 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2011-07-19 13:43
I have a 10-year-old student who has played oboe for a little less than a year. His mother wants to buy him an instrument, used or new, and is looking to spend at most $1500. She wants to get him something better than the plastic beginner horn he has been renting.
Anything come to mind?
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2011-07-19 14:35
In that price range, there is only value in buying used. I would look at the Fox models (I assume the 'plastic beginner horn' is not one of those?) 333 and 330, the Yamaha 400 series, Howarth S20C if you can find one...
In my experience with oboes that our department has bought (which is a LOT, and all used by students), the Buffet 4051/4052 have proved to not offer longevity or reliability. Perhaps it was just the batches (over several years) we were supplied with, but they have almost all been relegated to the scrapheap when some 50yo Noblets are still in service. We now buy the Howarth S20C.
Peter Hurd would probably be able to offer some good suggestions regarding older oboes, but I started on a 60s Cabart which was a beautiful oboe, unfortunately its mechanism has since passed on. This route is best taken if it is through an oboe dealer, if it can be played by someone proficiently prior to purchase or if you have the option to have an experienced tech look over it first.
Good luck!
Rachel
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Author: KevinB
Date: 2011-07-19 16:47
As an adult student who has an S20C (but with thumb plate mod) I have to agree, I can't praise it highly enough. It's free blowing, has a lovely mellow tone and has exceptionally good quality keywork compared to some other 2nd hand ones i looked at when purchasing. Granted, I am only the second owner of it and the previous owner obviously took great care of it, but it really did seem a brand new instrument compared to a couple of older ones. A Fox and a Buffet weren't far behind the S20C but I had the intense misfortune to try out a 2nd hand Selmer of some description. Very clattery and felt quite rickety.
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Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2011-07-19 17:42
Yamaha and Fox are the dependable brands in "cheap" instruments.
STAY AWAY from Bundy and Linton - seriously, run like it were a cyclone!!!
Peter Hurd was mentioned (oboes.us) and Hanna's Oboes is another fantastic place (http://www.hannahsoboes.com/).
The advantage of these 2 is that they really take quality repair work to heart: the instrument you get from them will be in excellent condition or better! There may be others with the same traits, but I don't know them off hand.
Don't shy away from plastic oboes, they can sound equally well and they will withstand more weathering! My Lorée with plastic top-joint has served me faithfully for 25+ years!
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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Author: Dutchy
Date: 2011-07-19 21:58
Be sure it has the Low Bb key and left-hand F. The other assorted trill keys aren't terribly important for a child, but I started on a Selmer 1492 and the lack of the low Bb was tremendously frustrating. I now have a Fox 333 which I like a lot.
You'll hear "Selmer! Selmer!" pushed at you, simply because they make a lot of other woodwind band instruments for children, but there are different models of Selmers, so know what you're getting into. I wouldn't recommend the 1492 to anyone, but a number of the folks on this board like the other Selmer models.
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Author: Hummingbird
Date: 2011-07-19 22:59
I started out on a Selmer rental that didn't have low Bb or left F...i wouldn't recommend it for it's features, however, it did have a sound and tuning that rivals many professional level instruments i've tried over the years. Meaning - it may be worth it to still consider instruments lacking low Bb and/or left F at that price point, if you desire an excellent sound too.
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2011-07-20 01:47
Thank you everyone! I've already e-mailed Hannah and will wait to see what she has. I will also check Peter's site out (he once bought one of my oboes!).
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