Author: jhoyla
Date: 2009-06-14 11:49
Albrecht Meyer plays a buffet greenline: http://www.albrechtmayer.com/ and IMHO there is nothing about his playing that "lacks character"!!
Choosing an instrument is a very individual thing; obviously, there are things you check for (good, full keywork, no cracks, good seal, clean bore, intonation, even tone throughout the range, etc., etc.), but most pro instruments whether new or resale will have all of that. I'm not sure I buy all of the talk about "complexity of sound" and "character", though maybe this is important stuff for other people.
You are looking for that feeling of comfort, of belonging, that the instrument is an extension of you and does whatever you want it to do. If you feel you are fighting the instrument, it doesn't matter HOW expensive and hyped it is - it ain't for you (though it may well be perfect for someone else).
You won't achieve this level of comfort immediately and all the pro oboe stores recognize that - which is why they will all let you take the instrument for a couple of weeks to see how it shapes up.
Any shop that won't allow you to do this, or (say) a web-based sale that won't allow returns - well, just don't go there. They don't know what they are selling and you certainly don't know what you are buying.
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