Where Are All The Oboists These Days? Options

[Arundodonuts]

I'll be interested to hear how they compare. I've been using Fortay for quite some time now and whilst I agree they take their time delivering, I will forgive them that for making such nice reeds.

I'll definitely post on here and let you know once I've played them enough to know! Fortay's reeds are quite nice and if that's what you want to use then you might want to try ordering the Fortay reeds directly from Howarth? They do sell them, I believe! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Ah but they charge more for them. I make sure I order new reeds well before I need them so I don't have a problem with the lead time.

I used to like Fortay but have "grown out of" them. I become fond of Ke-Xun Ge reeds last year and have just discovered Wiggins. Both offer more resistance than the Fortay reeds and (for me anyway) have a fuller tone and a greater dynamic chage.

Yes, that's what my teacher was saying. She says a lot of people tend to use Fortay as a sort of transition reed, but that the Ke-Xun Ge and Wiggins are more appropriate when you get to a higher level.

I shall take a look at the Howarth stand at the RNCM next weekend.

I would be wary of just judging on one reed though. I came across Wiggins reeds when I had my cor serviced over the summer and the repairer suggested I try a Wiggins reed. The first one I tried I didn't like at all but he suggested I tried another which I did like. In the end I tried about 10 Wiggins cor reeds and picked the three I liked best.

How did you try them all? Was this at a playday stall or something?

When I first got onto Fortay it was at a playday (Howarths sent me to see them). Lara picked out about half a dozen for me to try which I whittled down to 3 to take. The differences are quite small and reeds do change with playing of course, so the first impressions of a reed are not really indicative of what it's going to be like in the long run. In my latest batch from Fortay, I had the first ever which I thought wasn't going to be up to their usual standard. I played it a couple of times and left it in the reed box for a while. When I came to play it again after a couple of weeks it was no different to all the others.

[Roseau]

I would be wary of just judging on one reed though. I came across Wiggins reeds when I had my cor serviced over the summer and the repairer suggested I try a Wiggins reed. The first one I tried I didn't like at all but he suggested I tried another which I did like. In the end I tried about 10 Wiggins cor reeds and picked the three I liked best.

How did you try them all? Was this at a playday stall or something?

It was in Crowther's oboe shop in Canterbury - they just gave them all to me and let me try them. You can do the same in Howarths if you actually go to the shop in London.

Having said that, I am wondering about asking Howarth to lift/angle very slightly the half hole pad - not sure what it's called in English but that little extension below the B (1st LH) key. There's probably a good reason why it's flatter on the XL - maybe angled ones are really designed to help students - but I think I would prefer to feel my finger rolling on to it a bit more.

My teacher has this systematically rasied on his oboes - probably more so than on the student oboes. I don't like it all - he asked me if I wanted to buy his previous oboe when he was selling it - and he did say he could have the process reversed if I did want to buy the oboe (but I had already set my heart on an XL). A rather long-winded way of saying that I don't think it has anything to do with your level and it is just a personal preference (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Stephie]

Ah but they charge more for them. I make sure I order new reeds well before I need them so I don't have a problem with the lead time.

Aaah do they? I see. I suppose that would make sense, since they have to split the price between Howarth and Fortay.

When I first got onto Fortay it was at a playday (Howarths sent me to see them). Lara picked out about half a dozen for me to try which I whittled down to 3 to take. The differences are quite small and reeds do change with playing of course, so the first impressions of a reed are not really indicative of what it's going to be like in the long run. In my latest batch from Fortay, I had the first ever which I thought wasn't going to be up to their usual standard. I played it a couple of times and left it in the reed box for a while. When I came to play it again after a couple of weeks it was no different to all the others.

I've noticed that with reeds too actually. I don't know how it works, but sometimes I'll play a reed one day, dislike it, leave it in my reed box and then come to it a few weeks later and find that it sounds better (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

It was in Crowther's oboe shop in Canterbury - they just gave them all to me and let me try them. You can do the same in Howarths if you actually go to the shop in London.

Well I'm going to London for the first time on 4th November, so I might try and find Howarth if I have time! And if I can find it too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Arundodonuts]

Well I'm going to London for the first time on 4th November, so I might try and find Howarth if I have time! And if I can find it too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

If you are going to the RNCM next weekend, Howarth should have a bucketload of reeds on their stand.

BTW - do you reckon Alonso will have a good day tomorrow?

[Roseau]

The differences are quite small and reeds do change with playing of course, so the first impressions of a reed are not really indicative of what it's going to be like in the long run. In my latest batch from Fortay, I had the first ever which I thought wasn't going to be up to their usual standard. I played it a couple of times and left it in the reed box for a while. When I came to play it again after a couple of weeks it was no different to all the others.

I've noticed that with reeds too actually. I don't know how it works, but sometimes I'll play a reed one day, dislike it, leave it in my reed box and then come to it a few weeks later and find that it sounds better (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Reeds are effected by the weather (humidity levels in particular) - I don't know where your French family live but if they live in the south and you take your oboe when you go and see them you'll probably find that none of your reeds work properly there.

I didn't read properly what Pushpull said earlier about first impressions not being indicative of what they are going to be like in the long-run but this is no longer my experience. I might want to "tweak" a few things but I do know right from the first blow whether the reed is going to be a good one or not. (Good as in neither too hard nor too easy, stable intontation, ease of tonguing and dynamic possibilities. Exceptional reeds are much harder to spot). This applies to both bought reeds and ones I make myself.

