Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-06-18 22:44
You already have a unique oboe sound...your own! The overall tone quality of a given oboe sound is determined mostly by the player, and the reed. The quality of the bore and excellent craftsmanship of a good oboe is what allows an oboist to play to their best ability. If you are a beginner, or still in pre-college days, or are an amateur, I really wouldn't fuss too much with switching bells. The subtlety of the different sounds that different bells produce simply won't be heard. Most non-professional (but I would include college students *within* the professional category) oboists simply don't have a centered or mature enough tone to really warrant fine-tuning to that extent.
Having said that, I do think that if the new bell *really* improves intonation, response, dynamics, and stability of all the notes on the oboe, then I say go for it. However, it is rare that the bell alone can spruce up a mediocre oboe. If the first two joints aren't good, then the bell honestly won't help.
Keep in mind, also, that a large portion of what oboists themselves hear while they are playing is actually vibration conduction through the jawbone - not the same soundwaves audience members hear. And again, the physical makeup of a given oboist has an incredible effect on the sound. Consider it: if two players were to play the exact same reed in the same oboe (not sanitary I admit, but for argument's sake) they would sound quite different. It proves that sound is more affected by what the player is doing, rather than what the oboe is doing. (Of course the oboe has to be functioning properly...)
It's all about function: if the new bell doesn't improve the overall function of your oboe...forget it.
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