 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2011-11-18 22:23
Hello everyone,
One of the community bands I played with before I left Oz is now needing to replace me, and have found someone who wants to play, but doesn't own their own oboe. So they are looking to purchase one for their inventory, and are looking to spend $2000-$3000. The biggest issue is time, as my friend who conducts the band is visiting in Jan and taking whatever I purchase back with him. Given the time and the fact that we are heading into holiday season (may be lags with businesses closing, shipping, etc), I would prefer not to ship several items to try and then return them (unless of course it's absolutely terrible), so really need to choose the best thing I can get for the money.
My best guesses so far are (used) Fox 330/333 or Yamaha 441/411, both of which I believe are decent instruments for the money, and readily available in the used market.
Comments on longevity, tuning and ease of playing are welcome, as well as other suggestions. I have never played these models, having never dealt with the intermediate market before. I have a Yamaha 211 at home which despite sitting in a cupboard most of the time and coming out for 1 or 2 outdoor gigs a year, stays well in adjustment.
Thanks!
Rachel
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2011-11-18 23:47
Oh, boy! What a challenge!
Knee jerk reaction is that the Fox is the better choice, presuming you can find one in your price range. The trouble with the used Fox 330/333 models is that they command a better price at resale than almost any other brand I know of (and I have been looking -- more about that presently).
I played an intermediate Yamaha for a while. I have to say, it was unproblematic, but I guess the sense I have is that it was quite pedestrian. I think the Foxes can actually rise to a higher level of tone quality, in the right hands.
If I were in your position, I would call Hannah (http://www.hannahsoboes.com/) or Peter (http://oboes.us/) and see what they have on hand. You MAY even be able to find an older, reconditioned, Loree for the price.
Susan
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2011-11-19 00:29
Pedestrian is a great description for many Yamaha products, in my humble opinion, Susan! They are solid, reliable, and good, but they tend to lack character. This may be just fine for a community band, as they will probably need to spend little money on upkeep.
Wood is not an issue in our climate, either, except that they do a couple of outdoor gigs each year, although usually in summer.
My only concern about the Loree idea is that they are all so individual, I would prefer to try them out if I went that way.
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2011-11-19 03:10
In the $2000-$3500 price range for a community band (or school/ institutional use), I invariably recommend a second hand, FULL professional model oboe by
Kreul (Hans Kreul, Gordet/Kreul, Kreul/Mirafone, Lucerne/Kreul, Genet/Kreul).
The Kreul oboe has the most robustly engineered and toughest alloy key-work of any oboe I know of. They survive many decades of hard use, and then can be rebuilt for many more decades of hard use. And the Kreul oboes have heaps of personality and character- positively the Kreul oboe has "something to say,"
whereas I find the Fox and the Yamaha instruments to be bland at best.
The difficulty with the Kreul oboes is that they tend to sell out immediately once I have had an overhaul accomplished.
However, some other professional model instruments to recommend in your price range:
[In the "bargain basement" realm it is difficult to surpass the Linton ZRL (this is also the Armstrong 5030). Has ALL the requisite professional key-work, and, wood or plastic, they actually play very well.]
Bulgheroni "Artist" (many "stencils")
Chauvet (BW series preferred)
Barre'
Jarde'
With best wishes,
Peter
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
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Author: Jeltsin
Date: 2011-11-20 16:01
I think that the Yamaha 441 is much better than the 411.
I tried a Fox 330 and was close to buy it (needed an oboe for outdoor gigs), and I really liked the sound of it.
I have heard from a few friends, how good and cheep the Bulgheronis are.
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2011-11-20 19:53
I suspect they are going to go for something newer and plastic, just because of the fact that they do quite a few outdoor gigs every year. I have contacted Hannah, and she has been wonderful. In our price range in the plastic models, she has a few 330s, a couple of Yamaha 410s (all plastic 411) and a 441P (plastic top joint). If they are set on plastic (hard to talk these old committee guys around sometimes!), I may get a Yamaha and a Fox from Hannah and compare.
While it would be wonderful to have an old Kreul, or a Bulgheroni, we're having a hard enough time convincing them not to go down to the local music store (which they've already tried) and spending $1100 on a beat up Linton (let's just say that used instruments is not this particular store's strong point), so we're trying to stick to the $2000 end of the spectrum.
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