Im a college student, been playing the sax for over 10 years now and has since learned the piano, guitar, drums, clarinet and flute. I now want to start moving on to the oboe yet instead of just learning the notes and passing the requirements of playing those instruments, I want to stick with the oboe, I am currently borrowing one but i can no longer borrow it up to the middle of April and wanted to buy my own. Now being a college student, money is a funny concept so my options are limited, and I know that with instruments, what you spend on them is what you get so I found 4 oboes I am considering to buy and i was wondering about opinions on them :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Y021MQ/sr=1-2/qid=1299855043/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1299855043&sr=1-2&seller=

http://www.amazon.com/Vento-800-Model-8906-Oboe/dp/B002LT6UJ8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_MI_1

http://www.amazon.com/Allora-125666-Model-AAOB-801-Oboe/dp/B003F4VBPG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_MI_2

http://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/Student-Oboe-by-Gear4music-Ebony-Finish/3R0

Thank you for reading this post and responding if you do.

Hey,

I think it is really cool that you are planning on getting a new oboe! In my opinion, buying second hand oboes are better as it is less likely for the oboe to crack. I bought a new oboe yesterday! It is a professional F.Loree oboe - second hand and it is amazing! :D

I would advise you to try and get a second hand but it is quite hard to get a decent second hand one at a cheap price (I paid £1750 for it) Also it depends whether you want the one with the thumb plate or the conservatoire oboe.

In my opinion the Vento one looks very nice and has all the same keys as my professional oboe.

Good luck (:

The only thing i was worried about for the Vento was that i believe its a chinese import, so it could go either way and be good or just be terrible. How do i tell whether an auction on Ebay is really worth it or not?

its quite hard to say with ebay because it is coming from someone you dont know. If you arent keen with the vento one, i would say the gear4music is your next best bet then (:

good luck (:

Thanks, i love the oboe sound and plan on getting a professional model if i stick with it after college and i have a job, but i just want it now lol.

hahahaa, it is a really good hobby to have. good luck (: