Oboe Buyer's Guide

Student Oboes:
Student oboes provide an excellent start for the first few years of music education. Oboes designed for students are made of grenadilla wood or plastic. For younger beginners plastic is the ideal material because it is very durable. Grenadilla is great for a beginning oboe player who started on another instrument, such as clarinet. Also student oboes also have fewer keys than intermediate or professional instruments. However, the keys available on a student oboe will not limit the beginner's ability to perform in a concert band when more complicated pieces of music are introduced in high school or college.

Intermediate Oboes:
Higher quality materials, more keys and some hand refinement separate a intermediate oboes from student oboes. Once a student is established and is learning the fundamentals of good playing, it is important to purchase an intermediate instrument to continue his or her musical growth.

Professional:
Designed and constructed with professional musicians in mind, professional oboes find favor among more serious students as well. Most professional oboes are made of all grenadilla wood, however, a few feature a crack-proof upper joint made of plastic with a grenadilla lower joint and bell. Professional oboes also feature a system of keys referred to as a full conservatory. The full conservatory is necessary for advanced pieces of music, aiding in access to certain keys and an even dynamic range.

Artist:
Hand-crafted and true artist quality. Recommended Artisan Oboes

featuring

Buffet Crampon Model 4052 Oboe

Oboes are made of grenadilla wood or high quality plastics, generally known as resonite. Grenadilla has a long tradition of use by professional oboists worldwide because of its warm, rich tone. However, the quality of non-wood instruments has risen to a highly respected level, making them popular with both students and professionals.

The plastic resin used for manufacturing instruments is highly stable and durable. Plastic oboes require less maintenance and are not susceptible to cracking.

Many of the most respected oboe manufacturers offer their professional model oboes in plastic or with a plastic upper joint in place of traditional grenadilla wood. This is advantageous because the upper joint on the oboe is the portion most likely to experience cracking due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Low Bb:
This key extends the range of the oboe to low Bb. Basic student models typically only play to low B natural. Open holes in the bell without a mechanism or key to cover them indicate there is not a low Bb on the oboe.

Left Hand F Key:
This is essential to more advanced players in executing certain passages, and in choosing the desired tone color. The left hand F key allows the player an alternative fingering for playing F. Depending on preference, a forked-F is another option.

Forked F and Bb Resonance Keys:
These improve the quality and pitch of their respective notes. Some basic student models, as well as professional Tabuteau oboes, do not have these resonance keys.

Ab-Bb Trill Mechanism:
This greatly simplifies the fingering of this trill. Without this mechanism, creating a true trill between these two notes is not possible.

G#-A Trill Key:
Depression of this key simplifies the trill and improves the intonation of the A.

Double Ring D#-E:
This mechanism allows an easy fingering for the trill and improves the intonation of the E.

Left Hand C-D Trill:
Provides an alternative to the right hand C-D trill lever.

Auxiliary Low C:
This key facilitates the low C to C# transition and simplifies the trill.

Low B-C# Trill Mechanism:
Allows for a seamless transition in executing this trill.

In choosing an oboe, you need to consider your musician's age and skill level, and the kind of use (school band, marching band, orchestra, etc.) to which they will put their instrument. If for school, consulting with the band teacher is a good idea.

Whatever oboe you select, The Woodwind & Brasswind's 100% Satisfaction Guarantee means you have 45 days to be sure it's right for you. If it's not, just return it for a full refund.* And you don't need to worry about paying too much. Our 45-Day Lowest Price Guarantee means that if you find the same oboe advertised for less elsewhere, we'll make up the difference. When you buy an oboe from The Woodwind & Brasswind, you can buy with complete confidence.

*All returned woodwind and brass instruments are assessed a $10.00 sterilization fee. Instruments priced over $3,000.00 are assessed a $20.00 fee. All mouthpieces are assessed a $4.00 fee.