What is a saxoboe?

Answer 1

A Saxoboe was an instrument built back in the early part of the 20th Century that combined the fingering system used on the Saxophone with the reed used on an Oboe. Think of a very small-bore straight Soprano Saxophone pitched in 'C' with an Oboe reed instead of a mouthpiece. They were made of metal like metal clarinets, although I do recall seeing an ad in an old music trade magazine that showed one of wood as well. There was one of these Saxoboes at the High School I attended (Dunsmuir, California) back in the late l950 early 1960s. Tried playing it a few times. As a reasonable souonding substitues for an Oboe it left a lot to be desired. Gary Girdler