruments, and you cannot go wrong with either. My somewhat limited experience with my students' instruments has been that the Fox scale is a little better than the Howarth in the upper register, but the Howarth has a slightly darker tone than the Fox.
Dane
Bay Area, California
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-07-08 03:23
Have you contacted Howarth to find out the options they offer?
They have in the past made oboes (and cors) entirely from plastic (machined from solid plastic rod in the same manner as wood as opposed to being injection moulded) as well as instruments with plastic top joints and wooden lower joints and bells and also all wooden instruments but with a partial ebonite sleeve in the top joint bore.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2018-07-08 11:54
Hi Chris. How do they manage to machine solid plastic ? I can imagine that It'd require a special method of 'lathing'
Skyfacer
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-07-08 15:45
Plastic isn't an easy material to work with as the swarf doesn't clear so it needs to be cleared by hand or a vacuum during machining, the plastic billet expands as it gets warm through being machined (which can cause it to bow when held between centres) and turning speeds have to be kept at a much lower speed than machining wood as machining plastic too fast can cause it to melt. Also cutting the toneholes or any drilling can kick up a burr which also needs to be removed both inside and out, pillar threads can be stripped easily and polishing has to be done carefully to avoid melting.
If anything, it costs more to produce plastic instruments in the same manner as wooden ones and the cost of plastic itself is more expensive than wood. So its a wonder that they command the same piece as their wooden counterparts considering there's a lot more work to do when making plastic instruments from scratch.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2018-07-09 02:18
Thanks for the feed back Chris. I remember my Bundy Bassoon had the Tenor and Bass joints made of plastic that had obviously been made by extrusion. You could see the Y shaped marks around the tone holes when you looked up inside them. These were very noticeable inside the Tenor joint. These were apparently caused by the molten plastic mass coming together as it was being extruded. The Bell joint was also made of plastic as well but the Butt joint was Ebonite (hard rubber) and was a hefty piece.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2018-07-09 08:57)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-07-09 14:19
Bundy plastic bassoons were injection moulded as opposed to extruded due to the complex shapes and incorporating the weight saving hollows - they were first made from heavy and dense (but brittle) bakelite and later ABS resin which is much lighter.
Injection moulding is filling a mould with molten plastic as opposed to extrusion (which is similar to making pasta) which is forcing molten plastic through a specifically shaped die to form the final shape both inside and out. Bundy bass clarinet bodies are formed by extrusion to make the cylindrical form, then toneholes, tenons and other things are machined into them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2018-07-09 19:12
Hi Chris. Yes , that's what I meant to say. Injection not extrusion. The very fine lines, shaped like a curvey Y going out from the three tone holes in the Tenor joint were clearly visible. At first I thought that they were cracks in the plastic till someone informed me as to what they really were. For what it was , my Plastic / Ebonite Bundy Bassoon played reasonable well. I use to use the Butt strap for support by wrapping it once around my right upper leg and sitting on it. Later on I decided to concentrate on the Oboe and let my Bassoon go. Now I only play Recorder/Flute/oboe / and Clarinet. More than enough instruments for my age now (73)
Skyfacer
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-07-09 21:29
I'm wondering how much weight they actually saved by making the inside of the tenor joint wing with those hollows in it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2018-07-10 04:51
Oh yes. I remember that little detail now. Not much I imagine. I assume it was more to help out with the injection process. I do remember how heavy the Butt joint was. It was probably three times the weight of a maple Butt joint.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2018-07-10 04:55)
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