 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Heidi FLint
Date: 2002-05-27 12:27
This seems to be a clarinet site, but I can't find an oboe site like it--so here goes. Looking to purchase a used wooden oboe, a step up for my daughter. She is currently on a plastic school rental. Model suggestions? (I think I like Buffet) Anyone have such an instument? Price range I should look for? Thanks. My other daughter is a bassoon player and it was a board just such as this that put me with a wonderful gentleman who sold me a Schreiber bassoon when she was ready to upgrade.
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Author: Pam
Date: 2002-05-27 14:02
There is a classifieds section on here that you might check. I can't give you recommendations as I don't play the oboe, but maybe once you get some ideas you could look there. Good luck in your search.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-05-27 16:23
A number of years ago, I learned how to play oboe [in mediocre fashion], to provide its unique voice to our small symphony orchestra, on a Linton full conservatory wood oboe. A very interesting and challenging experience. I would suggest you go to EBAY, search "oboe" and read to increase your familiarity with the variety of makes and models [and "going prices"] available. Also the several discount musical supplier's catalogs will provide a modest variety of insts. and perhaps some advice re; selecting for an ?intermediate? oboe student. A large music store, or Amazon/B&N, should have books/pb's on oboe, I believe there is one of the Menhuin series, by Goosens?, which would be very helpful, IMHO. As to selection, [new] wood oboes may crack [upper joint] very easily, so I'd suggest a several-year-used, good quality wood or a high quality, full conservatory system plastic, hopefully with the "left [little-finger] F lever" to facilitate that fingering "problem". Others, please add comments and experience. Don
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-05-27 16:54
Hi! I am a clarinetist, and a clarinet teacher. I am learning the oboe so that I can teach beginning students. I take lessons from a pro player who is very knowledgeable. I did quite some research on the oboe before I purchased mine. CAREFUL, because oboes are touchy, and sometimes a good plastic oboe is better than a student wooden oboe. They are much more fussy than clarinets. I do NOT recommend purchasing one on ebay unless you have a time option to return it. Oboes are costly, and the cheapest ones can really be dastardly to a young player causing much frustration and many adjustments. My teacher recommended that I purchase the Fox 330 prior to my decision to upgrade the purchase to a pro oboe. You can get reliable oboes from Marti Hess at <www.usedoboes.com> The owners are oboists. I purchased a new pro Patricola oboe. They also have student models. I recommend speaking with someone at Muncy Winds about the Patricola oboes. The local oboe University prof loves the Patricolas. Also, I recommend good oboe reeds. Muncy also owns the Olivieri reed Co, and they just began to produce an excellent oboe reed that is not expensive
($5-6-7??). Muncy Winds ph: 1-800-333-6415, <www.muncywinds.com>
Another terrific oboe reed is from Woodwind-Brasswind (1-800-348-5003. <www.woodwindbrasswind.com> ) "Woodwind artist model" (#04-WWAOB about $6). Believe me, I've tried numerous oboe and clarinet reeds, and these two reeds are the best.
Good luck!
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-05-27 16:56
Another comment. There are oboes available that have a plastic upper joint and a wooden lower joint. Many pros are using them for some of their gigs. The oboe "walls" are thinner than clarinets and tend to crack easier. This may be a viable option, as well. I know that Fox makes one.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-05-27 17:48
Like Sandra [fine advice], with a bit more thought, another comment or so. With your experience, I'm sure you will get a "plateau" key system, no open holes! Re: cracking, Linton has an expired patent on a plastic [top of UJ] insert for the reed staple and the several L's Ive seen had not cracked, perhaps other makers have adopted this desireable feature. Yes, I believe Fox is known as the best US maker, Patricola I'm sure is fine and of course Loree, likely other lesser-known {French] makers. Via some inst. trading [several years ago], I acquired an older, but uncracked French Full Cons. oboe [four-letter name, cant recall!] which my oboe-playing repairman-friend said was worth restoring, which he did well, freeing frozen rods and hot-oil-treating the wood, [$300, bargain?]. I sold it to a retired music teacher in our comm. band where she plays it well [and happily!]. The restoration took about 5 months, tho! Yes, our best wishes. Don
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-05-27 18:44
If you haven't already checked it out, try:
<www.idrs.org>
This is the website for the International Double Reed Society. While a brief glance suggested that it is designed more for experienced players, they have a mail list like the Klarinet list here with extensive archives. Perhaps someone else has asked that list a question similar to yours. You have to belong to the IDRS to access some of the sections but I think there is free access to others. There is also a section of links to other sites that may prove useful and a "Classifieds" section though the instruments listed there may be more than you're looking for right now.
I have read somewhere, probably on this board or in the Klarinet archives, an evaluation of different makers of oboes, particularly student and intermediate line instruments. You might find useful information by searching on "oboe" (without the quotes) in these two areas.
Good hunting,
jnk
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Author: Josh
Date: 2002-05-27 19:37
I second the Patricola motion...I play English horn professionally and my instrument of choice is a Patricola (as are my oboe and most of my clarinets as well). They make student-level oboes which are *fantastic*, and have all the necessary keywork to keep your student happy for quite some time. The Fox Renard series is also great, I'd recommend a 330. The Buffet 4052 is also a great horn, a student/intermediate instrument with a COMPLETE full conservatory system with the exception of the split D key. (I believe it even has a 3rd octave key). There are always several of the Buffets on eBay for quite a nice price. Just type in "oboe" and sort by highest price first. They'll be at the top. Good luck! The oboe is a demon, but a fun one to conquer!
