Oboe And Cor Anglais...the Deed Is Done, My day with Howarths Options

[A.U.K]

Well today was the day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ...I finally got to Howarths and ordered replacements of my Oboe (lost in house fire) and added a Cor Anglais to my collection...it has been a heck of a wait to get the insurance to pay out but finally it all came together and to put it mildly I had a spend up which was enormous fun...don't ask, even I can't count that far...had a good couple of hours in a practice room trying Oboes and Cors some were fantastic others were not my thing and for AmandaL I even tried a thumbplate model or two which threw me completely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) . My great friend who's a pro came along and played with me, we hadn't seen eachother for about a year due to work commitments and distance so it was good to catch up and have as we called it a squawk (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) .

I ordered a Loree Royal 125 Oboe and a Loree Cor Anglais Royal , both very beautiful (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) , full conservatoire gillet system and replaced everything I lost, knives, shaper tips and handles, reed cases,plaques, mandrels, barrels...in fact you name it I bought it and had a wonderful day...lots of CD's which I have playing on the laptop through my headphones as I type and replaced much of my tattered music which needed replacing..all the standards and a few new pieces which looked interesting...it was a momentous day, Mike Britten and Emma Gourlay were staggering finding me all I needed and ordering everthing else I required from Loree in Paris they really did their thing and as always they did it very well, it was nice to see old friends and meet some new faces...I was alarmed at the cost of printed music and how much it had gone up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif) ...you dont get much under a tenner music wise for anything and a lot was well over that. Managed to find thanks to Emma some lovely Wiggins Cor reeds which are a real treat lovely rich resonant tone and as clean as a whistle attack wise. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I now have to wait whilst the Oboe and Cor Anglais are made for me which is a bit of a drag (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) but I can't complain they should be here by Christmas at the latest (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ...that is depending that the French get their collective finger out and get on with it so fingers crossed.

Well there you go thats been my day, saw my dentist and got told off (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) I have been very naughty in not going....got some fantastic shoes and suits...now all I need to find out is how to burn copies of the CD's onto an MP3 player and I will be a happy camper....any thoughts...?

Kindest regards

Andrew

[Claire21]

Hi Andrew,

Good for you, bet Howarths are pleased! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I'm interested that you have to *order* your Loree - you mean one can't just go and pick one off the Howarth's shelf? Is this always the case? I am thinking of splashing out on a new instrument too but I was imagining that I would be able to pick one and take it away with me.... But sounds like that's maybe not the case? (Or does it depend on the make?)

[jod]

When I got my Howarths S20 Cor Anglais it was made to order too. That level of oboe/cor normally is. The Loree is a a specialist instrument.

AUK, glad you enjoyed yourself at Howarths, and enjoy the new instruments.

[Maizie]

I now have to wait whilst the Oboe and Cor Anglais are made for me which is a bit of a drag (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) but I can't complain they should be here by Christmas at the latest (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ...that is depending that the French get their collective finger out and get on with it so fingers crossed.

While waiting for things is dull and boring and horrible and why won't it just hurry up and get here...it sounds very very nice to be waiting for something that is being made to order! May I one day have that luxury with something (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Malone]

I had to wait for one of my flutes to be made for me. Its just a basic student flute but with all the bells and whistles of a better flute. Ie open holes, pointed keys, B foot etc so I had to wait months before I actually got it delivered to me from Japan.

[hillyb]

Well today was the day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ...I finally got to Howarths and ordered replacements of my Oboe (lost in house fire) and added a Cor Anglais to my collection...it has been a heck of a wait to get the insurance to pay out but finally it all came together and to put it mildly I had a spend up which was enormous fun...don't ask, even I can't count that far...had a good couple of hours in a practice room trying Oboes and Cors some were fantastic others were not my thing and for AmandaL I even tried a thumbplate model or two which threw me completely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) . My great friend who's a pro came along and played with me, we hadn't seen eachother for about a year due to work commitments and distance so it was good to catch up and have as we called it a squawk (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) .

I ordered a Loree Royal 125 Oboe and a Loree Cor Anglais Royal , both very beautiful (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) , full conservatoire gillet system and replaced everything I lost, knives, shaper tips and handles, reed cases,plaques, mandrels, barrels...in fact you name it I bought it and had a wonderful day...lots of CD's which I have playing on the laptop through my headphones as I type and replaced much of my tattered music which needed replacing..all the standards and a few new pieces which looked interesting...it was a momentous day, Mike Britten and Emma Gourlay were staggering finding me all I needed and ordering everthing else I required from Loree in Paris they really did their thing and as always they did it very well, it was nice to see old friends and meet some new faces...I was alarmed at the cost of printed music and how much it had gone up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif) ...you dont get much under a tenner music wise for anything and a lot was well over that. Managed to find thanks to Emma some lovely Wiggins Cor reeds which are a real treat lovely rich resonant tone and as clean as a whistle attack wise. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I now have to wait whilst the Oboe and Cor Anglais are made for me which is a bit of a drag (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) but I can't complain they should be here by Christmas at the latest (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ...that is depending that the French get their collective finger out and get on with it so fingers crossed.

