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Re: Covey oboes

Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-10-08 02:56

Baron --

I think there are two of us on this board who are Covey players, and others have spoken well of it.

I'm one of the Covey players. I have a Covey Classic. Here's what I wrote a year or so ago, after a trip to Forrests music in Berkeley, CA, where I play-tested three other instruments against my Covey:

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I also got to try -- for the first time -- a Loree (C+3) oboe, a Yamaha 841, and the high end Fox (don't know the model #).

I tried all three oboes in turn with two different reeds (one "heavy", one "sweet"), and played a quick, tongued piece and a sustained piece with each one.

Of the three, the Fox I tried was clearly not in the same league as the other two. My favorite for tone quality was the Loree -- very rich and deep. The keywork on the Yamaha was amazing -- especially the little "flick key" thingie on the half-hole, which enables instantly accurate finger placement on that sometimes-problematic key. The Yamaha tone color seemed significantly edgy, for me -- would project to the skies. And I don't need a more-projecting horn. I am already having a problem playing softly enough in one of my groups.

I was developing a bit of oboe envy about the Loree, however, and wondering how I could convice my family that I really NEEDED a new $$ oboe. Then I got the bright idea (duh!) to test-play the Loree against my own Covey Classic (acquired used last year), which I had with me.

Well, whaddya know! My sweet baby just plain knocked the Loree completely out of contention! I had imagined that the Covey would sound lighter against the Loree -- and it does, but not by much. And it is so sweet. Just the prettiest, most balanced sound of all of them! And NOT just because it's mine! It really is a fine instrument.

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