Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-02-23 13:52
The oboe brand is only a guideline. There are many good professional oboes that serve different purposes, and tastes. As long as the oboe is truly the star-jewel of the craftsmen who make them, then it should be a good professional choice.
The oboe material plays a subtle role in the sound. Sometimes different densities in material can alter the sound slightly. It is really only a SUBTLE difference, and is more often noticeable to the oboist, rather than the listener. It just happens that many professional oboes are made of wood, giving the false impression that wood will automatically improve an oboe - it won't!
The bore is the determining factor. The is where the majority, if not all, of the oboe's sound quality comes from. The best oboes have extremely precise measurements for the bore - even if they are slightly off it can botch the whole instrument! (Most of the good brands have a computerized machine that does the initial drillings. This is normal) Good bores are always finished by hand by very knowledgeable craftsmen, and are playtested by reknowned professionals.
The amount of wood left in the bore obviously changes the shape of the oboe, and therefore changes the sound.
There are really too many variables of the bore to discuss here - try talking directly to the makers, and just play as many instruments as possible to get an idea, in your own ear, as to what they sound like.
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