hi! I have been playing the oboe for four years this october. I have been using the same oboe these four years, a '40s authentic wooden oboe. Just recently, I took it to the music shop to get its pads replaced, and the manager said that it wasn't worth the money. He said that there was a huge crack in the back that was leaking, and that there were many springs out of place. He said the repairs would cost around $400 and then the oboe itself would only be worth $100. Like I said, I have been using the same oboe for four years, and it works, it's just a little out of tune, especially the c. Should I get it fixed or look into getting a new oboe?

What make, model & level (student/plateau or conservatory) is your oboe?

I don't know what you're talking about, I'm only going to eighth grade, but I do know that it was made around the 40's, it's made of wood, and it's by Pan-American.

Your make is Pan American. Makers typically offer several models. Each model has different features (e.g., number of keys) & materials (wood & plastic).

You may want to look at Fox oboes ( http://www.foxproducts.com/pages/oboe_main.asp ), which are very nice, to get an idea of the features of different models.

Hard to say without seeing your oboe whether or not it’s worth paying $400 to repair. I’d guess that an old Pan American is not worth spending $400 to fix. Can you get a second opinion from a music teacher or another repair person?

I tend to think you either need a replacement oboe now, or will in the near future. This is especially true if you oboe doesn’t have the left hand F key, & of lesser importance a low Bb & split D. So, now may be a good time to get a better oboe, or play the Pan American, as is, until it’s unplayable.

well if you have the money they deff go for it..it will probably make your tone so much better..good luck though

i would definetly go for a new oboe.. wooden oboes are more of a pain cuz if the temperature changes.. the instruments tone changes from sharp to flat vice versa.. and then ull have to adjust the reed. my oboe teacher is recommending for me to get a Fox Plastic Model 300 which is a professional oboe. I get to skip the intermediate one =]. But yeah, go for a new PLASTIC oboe

I have Fox Renard 330 oboe that I bought almost 4 years ago (I'm in the 10th grade now). It's been playing perfectly fine, but does anyone know when I should (or not) graduate to a better, wood oboe? It's plastic, so I'm wondering if transitioning to a wooden oboe would be beneficial, since I recently got in to a challenging orchestra.

Are plastic oboes good at all?? I played a plastic selmer and it sounded terrible. btw, do you guys recommend oscar adler oboes??

answering to what trylobite was saying... my teacher told me that since im skipping an intermediate and going straight from a student to a professional i should just stay on a plastic so i dont have to constantly adjust my reed cuz of temperature changes in teh instrument.. i know fox always has their oboes pitched at 440 and temperature is like 72 degrees fahreinhite. so the instrument always stays at the same temperature and u dont ahve to adjust your reed as often.