I have searched through some threads here and found most useful information already. Thought I would pose my question however just to make sure we choose wisely. I have a daughter who is starting band and wants to play oboe. There is the good old student rental program and we will get the plastic student oboe for $50 for 3 months to make sure this works out. IF it does...I don`t want to be stuck paying on a rental instrument of low quality but at full retail. I would rather hunt around for something decent and used that she can have for a number of years. I am a hornplayer and am not too knowledgable about oboes. I remember the cruddy horn they gave to my oldest a few years ago for the rent-to-buy program. Handed that back and found a good used one to replace it. Would like to do the same here. What would be good choices to take her through the high school level...if that is even possible? And what keys are the most important to have?

thank you for any help here.

Lee H.

It realy counts on how much you want to pay. I would suggest that you get a Paricola, Yamaha, Buffet, Fox, Cabart, Loree, Maugrix, Rigoutaut, Laubin, or Larilee. You do not want a basic conservatory by all means. I would suggest a modified conservatory of if you wish a full conservatory. You will need a low Bb, left-hand F, and F and low Bb resonance keys. The third octave key is a wonderful adition. If you plan to take real good care of this insturment, meaning having it`s bore oil and humidity level maintained at a moderate humidity I would suggest a wood oboe, preferably grenadilla, rosewood, or violetwood depending on the music. Grenadilla gives a sound most bands want rosewood gives more of a airy, light, french sound. I`m not sure about violetwood, but only proffesional oboes have the option of this wood. If you don`t want the extra work of wood high quality resin is a desent choice. It it will be played in an unstable enviorment get a resin upper joint, this is where most cracks occure. Buffet makes a highbrid oboe made of 95% grenadilla powder and 5% apoxy resin creating a exellent material that looks and sounds like wood, so it dosn`t have wood grain meaning no cracks! These oboes a rather expensive though.

thank you for the advice. My daughter is really enjoying the oboe but have to admit the sound from the Selmer plastic basic model gets quite annoying : ) But she IS practicing and getting better. Looks like she will stick with it so hopefully I will find a good used one that will hold her for awhile.