Oboes are high-priced instruments that can run into the thousands of dollars. The price of an oboe is determined a variety of factors, including the number of oboes produced the manufacturer, the materials used, keywork, and customization. Final oboe prices are also affected branding and the age of the oboe for sale. The higher the degree of personalization and the higher the material quality, the more expensive the oboe becomes.
Oboes are one of the more difficult instruments to master and control, and they necessitate a significant amount of extra effort in terms of reed making and maintenance. As a result of this, and the fact that most ensembles only use one or two oboes, there are fewer oboists than other instrumentalists. As a result, there is less demand for oboe production, which means that manufacturers cannot easily mass produce oboes and must therefore charge more to cover production costs.
Another factor that influences oboe prices is the materials used to make them. Oboes can be made out of wood or plastic resin. Plastic resin oboes are recommended for beginning and intermediate players because they do not crack as easily as wood oboes and require less maintenance. Wood oboes are typically made of grenadilla wood and have a better tone. Because people can manipulate plastic resin more easily via machine, it is usually less expensive to turn into an oboe than wood, so student-level instruments are usually less expensive than professional-level oboes.
Aside from wood vs. plastic resin, keywork is another cost consideration when it comes to player level. Beginning student oboes are the most basic oboes that can be purchased, and they are frequently outgrown in a year or less. The left F and low Bb keys are usually missing. Intermediate oboes have all of the necessary keywork, but they may lack some key options that allow for even more flexibility and fine tuning of intonation. Professional oboes cost more in part because the keywork is made of more expensive metals that are less prone to bending.
Oboe prices usually rise when they are customized. Specially made keys are one of the most common customizations. When a player’s hands aren’t a perfect fit for the oboe desired, this may be necessary. Players can also request a different metal, such as gold, or a different type of wood, such as rosewood, for their keys.
The price of an oboe is not immune to the effects of branding. Branding refers to a customer’s interaction with a product and its company, as well as the overall impression the customer has of the product or company. People who want to buy oboes usually go to well-known companies and their licensed dealers, who can charge more because of their reputation for quality. Even if the instruments are of equal quality, oboe buyers are hesitant to purchase from lesser-known companies.
Finally, oboe prices reflect the instrument’s age and wear. New oboes are almost always more expensive than used oboes of the same model and year. However, in some cases, a used instrument may be more expensive than a new instrument. A wooden, professional-level oboe, for example, can cost more than a new student model made of plastic resin after only a year or two of use.