 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2011-11-12 06:48
After a 16 year break in oboe playing I decided to pick it up again. Right now I'm playing on a very used oboe that I am quite sure makes the neighborhood dogs howl and they live quite a ways away. It barely gets the job done. I'm set on buying a new/new to me instrument. My price range is up to 3000 dollars. I want a new or good used one, no wood, something that sounds decent that I will play in front of an audience once a week. Any recommendations? I've been agonizing over this oboe decision for a couple weeks now and there are just too many choices! I have small hands. Thank you kindly for your advice in advance.
P.S. I live in the woods in Alaska and my store choices are small.
Post Edited (2011-11-12 07:05)
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Author: oboi
Date: 2011-11-12 08:17
My Yamaha YOB-441P served me well until I bought a Marigaux 2001. In fact, I'm trying to get rid of the Yahama now! It's a hybrid, though, with a wooden lower joint, although it has survived this screwy cold and dry Canadian weather so far. Worked well for my tiny hands, which I mentioned in just the previous post. Nice ergonomic keywork. I'm assuming their all-plastic ones are decent intermediate instruments, too, and you can definitely get one less than $3000.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-11-12 11:43
Do keep a look out for used pro model oboes in the classifieds, used instrument lists and auction sites as there are sometimes bargains to be had.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: pliscapoivre
Date: 2011-11-12 12:59
You could also have a look at Mark Chudnow's used instrument list. He is reliable and professional and has a number of oboes under $3000 at the moment -- also a YOB fir $3850. Maybe you can talk the price down a bit if the instrument has been there for a while -- I just sold a Loree through Mark (the 2006 Royal that's still on his site) and the buyer paid $500 less than I was asking.
http://mcwoboe.com/used_elite.htm
He will send instruments to you for a week's trial. You just pay the shipping. You can talk to him about what you're looking for and take his suggestions.
Have fun shopping! 
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2011-11-12 16:52
Wow! Such quick responses. Thank you everyone for your responses. I have about a month until I buy one and will give MCW and hannas oboes a call, also played on a fox in the store. And thanks for the offer oboi, I am still scaredy-cat to buy a wood oboe. I don't want cracks.
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Author: Jeltsin
Date: 2011-11-13 17:37
You can also contact Nora Post
http://www.norapost.com/
I bought a nice Rigoutat Expression, 10 years old, from her.
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2011-11-17 05:47
Hello. Thanks for the reference to Nora Post. So many good recommendations. I will hopefully be playing on a new to me oboe by this time next month. So exciting! Now to learn how to make reeds. I suppose mid thirties isn't too old to start.
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Author: pliscapoivre
Date: 2011-11-17 07:43
Indeed, not at all too old! Just keep your knife sharp and be patient.
Have a wonderful time.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-11-18 17:58
I love making reeds, and the advice you've been given is sound.
It's HARDLY too late for you to start making reeds, but I would recommend that you get your 'chops' back first before you start carving.
and getting one or two lessons from a pro would be a good idea, just to start you off on the right foot (as it were).
GoodWinds
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2011-11-18 20:29
Thanks. Oh my mouth gets tired so fast!! Almost like a charley horse. I do need to learn to adjust reeds properly. I never learned, had to teach myself the oboe and a few lessons would be great. I will search around for a pro to consult. Thanks again for all the great advice.
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Author: pliscapoivre
Date: 2011-11-19 15:51
If you don't find anyone locally, Ptarmigan, maybe you'd like to have a few lessons on Skype. I'd be happy to help, so please know that you can email me if you want to.
I agree that it's a very fine idea to learn to adjust reeds and then work backwards in learning the reedmaking process. GoodWinds is so right, too, that it's important to get your chops back before you deal with reeds. My teacher always said that before taking any time off, I should make sure I had some good reeds ready for the return!
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2011-12-29 17:05
Hello! And Happy New Year. An update: I trialed some oboes over Christmas. A Fox 333 won out. It meets my needs and sounds much nicer than the old one. Eventually there may be another oboe, but for now this one is great and I am very happy with it.
I am also able to play for longer periods of time. No more blow outs and no more charley horses! And it's nice to be able to play full strength in public without sounding like an adolescent duck.
The reed making thing is next. This board is such a great resource!
Anyway, just thought an update would be in order. Thank you for all your responses. Have a great New Year.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-12-29 23:47
charley horses??? I must have missed something in this thread...
never mind.
GoodWinds
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Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2011-12-30 11:59
I always recommend 2 used instrument dealers that really care for their instruments well.
Peter Hurd http://www.oboes.us/
Hannah Selznik http://www.hannahsoboes.com/
There are certainly many others like them who will choose an excellent one for you and send by mail - including trial periods. I recommend these 2 because I had correspondence with them and their character and care left a strong impression on me.
Used is often better than new because the kinks have been worked out and you can get a pro model with a resin top joint that won't crack for the price of a new student model that may reveal problems over time.
Best of luck!
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2011-12-31 01:31
The charley horse explained - practicing at first felt like my cheeks and mouth were having a charley horse!
I trialed the oboes from Hannah. She's great!
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