 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2006-10-18 13:09
Midwest Musical Imports says:
Differences between S5 and S5XL models:
Most importantly, the S5 oboes are made primarily for the purpose of orchestral playing, while the S5XL oboes have more of a soloistic tone quality to them. Both have relatively thick bore walls, but the S5XL's are a bit thinner. The S5XL model also comes with a few additional mechanism adjustments for fine tuning, and an adjustable thumbrest. Lastly, the tone holes on the S5XL are a bit smaller than on the S5.
Is this true? I thought the S5XL had thicker bore walls.
Anyone try a Cocabola Wood S5XL? Like it better or less? any words Chris?
Edit:Spelling of Cocabola
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
Post Edited (2006-10-18 13:10)
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2006-10-18 14:47
Hehe, interesting MMI misspells it.
http://www.mmimports.com/s5xlc.cfm
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-10-18 16:26
The current XL has thick walled joints (22mm in diameter just below the crown) - the top joint is the same diameter as the standard S5, though some older (pre-2002) models had different diameter joints, the 'Z' body being the widest and is now the standard diameter joint on all XL oboes. The outside bell shape and bell bore is different on post-2002 XL oboes being more hollow than the standard S5 (by 'hollow' I mean the inside is more concave in the lower part of the bell - more of an 'S' curve on the XL). The XL has also has a slightly different bore to the S5.
Tonehole sizes and placing are different on the XL in comparison to the S5, and as all companies stress, they have the right to change specifications - this means an XL from 2003 or 2004 may have slightly different tonehole sizes and placements compared to one from 2006.
Some key touches are shaped differently on the XL - the feathers (LH low B,Bb and Eb keys) are slightly taller than an S5, the kidneys (RH C, C# and Eb keys) are of a different shape and angle compared to an S5, as well as the RH G# and G#/A trill key have a different shape - also more adjusting screws, better venting on the forked F vent and the 'banana' key is closer to the RH3 split ring.
I thought the blackwood XL oboes played better (more free-blowing) than the cocobolo ones (which have ebonite bushed toneholes on the top joint as standard on exotic woods), the cocobolo ones felt more resistant, though I think it's a matter of personal choice - if you can try out several of them then you can make an assessment of what you like. Though the cocobolo XL d'amores and cors anglais do play very nicely.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: mschmidt
Date: 2006-10-18 21:59
Many tropical woods don't have "correct" spellings, because they're Englishified from native languages. Occume, Okoume, etc.... It's like Peking vs. Beijing.
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-10-19 15:46
Just to clear anything up - the current XL is built with full Gillet conservatoire system (plateaux keys) as standard, and when referring to an XL nowadays it's automatically assumed it's of this system.
However, when the XL was first introduced in the late '80s it could be ordered as an open hole thumbplate system (S2), an open hole conservatoire system (S3) and the Gillet conservatoire system (S5) - though since pretty much all of Howarth's output is conservatoire system (S20c, S40c, S45c, S55c, S5 and XL) and the majority of players now play on dual or conservatoire system, the S2 and S3 (and their XL versions) are very rarely made, if at all - and can still be made to special order.
Since I've been with Howarth (exactly 8 years to this day), I've only seen three new S2 oboes made, and only one new S3 which I finished for a local player.
The only pure thumbplate system instruments Howarth make are primarily for the UK market (as most teachers have learnt on thumbplate system here) - these are the basic thumbplate system S10 (oboe only) and the intermediate S20 oboe and cor.
As all pro oboe makers worldwide make conservatoire system oboes as standard, this has set the trend here in the UK as well, and the UK players can have thumbplates added to these so it means players brought up on pure thumbplate system can make the transition to a full Gillet conservatoire system oboe of their choice (be it a Howarth XL or S5, Marigaux, Loree, Puchner, Buffet, Rigoutat, Fosatti, Dupin, Bulgheroni, Springer, Covey, Fox, Yamaha, and all others I've not listed), and by having a thumbplate added (and a repositioned 3rd 8ve key) they can still use the thumbplate fingerings for Bb and C.
Though we do have many players in the UK that have learnt on pure conservatoire system and now play on full Gillet system oboes.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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