I`m using our old school oboe now and it is a Selmer Signet. It seems ok but is the only oboe I`ve ever played on so I can`t say how it is for sure. What is it that makes Selmers so bad in people`s opinions? I keep hearing that you should now get a Selmer and am wondering why.

I haven`t had any problems with either of the Selmer oboes I have owned. They`ve both worked just fine .. I guess sometimes people get lemons or just don`t like that oboe as much as others. But you can probably get a bad oboe out of any brand. If the instrument works fine and plays well then there`s not much to say against it. It just depends on what instrument you happen to get.