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Re: Oboe purchase- comments requested

Author: rgombine
Date: 2004-04-28 12:33

ohsuzan --

My Yamaha (a custom) is more resistant than my Loree, but I think that is more a function of the fact that the Loree was purchased new in 1984!

Yamahas are essentially Loree copies and it shares some of that instrument's quirks, but in a much more tame fashion. Overall, the scale is much more even than my old instrument, and I don't have to do some of the crazy things I used to do (e.g using the left hand B Key to keep a variety of notes stable, esp. F# ). I am able to stay in tune w/ fewer embouchure adjustments. I am actually able to use the forked R hand F (previously I was the *king* of the L hand F).

The major reed adjustments were 1: an overall lighter reed (b/c of the resistance change) and 2: a somewhat shorter reed. The latter was the biggest headache. I found that initially I was flat all the time. This problem might reflect some people's comments that the instrument is "too stable" and doesn't tend to jump up in pitch as much as you fatigue. I ultimately had to make my reeds a little shorter to make sure I had something that started the rehearsal in tune but still allowed me to catch up with the flute and clarinet after an hour of playing.

I can't stress enough my main point from my previous post -- regardless of what instrument you're considering, be sure to have someone who has a good ear listen to you play your top three choices before you buy. If you are primarily an orchestral player, try and make your final "audition"in a setting that most closely resembles a concert hall. The instrument that I originally thought I was going to take home with me (the one that was the easiest to play and which seemed to cater to my own idiosyncrasies) was NOT the one which projected the best and had the best sound to a listener at the far side of a hall.

Although I wish I hadn't had to work so hard to get adjusted to the instrument, I'm finally quite comfortable on my Yamaha after about 6 months of fiddling. And I now have a beautiful sounding instrument that really projects !

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the instrument. Alt

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