I have played oboe for 4 years now, and I am a freshman in high school. I am in the market for buying a new oboe, and I am going to go all-out and buy a professional one. To be honest, I do not like the Lorée as my teacher has one, and it is very resistant in the lower octave. I stumbled across another French manufactuer, Fossati Paris (fossati-paris.com) and I was thinking about getting the Soliste version with the Philly D key. I also LOVE the finishes you can get on those oboes. I am just wondering, have any of you heard of the Fossati oboe; I hear they are EXTREMELY popular in Europe.

Thanks
S3

Please, please, take your teachers advice. While many of the oboes available may seem exotic and appealing, in the long run, a good new or used loree, marigaux, howarth, or laubin will take you very far. Talk to your teacher before you buy anything, and if you must buy now, buy from someone who knows what they are doing. Nora Post would be a great start: (845)-331-4845

Chris

Thanks for the reply. Well, my teacher has a 5 year old Lorée and I don`t like the way it plays. It is very resistant when I play it, especially in the lower octaves. I live near a large music store where I can get my hands on almost any oboe I desire, so I think I should give each one a test drive before I finally make my decision. I already talked to the Fossati Co, and they are going to send me a test instrument to see how I like it.

Thanks for your help

Check this site out, I have talked to the man who runs the site on ebay and he KNOWS his oboes. Very helpfull and informative. He may even have an oboe that will suit you, email him!! But here is his listings on oboe manufacturers...hope this helps
http://www.oboes.us/resources/makers.html

Fossati and Patricola are both well regarded professional oboe makers.

I would highly suggest trying all professional oboe makes that you can, than to make an uneducated choice.

In addition to Fossati and Patricola... Loree, Howarth, Rigoutat, Josef, Buffet, Yamaha, Fox, Covey, Marigaux, and Bulgheroni all make professional grade oboes that rival each other and not one can claim to make the best oboes.

Do check out the IDRS http://idrs.colorado.edu/ . Many professional oboists are active on their e-mail list and are all to glad to share their first hand experiences with instruments... which generally are always good as whenever someone tries to attack any singly professional brand there are a dozen people flocking to its defense. It does require a subscription though, but you do get the double reed journal (magazine) and access to music and video competition clips on the IDRS website. There is a student rate.

There is also an IDRS sponsered double reed convention coming up on July 25-29 in Muncie, Indiana. Where every professional and non-professional oboe maker will be present with every oboe in every wood type and accessories imaginable for you to try out.

There are also double reed days across the country sponsored by various double reed organizations which will also play host to some double reed vendors. There are a few coming up in February in Oklahoma, Nothern California, and Southern California. The IDRS lists these events on their main page and that is accessible without any fee.

Check out http://www.oboeinsight.com too. It is the home of oboist Patti Mitchell and she has some good links down the left side of the page (including more events that the IDRS may have missed) and a wonderful blog on her day to day musical life.

Best of luck and happy hunting.