Ok, which is better, Gilbert gouger or Dan Ross and why? I have to buy a gouger…and an oboe. $$$$$$$
Also, how old is too old to win an audition? Is their ‘age-prejudice’ especially if you don’t currently have a permanent gig?
Good question. I personally like the RDG curve a little bit more, because I found that the blade curve produced slightly thinner sides. But it has been a long time since I’ve used either, so I can’t say which blade curve I like better for sure. However, the Ross is better made, with a nice thick bar which your carriage slides along, instead of a thinner one which can be bent on the RDG. The Ross is also about $300 cheaper if you’re comparing the cost of a new machine for a new machine.
I recently noticed that Forrest’s Music currently has a used RDG for $900. There is also a used one on ebay for $250 starting price. This is actually a pretty reasonable price for a used one, and it’d be worth calling them up and asking them who set it up. If John their repairman set it up, it’s probably halfway decent. If you bought it, tried it out and wanted to sell it again, I doubt you’d lose a whole lot of money because you probably could sell it for the same price. Meanwhile, sometimes you’ll see a Ross machine on ebay selling for $400 or so, which means about a $600 price loss.
All of this is assuming you’re stuck on a single radius gouging machine, which I really don’t enjoy to begin with. I have three double radius gouging machines, and would like to sell one of them. If you’re interested in buying a used double radius gouging machine, let me know!
As for your age prejudice question, I’m not really sure, but I do know that John Ferillo just won the Boston Symphony job and would be considered “middle-aged”. Most audition preliminary rounds are behind curtains, so everyone is on an equal playing ground through then.
