I have been playing the oboe for two years (music class, I am in grade 10) Recently my mom offered to rent an oboe for me and I asked her if I was thinking about going into a musical career would she buy it as well. She has agreed and my only problem is how much should I pay for one? I have had two offers, and I know that you don`t know much about the oboe without seeing it but how do these sound?
Yamaha 211 - 895$ or Selmer USA - 999$
of course I will do more shopping around and looking but I was just wondering about these two.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Well, the Yamaha would cost about $1000ish new. (so it may be better just to buy a new one) I don`t know about the Selmer because I don`t know the model number. Oh, and if you`re thinking about buying an oboe, I`d suggest buying a professional grade one. They sound so much better and you won`t have to buy another when or if you make music your career. ((I`m planning on buying a Fox Renard 400 if I can save up enough money. (around $5000...who needs a car, right? ; ) ) I play a Fox Renard Artist (330) right now and I love it. It was about $3000 but it belongs to the school so I don`t get to keep it.)) It all depends on what you want to do with your oboe after school. If it`s just a school thing then yeah, go ahead and buy the Yamaha. However, if you`re looking towards a music career I`d go with a higher grade.

I agree, i play the Renard by fox and love it. I think its worth saving for a quality insterment that will last you for years to come

If you want set playing oboe as a career.
Go buy a nicer one.
Spend $3000 or $2000, on a MCW, Fox or even a Loree one.
They are good for student player go to professionals.
Buy a full key system, you will need those weird keys to play pieces, or etudes in Advanced Method or in Selected Studies.

I`d say if you`re not sure yet get a mid range fox (renard) or the like, don`t get selmers or lintons both are bad. If you`re thinking about pro playing or university type teaching (serious music)then I`d say go for the pro`s, fox`s are usually not considered on par with the loree, marigaux, and rigoutat, however they aren`t a bad instrument (same goes for MCW). I personally play a rigoutat expression bore which has a pricetag of $4700. Another thing to think about, oboe`s don`t last forever, unlike violins, after about 20-25 years the bore shrinks enought to seriously affect tone and the like (blown out), just something to keep in mind. Hopefully, this was helpful. Oh, and by the way, some times you can find great deals with used ones, although usually you get what you pay for in the world of oboes, and it`s the player/reedmaking that make the oboist good, not the instrument.