Hello everybody,


I would like to start learning Oboe (I play piano and Soprano Recorder).
It's been some time since I've been searching on the
internet in order to find a good instrument (price is not a problem). I observed that
apparently there are several different systems (I don't know anything about oboe and
I'm really a beginner but I plan to work seriously on this instrument). In particular
I saw several expressions that I don't really understand:

- Conservatoire System (or sometimes called Simplified Conservatoire System)

- semi-automatic octave system

- automatic octave system

Could you kindly explain me what is the difference between these and
which one I may have to chose?

Besides I found several Oboe manufactures, among them three have
attracted my attention.

- Yamaha
- Buffet Crampon
- MARIGAUX

Those of you who may know any of these (or even any others
you may know), could you kindly give me
your advice? Which one of these in your point of view is better to buy?

Thanks in advance,

Kind Regards,
Dariyoosh

Hi Dariyoosh

Most professional oboes of today use the Conservatoire System.
But there are three different level of oboes: The professional
oboe with the fully Conservatoire System, the intermediate
oboe where some keys are missing (simplify Conservatoire System)and the student oboe where most of the extra keys are missing.
You can buy a Yamaha 241 (student oboe), Yamaha 431, 432 or 441
(intermediate oboe) or Yamaha 831, 832 or 841 (professional oboe).
There are also three different systemtype of oboes: The most common in the world is the semi-automatic system, but in Germamy the full-automatic system might be the most common and in U.K. the thunbplate system is the most common. The difference between the semi-automatic and the full-automatic system is that the semi-automatic system have three octave-keys while the lowest octave-key is used for both the first and the second octave-key for the full-automatic oboe.
It might seems easier with the full-automatic oboe but practically it needs must more adjustments than the semi-automatic oboe.
The thumbplate oboe has a key for the lefthand thumb which is used for some notes. Today it is common in U.K. to buy a semi-automatic oboe and add an extra thumbplate to the oboe.
Even if you don´t yet play the oboe it might be worth it to visit a shop and try an oboe. I have three oboes and I am particulary satisfied with my Rigoutat because it just suit my hands perfectly.
I have a Yamaha and like the sound from it and I know the Buffet Greenline (3613) either is loved or hated by many players. I think that Marigaux is most common i Europe and Loreé in U.S.A.

Dear Trombi,


I would like to thank you very much for your attention to my question and the time you spent to give such a detailed and clear answer. I'm going to look among the models you mentioned in order to have a better idea about what may suite best for me.

Once again, thanks a lot.

Kind Regards,
Dariyoosh

Hi Dariyoosh

You can find more info here:

http://www.thomann.de/gb/onlineexpert_133.html

My advise to you is: Always buy a professional oboe
if you can afford it.

Hi Dariyoosh

You can always ask Geoffrey Bridge for an advise:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Oboe-2282/indexExp_13570.htm

and if you live close to New York you can visit Nora Post

and try out an oboe:

http://www.norapost.com/

IF you already have played other instruments, then it should be pretty easy to pick up, so I suggest going straight to an intermediate. I started with the flute, and within a year was limited by the missing B flat key and messed up tone/pitch of the my student Selmer. I soon purchased a Yamaha intermediate (which I still use now). Now, there is now reason to immediately buy a professional oboe. Unless you plan on mastering the instrument in a very short amount of time, it would well be within your interests and finances to get an intermediate.