 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: B Chas
Date: 2011-06-26 19:48
Please help me find a used oboe. I mentor the brother of a delightful 14 year old young lady. Rachael was 1st chair in middle school and without politics deserved to be 1st chair as a freshman in high school. She is quite talented and hopes to pursue a career as a professional. Over the years we’ve become quite close and I’d like to help her get a real Oboe. She now has a plastic oboe and would someday like to have a nicer instrument. I play acoustic guitar and I’m all too familiar how much one needs to know before buying an instrument. I’m completely lost here and don’t even know where to start. Since I’m a member of a great guitar forum, I feel comfortable asking for help here from a group of complete strangers in your forum. At the Acoustic Guitar Forum, members enjoy sharing there knowledge and experience helping others. I’m hopeful the same spirit is alive here.
I know this is a lot to ask, just get me pointed in the right direction and I can take it from there.
Thanks
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2011-06-26 20:06
MY experience with freebies is that they are worth what you pay for them. Oboes are fickle instruments, and a poor instrument will set her back rather than give her a boost.
If your young acquaintance can afford a decent second hand instrument she should go to a reputable dealer. Hannah's Oboes is a hot favorite here but there are plenty of others. Ask here for recommendations if you are unsure about a particular dealer.
Involve a teacher or friendly professional in the selection process.
If she can't afford one she should start saving up now. Pocket money, paper rounds etc. will all add up and eventually she'll be able to afford something worthwhile.
J.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2011-06-26 21:48
Yeah, try Hannah's Oboes http://www.hannahsoboes.com/.
She is a favorite here for a reason. Completely honest and bend-over-backwards helpful. And you can tell her I said so!
When you go to her site, the first thing you should do is READ HER TESTIMONIALS!
Susan
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-06-27 02:32
Hannah is wonderful. There are a few other sites; I've purchased good instruments from Mark Chudnow (Napa, CA) and also from usedoboes.com (Marti, in PA).
The staff at Midwest Musical Imports is very helpful and they have used instruments but not (usually) higher-end oboes; Charles Double Reed sells quite a few oboes of all makes and he gives some sort of guarantee, but I've only bought supplies from him. Miller Marketing is mostly bassoon, BUT I bought a beautiful used English horn there.
I always buy used (pocket book issues, mostly), but I would probably avoid a private seller UNLESS they are an oboe teacher with a spare instrument and you trust them.
Whatever you buy, make sure there is a trial period and your daughter can try the instrument to make sure it suits HER. Not every make (no matter how famous) suits every player. As someone else has said, oboes are temperamental.
One more site you might find useful: Oboes for Idgets has LOTS of links.
GoodWinds
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Author: B Chas
Date: 2011-06-30 02:10
I wanted to say thanks to those who have offered your help.
Susan, I spent some time on the phone this morning with Hanna the oboe fairy. What a wonderful person. Hanna really cares! Hanna suggested an overall approach starting with a professional teacher to help evaluate Rachael's needs and recommend an appropriate upgrade. I have to agree since at these prices (oh my) we need to make a decision that will benefit Rachael's playing and also make her happy for years to come. Rachael isn’t so much concerned with the tone as much as having the extra keys. Looks like the Yamaha YOB241 oboe that was purchased for almost $4k used from All County Music in Pembroke Pines Fl. was a real mistake. Although the plan was to trade the Yamaha to get a head start on buying a professional model, seems the Yamaha bought for almost $4K used is only worth about $500.
GoodWinds, your suggestion of the four, count em, four good places to look is great, thanks.
Thanks again for taking an interest to help a total stranger. Your help is greatly appreciated. This forum is truely a nice place.
Bruce
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-06-30 05:05
I think it's a nice place, that's why we all keep coming back.
And there is NOTHING in the world like Oboe Humor.
GoodWinds
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Author: Dutchy
Date: 2011-07-01 12:37
Quote:
the Yamaha YOB241 oboe that was purchased for almost $4k used from All County Music in Pembroke Pines Fl. was a real mistake. Although the plan was to trade the Yamaha to get a head start on buying a professional model, seems the Yamaha bought for almost $4K used is only worth about $500.
Yes, it is. And not to grind you down into the dust any further (lol), but IMHO All County Music took you for a ride, in case you hadn't realized that yet. I would expect that model of oboe, used, to go for $2000 or less, and certainly not "almost $4K". I mean, good heavens. :eek: I know it's capitalism and "charging whatever the traffic will bear", but really. I certainly wouldn't do business with them anymore, on anything. You don't even need to buy sheet music or reeds from them, we can tell you where to get those online, and much better quality, too.
As for "extra keys", yes, they're not merely a perk or a furbelow, some of them are vital and are worth the extra money, Low Bb, Left-Hand F and some of the trill keys in particular.
Rachael is more than welcome to sign up for an account here and come in and ask questions for herself, too. We are very welcoming to kids, and are very family-friendly, and are always on-topic with "oboe talk only", extraneous things are not allowed on the forum.
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Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2011-07-01 16:08
What I'd say is find a store that sells dependable used instruments and aim for Yamaha. I'm under the impression that they are still the cheapest of the advanced-student and professional grade.
Hanna's Oboes and Peter Hurd seem to give huge importance to getting used instruments in great state of repair. Nora Post appears to be an excellent repairer and I have heard great stories about repairers at RDG, but I don't know their reputation for actual used instruments sold.
Plastic Fox oboes have a huge reputation for quality. So either a Fox or Yamaha (plastic is fine, don't get drawn-in to prejudice for wood) are good choices. Getting as much keywork as possible (full Conservatoire system) is an important thing if you can afford it: it will really help learn proper technique more quickly.
The brand name is a matter of getting the most stable and best tuned instrument possible without needing to try dozens of individual instruments.
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-07-01 16:50
"Plastic is fine.." and there are some really good quality instruments out there.
But if Rachael is 'going pro' and is mature enough to care for a quality wood instrument, she might manage it (depending on her skill level). I believe I was 14 or 15 when my dad bought me a new Marigaux, and that really made my serious life-long commitment to the oboe possible, not only having a really nice instrument, but having the support of my parents.
So we're all going to hope that you find THE instrument for her.
mary
GoodWinds
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