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Two of my friends are looking for an entry level oboe for their 10 year old daughter. Can anyone give me some advice as to what they should look for and what brands should be considered.

Thanks

Alex F.

I don't think you will find any repairmen willling to endorse a Linton oboe. They are the 'cheapies' you see on Ebay a lot.

If I were in the market for one, I would consider buying a Fox, Loree or Renard from a reputable dealer who will receive the instrument and set it up for you. Go with a plastic oboe for a beginner.

Thanks Dan.

From what little I do know about oboes, I hear that Loree oboes are among the best ($4-5k new) but that most of the Loree oboes out there, particularly on Ebay, are fakes.

I think plastic is probably more likely for this girl unless parents can find a good used wood oboe. Can you recommend any of these. What about the older Selmer wood oboes?

I'm doing all I can to keep them off Ebay but the standard line is: "We just want to get her something to start out with, and if she sticks with it, we'll buy something better." I sympathize with the practical sentiments here but both of these parents are musically trained themselves and should know better.

Alex F wrote: What about the older Selmer wood oboes?

An older Selmer wood oboe in good condition could be a good choice. Have someone who know oboes play it first if possible. Oboes are complicated little 'buggers', and there are certainly lots of things that can go wrong. To start a new student out on something that is sub-standard would be a serious mistake. They aren't very forgiving and making one play in tune is a task for an experience repairman. There's not a lot the player can do to adjust for intonation problems. Just make sure the horn is in good working condition and doesn't have any broken or missing parts. I have an older Selmer oboe on my bench right now that I can't find parts for.

And again... as good as the price might seem.... I've been told by many that the Linton student plastic oboe IS NOT the way to go. Their intermediate and professional models appear to get OK reviews.

Alex F wrote:Two of my friends are looking for an entry level oboe for their 10 year old daughter. Can anyone give me some advice as to what they should look for and what brands should be considered.

Thanks

Alex F.

This looks like a job for ....BLOKEMAN*

*Or at least his wife or daughter

My daughter started out on a plastic Selmer, I think it was a model 1492. It played well, and was certainly easier to maintain than having to worry about wood. I think it cost us about $500 in the mid 90s from a local music store in Orlando. She upgraded to a Selmer 121 that a friend was selling for about $1000 a few years later, and that was fine for a non-music major. Her other friend with the $4000 Loree thought her Selmer sounded almost as good as hers when she played it.

At a district meeting one band director asked another, "I have this piece that I want to play for festival with my band. The problem is that it has a big oboe solo in the beginning and I have no oboe player. What do I do?"

The second band director quickly replied, "Just give the part to your first trumpet player. He or she should be able to cover the part, with probably some transcribing needed."

A couple months later...

The high school concert festival was in full force when the first director's band was up to play their selections. They played a warm up march with no hitches. When they began their second piece, an awful sound started coming from the ensemble. The band director conducted on, seeming not to notice. This shocked the second director mentioned and went to investigate after the band was finished.

Turns out the first band director actually gave the oboe part along with an OBOE to the first trumpet player!

Poor kid.


True story.

Thanks for the information. I'll pass it on.

bloke wrote: I don't mind endorsing a Linton...or a Bundy.

Even the $100 ones on Ebay?

stick with a plastic and a good name brand as has been mentioned,
Selmer/Bundy or Yamaha.

The only problem with plastic is it doesn't burn
ken k

when it comes to fixing