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Re: Weird reed

Author: hautbois
Date: 2007-12-18 13:19

vboboe -- when testing the tightness of the seal of a tonehole, do you test at all parts of the pad? A pad may close tightly at one side but not at another because the cork (or bladder, if you have that) is not well-seated. Also, I always check pad adjustments by closing the pad with the hand and fingers held as they would be while playing, though this can be awkward. For me the pads close differently when I do that, reflecting the increased pressure my normal finger placement may have on one part of the key. And for me this is especially true with respect to the pressure on the e key.
The lighter pressure which you find for what you refer to as the 'forked F tonehole' (which, if I understand you correctly, is the first tonehole open when you play F#) can be adjusted both with a screw connecting to the e key and the neighboring screw connecting to the d key. The pressure upon closing the e and d keys must be greater than that on this smaller tonehole; but it must still have some 'bite'.
There is sometimes a small moderation which can be made to the brightness and pitch of second octave F# and G. Check to see how tightly the e key and that smaller tonehole above the e key close when you depress the low C key. If they are not making moderate contact, then adjust that by tightening the screw on the C key (not the neighboring one which connects to the Philadelphia D, if you have that on your oboe). This will cause the e key and the pad over the hole above the e key to rest slightly lower over their respective toneholes. (This will also lower the pitch of third octave C# and D.) There are possible negative consequences to this adjustment, however. You will have to make certain that the forked F resonance key does not then close more tightly than the low C pad when you depress the C key (if it does, that can be adjusted for, but it would involve loosening the screw on the forked F resonance key and readjusting the e key relationships).
For your primary concern about less resonant notes on your instrument, there is still the possibility that pads on the upper joint are not sealing sufficiently. Good luck.
Elizabeth

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Weird reed new

vboboe

2007-12-17 06:01