Well I'm going to London for the first time on 4th November, so I might try and find Howarth if I have time! And if I can find it too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

It's about a five minute walk from Baker Street Tube Station and well worth a visit. But beware the visit is likely to be expensive (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I don't know how much time you have but there is a second-hand bookshop about 15 minutes walk in the other direction which has a basement full of sheet music. The music is just in cardboard boxes (but sorted according to instrument) so you have to rifle through them which takes quite some time but it is very cheap - I found a second hand book of Gillet studies for a couple of pounds in there (it's one of those books that is worth almost ?50 new). If you're interested I'll see if I can remember the exact name and address for you.

[Stephie]

If you are going to the RNCM next weekend, Howarth should have a bucketload of reeds on their stand.

BTW - do you reckon Alonso will have a good day tomorrow?

I'm still not sure if I'll be able to make next weekend! If I can, I'll be sure to stop by Howarth's stand.

Also, the Alonso in my signature isn't referring to Fernando (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) It's a Doctor Who reference, because I'm dorky that way... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Reeds are effected by the weather (humidity levels in particular) - I don't know where your French family live but if they live in the south and you take your oboe when you go and see them you'll probably find that none of your reeds work properly there.

My family live in Vend?e. I bet that's annoying for oboists living in the south! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

It's about a five minute walk from Baker Street Tube Station and well worth a visit. But beware the visit is likely to be expensive (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I don't know how much time you have but there is a second-hand bookshop about 15 minutes walk in the other direction which has a basement full of sheet music. The music is just in cardboard boxes (but sorted according to instrument) so you have to rifle through them which takes quite some time but it is very cheap - I found a second hand book of Gillet studies for a couple of pounds in there (it's one of those books that is worth almost ?50 new). If you're interested I'll see if I can remember the exact name and address for you.

We're only there for two days, but I am going with two other musicians so I might see if I can convince them to go into the bookshop with me! And yes, I realise that I will probably spend too much money in Howarth (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) But I won't get going there often so I may as well make the most of it!

[Arundodonuts]

I didn't read properly what Pushpull said earlier about first impressions not being indicative of what they are going to be like in the long-run but this is no longer my experience. I might want to "tweak" a few things but I do know right from the first blow whether the reed is going to be a good one or not. (Good as in neither too hard nor too easy, stable intontation, ease of tonguing and dynamic possibilities. Exceptional reeds are much harder to spot). This applies to both bought reeds and ones I make myself.

Ah but you're more experienced than me.

Also, the Alonso in my signature isn't referring to Fernando (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) It's a Doctor Who reference, because I'm dorky that way... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Dorky in that way too? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Stephie]

Also, the Alonso in my signature isn't referring to Fernando (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) It's a Doctor Who reference, because I'm dorky that way... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Dorky in that way too? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Why of course (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Roseau]

My family live in Vend?e. I bet that's annoying for oboists living in the south! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I live a bit further south than that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
My teacher said that when he was a student in Paris he managed to get work at the same time depping in two orchestras, one in Lille and one in Marseille. He said he ended up making three different sets of reeds, one for each orchestra and one for his lessons in Paris.

We're only there for two days, but I am going with two other musicians so I might see if I can convince them to go into the bookshop with me! And yes, I realise that I will probably spend too much money in Howarth (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) But I won't get going there often so I may as well make the most of it!

The bookshop is:
Archive Bookstore
83 Bell Street

The nearest tube station is Marylebone Road but you can walk from Howarths to the bookshop. The basement really is crammed with music, with three of you in there, you will barely have room to move. You have to shift the cardboard boxes around as they are stacked one on top of each other.

[A.U.K]

well I am sorry to break the trend but I am not remotely Dorky... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Not in the least..

[notmusimum]

well I am sorry to break the trend but I am not remotely Dorky... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Not in the least..

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Glad to see you back Andrew!

[Stephie]

I live a bit further south than that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
My teacher said that when he was a student in Paris he managed to get work at the same time depping in two orchestras, one in Lille and one in Marseille. He said he ended up making three different sets of reeds, one for each orchestra and one for his lessons in Paris.

It's amazing how even a slight change in conditions can really affect your instrument. Having different sets of reeds actually isn't a bad idea, though it's probably easier to adjust them if you make them yourself. I take it that's what he did? Luckily, it isn't something that you would need to do much in the UK!

The bookshop is:
Archive Bookstore
83 Bell Street

The nearest tube station is Marylebone Road but you can walk from Howarths to the bookshop. The basement really is crammed with music, with three of you in there, you will barely have room to move. You have to shift the cardboard boxes around as they are stacked one on top of each other.

I'm sure we'll manage! I really hope we manage to get there during our visit. Thanks so much for telling me about it!

well I am sorry to break the trend but I am not remotely Dorky... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Not in the least..

I'm sure you aren't, Andrew (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) [pushpull already commented that ALL oboists are dorky (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)]

[Arundodonuts]

well I am sorry to break the trend but I am not remotely Dorky... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Not in the least..

Ha. Says you!!

I live a bit further south than that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
My teacher said that when he was a student in Paris he managed to get work at the same time depping in two orchestras, one in Lille and one in Marseille. He said he ended up making three different sets of reeds, one for each orchestra and one for his lessons in Paris.

It's amazing how even a slight change in conditions can really affect your instrument. Having different sets of reeds actually isn't a bad idea, though it's probably easier to adjust them if you make them yourself. I take it that's what he did? Luckily, it isn't something that you would need to do much in the UK!

I have a friend in the States who says one of the big isues over there with the huge variations in climatic conditions is making reeds to suit different cities.

[Stephie]

I have a friend in the States who says one of the big isues over there with the huge variations in climatic conditions is making reeds to suit different cities.

That's true. I guess we're lucky the UK's so small in comparison!

[Arundodonuts]

An interesting "masterclass" for the Youtube symphony orchestra.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EIgJvYx4AE&sns=em