Professional Oboes

Professional Oboes

All instruments below are made from wood, usually grenadilla (http://www.darajamusicinitiative.org/clarinets-for-conservation.html) unless specified.

All instruments below have a full French conservatory, semi-automatic, key system (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oboe#Conservatoire_oboe), but models may have some key differences including a Philadelphia high D, (http://www.oboesforidgets.com/glossary.htm), and other alternate keys.

Several of these instruments also have a lined top joint designed to deter cracking.

Lorée:

► AK (plastic top joint also available)

► Standard (plastic top joint also available)

►Etoile (different bore meant to be freer blowing than the standard bores)

► Royal in AK or Standard bore (plastic top joint also available)

Laubin (bore is lined to help prevent cracking. Long waiting list for a new instrument)

Fox:

► 300 (full conservatory, plastic)

► 400 (full conservatory, grenadilla)

► 450 (full conservatory, plastic top joint)

► Fox Laubin oboe (Fox manufacture with Laubin finishing)

►Sayen 880 model (darker sound. Some gold key work)

Yamaha:

► 831 (European style bore)

► 841 (Open bore configuration to match American style reeds)

► 841L (lined)

Howarth:

► XL+3 (grenadilla or cocobolo wood. Plastic lining available. Thick walls, large bore,)

► XM+3 (grenadilla or cocobolo wood. Plastic lining available. Thinner walls and smaller bore than the XL)

► LXV (grenadilla or cocobolo wood. Plastic lining available. Thick walls and small bore)

Marigaux:

► 901 (choice of grenadilla or violet wood)

► 920 (Altu Noir: high density black composite material)

► 2000 (choice of grenadilla, clear composite, or violet wood)

► M2 (choice of headjoint length (short, medium or long) and grenadilla or composite)

Rigoutat:

► Pro model

Buffet:

Greenline: wood powder and carbon fibers

► Orfeo (greenline. Full conservatory)

► Prestige 3613 (Black wood or greenline. Full conservatory, philadelphia system)

A used professional model can be a good bargain, even for a music major in college, and can start as low as $3000, but generally will be higher in price unless it is quite old. Professional models have good resale value because they are mechanically and acoustically far superior to the cheaper models and therefore stay in good condition far longer.

Oboes more than 10, and certainly more than 20-30 years old may no longer be trustworthy because the mechanisms might be corroded, the metal might be fatigued, the posts might have become loose in the wood or plastic, and the wood bore might have changed shape (which can affect pitch and tone).