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-05-27 21:08
I just noticed that for some reason the link didn't post with the rest of my message so here it is again in "clickable" and, if for some reason that doesn't post, "cut and paste form"
http://www.idrs.org
http://www.idrs.org
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-05-28 00:58
Try the site:
usedoboes.com
for some classified ads. The Fox instruments are great for students as are some others. There are some used oboes for sale that just take too much time and money to make usedable so one should get a fine teacher to check your potential purchase if at all possible. Lessons with a teacher are highly recommended as it is extremely difficult to learn the oboe by oneself. The eventual goal, in the USA, is to buy a Loree or a Laubin as those instruments are the norm for professional players.
Try some of the Dunkle reeds if you get a chance. Later, you might wish to make them yourself.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-05-28 01:28
Good advice all round - the only thing I can add is that oboes are much more expensive than clarinets, even student models are pricey.
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Author: Mandy
Date: 2002-05-28 14:09
The Howarth S10B is great for a beginner or for the more advanced player the S20.
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Author: jblair
Date: 2002-05-28 16:18
I have played on a Linton for 5 years, purchased it used, and have been very satisfied with it. Don't get too hung up on having to have the Fox, Loree, etc. Be more concerned with condition and sound quality.
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Author: beth
Date: 2002-05-28 19:23
We've been going through the same thing for about the past year for our daughter, upgrading her to a better quality oboe. At least we were until her teacher was transferred to Korea in April for a year. Does you child have a private oboe teacher? If she does, use the teacher as a resource, if not, call a local university/college with a performance music program and maybe someone call help advise you in your search. Buying a used oboe isn't at all like buying a used clarinet. You'll want someone you whose experience you trust to check out the instrument besides your child playing it. Be prepared to try alot of instruments before finding the right one for your daughter. We've had 18 on spec and still haven't found one that matches the "sound" that my daughter's teacher and my DD are looking for for her.
We were recommended that as far as plastic goes the Fox oboes are good and they'll usually hold a person through high school and possibily college depending on what the player wants to do. My DD was origionally looking at a performance major in oboe, so we were first looking for a good wood one. But since then, she's changed her mind and now wants to minor in music performance and major in forensics, so now we're looking at getting her a Fox 300 or a Fox 330. If I remember, the 330 doesn't have the split D key, but otherwise its the same as the 300. It saves a bit of money at the outset and the split key can be added later. Depending on age, quality, model plastic, wood etc. you're looking at around $1500 - $2500, or beyond. Also on the wood vs. plastic issue, you have to really think this through. Besides the "snob" factor "I have a wooden Buffet" thing; is also how well is your daughter going to take care of this investment? Will it be left in the car regularly and therefor subject to temperture changes? (This is a big issue in this household!) Will she remember to swab it out regularly? Some kids are harder on their instruments - is your daughter like that? Will it be thrown and squished into a school locker, will she play the oboe outdoors any etc. (you get my drift <g>).
I don't recommend purchasing an oboe off of e-bay. Pictures just don't really show the condition of the instrument and when you ask questions of the seller, alot of the time, they really can't answer your questions satisfactorily and the trial periods, if you can get one from the buyer are usually to short a time frame to really try an instrument and have someone else thoughly check out the instrument also.
If your daughter doesn't have a private oboe teacher, I'd recommend highly that you get her one, if you're able. My DD started off on a school intstrument with the school band teacher (4 years ago) and began with a private teacher 2 and half years ago. The first 6-8 months was spent unlearning clarinet techniques and relearning proper oboe technique and the right reeds for her. The last year and a half has been spent on the mechanics of music (counting, dynamics etc.) and getting her sound just right. Only after all that has been gone through did her teacher recommend that we upgrade our daughter's oboe.
Here's an oboe site that is reliable and her teacher has used:
http://www.cygnetstudios.com/catalog/Catalog.asp?CatNum=13&page=1
That ought to take you to their used oboe pages.
I didn't mean to be so long winded, but as we've been going through this ourselves....
Happy oboe hunting!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-05-28 22:08
An excellent discussion, Beth, yes, patience will bring great rewards. EBAY bidding/buying of oboes is prob. much more trickey than for clars, which I have done with fair [but inexpert] success, since I have done the minor repairing , almost always needed. The double-reed family requires a high degree of repair/playing skill, which can be quite expensive, and may be hard to find. My oboe/EH "career" [above] would have been better with more pro instruction beyond reed making, even tho I was a "passable" clist. The above advice is sure worth many $'s, Heidi. Best wishes,Don
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-05-28 23:25
My nephew started out on clarinet, then broke my heart by switching to oboe :-). After a LOT of research and on advice by several oboe teachers, my brother got him a (plastic) Renard (made by Fox), which he's very happy with.
Plastic, particularly in the upper joint, is almost an oboe essential these days and carries no stigma. Richard Woodhams (principal in Philadelphia) plays on Loree with a plastic upper joint. John de Lancie used to carry a satchel on stage with a spare oboe laid in the open top, because his oboes cracked so often (almost always between the two trill keys, where the wood is very thin).
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-05-29 19:01
Sorry! Marti Hess is at www.usedoboes.com. It didn't appear in the last posting. Let us all know how you decide! Sandra
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