Well there you go thats been my day, saw my dentist and got told off (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) I have been very naughty in not going....got some fantastic shoes and suits...now all I need to find out is how to burn copies of the CD's onto an MP3 player and I will be a happy camper....any thoughts...?

Kindest regards

Andrew

You sound like you had a great day. Hope the 'goodies' come quickly.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[lizbun]

You sound like you had a great day. Hope the 'goodies' come quickly.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Yep, hope you don't have to wait too long.

[AmandaL]

had a good couple of hours in a practice room trying Oboes and Cors some were fantastic others were not my thing and for AmandaL I even tried a thumbplate model or two which threw me completely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) .

Just need to keep your thumb on the thumbplate and ignore the metal bit as a physical thing. If you're using conservatoire fingering then the thumbplate is not used and it doesn't alter the conservatoire fingering, but I guess it's whether you feel uncomfortable with anything other than just wood under your thumb.

At least you've ordered what you want and that's the really important thing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) . Although I must admit, the opportunity to choose from several instruments would be my preference. Although strictly speaking it's not a 'commissioned' instrument, having to order an instrument and wait for it to be made still means that to a certain extent you've got to accept what turns up, even if it doesn't sound quite how the others did that you tried in the shop.

One reason why I wouldn't commission a violin to be made. If you decide there's something about the tone you really don't like, you're still stuck with the instrument (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I'm interested that you have to *order* your Loree - you mean one can't just go and pick one off the Howarth's shelf? Is this always the case?

To Claire21. If you want a professional instrument that includes a thumbplate, then genrally they will have one available there and then, or maybe within a couple of weeks. But Howarth don't keep a huge stock of new conservatoire system instruments from foreign makers, because the added thumbplate is generally the norm in the UK.

[notmusimum]

Hope top be following in your footsteps and getting my daughter a new Oboe soon.

Hope yours are everything you want them to be.

[A.U.K]

Hello all, yes it was an exciting day...Howarths were great...it was so nice to catch up with all the old faces and meet the new ones as well.

As for commisioning instruments..the Loree 125 Royal is Loree's centenary model only a very few have been made apparantly and I don't think there are many here in the UK. As for trying before buying, it's still in that vein...if I don't approve the instrument then it will go back...somehow I don't envisage this being likely as by all accounts this is the most carefully made model of all...Loree seek perfection...(lets hope they never hear me play it). The Cor Anglais is a Loree Royal as well and I have told M De Gourdon if it aint the best then not to bother sending it... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) I have no doubt that Loree will get it just as I wish and any fine tuning can be done by Howarths in whom I place my trust completely...

The wait is a bit of a drag but its not the end of the world, I'm having a lot of work done here at home so practice is out of the window and I am going to be having quite a lot of dental work done so a little breathing space isnt a bad thing...

I see what you mean AmandaL about the thumplate...I thought to myself I must give it a try for YOU! as we both debate the pro's and cons...I was totally thrown by the metal under my thumb...you would have roared if you'd seen me struggle with it...never mind...I had a go....

As for trying from a selection...Howarths carry many thumbplate instruments and only one or two Conservatoire and Automatics so the choice is never huge for Consevatoire players...even less for Automatic players...(mainly Germans I gather, but I am informed that the Germans are coming over to Conservatoire systems more and more...Thumplates are almost entirely restricted to the British market.

Any way I had a lovely day...the weeks will soon pass but in the meantime I will make some reeds...

regards

Anddrew

[pianoboe]

Wow! Lucky you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I'm sure the weeks will pass very quickly!

[itchy1]

Andrew...wow!!
It sounds like you had a fabulous time in Howarths. I hope the wait isn't too frustrating, and the instruments are everything you hope for. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[A.U.K]

Hi Itchy, yes it was fun...I am sure I wont have to wait too long, Loree knew this order was coming so they should be all primed ready to go...but I have waited a long time so a little longer wont matter...I will try and post some pictures when they arrive, that is if I can work out how to do it, not the most computer literate soul here.

[Rosemary7391]

You need to upload the pic to a photo storing website, like Photobucket, and then wrap the url in [img] and [ /img] (Without the space!) tags (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Sounds like great fun! *Can't wait until she has a few thousand saved to go buy an oboe*

[Claire21]

Well I'm a normal thumb-plater, so that sounds okay then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)