oboe octave keys

[Benny]

I am currently borrowing a wooden Sonora oboe from a friend which plays great and has all the key options I could possibly imagine including a fully automatic octave mechanism. The oboist I am having lessons with has a marigaux that has a semi-auto mechanism (with a 2nd octave). Do any of you doubling folk have any opinions on the advantages or disadvantages of either octave mechanism option?

[bpimentel]

The advantage of the fully-automatic octave mechanism is that you only have to deal with one octave key, instead of two.

The primary disadvantages are (1) a tendency for the mechanism to stick and (2) the inability to use certain harmonic fingerings.

The two systems seem to be popular in different parts of the world. Here in the USA, semi-automatic is the only way to go. If your teacher is using semi-automatic, the ideal solution would be for you to use it, too.

Hope that helps.
Bret

[Benny]

thanks brett!
I spoke to an old sax teacher who doubles a lot on oboe as well as my repairer. Both suggested semi-automatic for the same reasons you did, as well as for re-sale potential.
I ended up going with a rigoutat that was my teachers old oboe. I am hiring it from him until I can afford my own good one, and if the I like the rigoutat I'll go with that.

[Chris Peryagh]

Semi automatic is much better all round - it's 99% reliable compared to fully automatic octaves which need to be absolutely perfectly regulated as oboe auto octaves have very little or no margin for error (unlike sax auto octaves in which the worst made ones will still work to some degree).

And the harmonic fingerings - you can play a nice quiet (and very steady) top G#/Ab, A and Bb (above the treble clef stave) by playing low C#, D and Eb respectively with the top octave key open only (it puts these notes up a 12th) - on fully auto oboes the lower octave vent will be open so these harmonic fingerings won't work.