The Oboe Doctor

Reviews

Prof. Helmut Hucke:

Handling the mechanism of the modern oboe requires long experience; adjusting the screws as well as care and maintenance are always pertinent issues for all oboists.
Marc Schaeferdiek’s book “The Oboe Doctor” is a useful self-help guide. It has a clear, systematic structure which is suitable for beginners and advanced players alike.
I regard both the concept and content of this book as optimal and support it with my warmest recommendation.


Prof. Winfried Liebermann:

I am sure that many musicians are delighted when they find an uncomplicated guide to appropriate care and simple instrument repairs.
I myself was thrilled when Marc Schaeferdiek’s book “The Oboe Doctor” was recently published.
This 60 page handbook is very clearly written.
It cannot be assumed that every oboist has the necessary “feeling” for the fine adjustment required to correctly regulate his instrument. “The Oboe Doctor”, however, also contains excellent advice on such things as, for example, how to get around the highly sensitive “moods” of the oboe. There is also professional guidance on buying an instrument and playing it in which is certainly of use to every oboist.
In view of the stimulating ideas found in “The Oboe Doctor”, I regard it not only as highly recommended for my own students but as an invaluable tool for anyone who is concerned with the oboe family, whether professionally or as an amateur.


Prof. Heinz Holliger:

Since I, like many of my colleagues, belong to those who have only partly mastered the intricacies of regulating and repairing the oboe, I am very grateful for such a useful, practical and clearly constructed book. It should become a constant companion (and helper!) to all my colleagues.


Contents
 

1. The structure of the oboe

2. Basic maintenance

    2.1 Assembling the oboe

    2.2 Cleaning the inside of the instrument

    2.3 Cleaning the outside of the instrument

    2.4 Greasing the corks

    2.5 Oiling the mechanism

    2.6 Storage


3. Cracks

    3.1 How cracks occur

    3.2 Prevention

            3.2.1 Wiping out the oboe

            3.2.2 Oiling the inside of the instrument body

    3.3 Oil - yes or no?

    3.4 Cracks - what should I do?


4. Condensation

    4.1 'Water' in tone holes or octave vents

    4.2 'Systematic analysis'

            4.2.1 For water in the tone holes

            4.2.2 For water in the octave vent

    4.3 Water - what should I do?


5. Adjustment of the mechanism

    5.1 Systematic defect analysis

            5.1.1 Reasons for the problem

            5.1.2 Localising the problem

    5.2 Guide to the 'automatic' oboe

            5.2.1 Fundamentals

            5.2.2 Adjustment

    5.3 Guide to the semi-automatic oboe

            5.3.1 Fundamentals

            5.3.2 Adjustment

    5.4 Screw functions


6. Minor repairs

    6.1 Renewing bumper corks

    6.2 Loose screws

    6.3 Cleaning the octave vent


7. Tips

    7.1 'Breaking in' a new oboe

    7.2 How do I choose a new oboe?

    7.3 What should I do when...?

    7.4 Tips in summary


8. Appendix

    8.1 Oboe model  „semi automatic“

    8.2 Oboe model Lorée “semi automatic”

    8.3 Oboe model  „automatic“

    8.4 Oboe model Lorée “automatic”

    8.5 Other models