Author: lbarton
Date: 2008-11-15 14:30
Whatever you do, try to buy an instrument that you can get on a trial basis and have a good teacher (an oboist!) check it out. Many reliable oboe dealers like Pat McFarland, Peter Hurd, and others, and also new instrument dealers will send out on instruments to try with you only responsible to pay postage if you return. I have bought instruments on auction sites and been lucky to get a good used instrument.
But my experience is that it is very risky, especially from dealers who most often do not play oboe themselves and may not give an accurate description. If I buy it is only from individual owners and then only after detailed inquiry as to previous use (store rental, school oboe etc) age, etc.) If it was bought for a single owner who then became discouraged and quit it might be a good buy. If it is a very old oboe, (don't think Malernes are made any more), it could have great wear on mechanism , pads, bent rods, rusty immoveable screws etc. A basic knowledge of simple screw adjustments is really necessary to know if its basically a good instrument but only slightly out of adjustment ---Otherwise stick to respected oboe specialists who do not sell instruments out of adjustment, or consider only those willing to send on a trial basis where you can have a real oboe specialist test it. Lois Barton
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