Expert: Geoffrey Bridge - 5/25/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have a student considering whether to purchase a specific oboe.  It is a Loree & I played on it & it played well, but aesthetically it isn't in the best condition.  It is tarnished & there are a couple of rust spots visible.  The price being asked is $3000 & I don't know if that is a fair price or not.  I would love to get your opinion about it.  The model year is unknown, can it be determined somehow by the serial number & if so, how?   Do you know if a professional repairman could clean the aesthetics enough to make a difference & how much does that service cost?

Thanks for any help in advance,
Maegan


ANSWER: Dear Maegan

Yes repair people will be able to put the oboe back to an aesthetically pleasing condition. If the plating is actually worn then replating in silver is a possibility but it is then necessary to have a full overhaul carried out as everthing is replaced. Pads, corks, the lot! If the plating is tarnished then silver polish will remove most of the stains and the instrument will look great again. Again though it is a job for a repair person as silver polishes are destructive to cork and the actually wood of the instrument. So stripping down the keywork is again required although not so drastically as replating which needs the keys placed in electro baths.  Re-assembly after plating needs quite a lot of expertise to make the keywork fit again after repadding.

The cost of this is difficult to arrive at. The complete job with plating and full service could be getting on for over $1500 probably.
A complete overhaul without plating would be and I'm guessing really, $750- $950. You could get quotes from people like Brian Charles in NH and RDG or Forrests (Michelle Forrest is good I believe) in CA

The rust spots on the steel rods will come off easily during the servicing.

Now the model age can be found by checking the serial number. This number should be present on all three sections of the oboe just by the tenons on the back. Loree numbers are usually two letters and two figures as in 'AA12'.
If you let me have the serial number I will try and give you the year in which it  was made as I have a partial list. Alternatively, you could email Loree directly and they might be able to help with your request.

When you quoted the price of $3000 I thought that is not at all bad. But...is this from a dealer with guarantee? Is it a private? AND..is there a history of cracks in the instrument? If so can you see them?

In conclusion all things considered, I think that the price is pretty good if the instrument plays well even for an older Loree (remember we don't yet know how old it is). It would probably be worth having some work done to improve its appearance and you would still not have paid a huge amount for a good oboe.

A bit more research perhaps - on age- to get better answers to value!

Best wishes


Geoffrey



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for the info.  The serial number is FR36.  It is from a private
seller who has owned it since 2000 & says she is the 2nd owner.  That's really
all I know about it.  I don't see any cracks.

While I have you... what reed source do you recommend for good consistent
reeds for students?

Thank you so much!
Maegan  

Answer
Dear Maegan

The serial number FR36 places the year of manufacture at 1981.

The best place to look for cracks is on the top joint usually between the C/D and C#/D trill keys and also where the octave keys are; not forgetting down the tone holes between 1st and 2nd fingers. If they have been repaired forget them. It really has very little effect on the value if well done although sellers always like to be able to say "no cracks"!

Reed makers in the States area little bit of a mystery to me as I am in the UK but I hear great things of Good Tone Guild found at: www.goodtoneguild.com

Anne Hodge www.hodgeproductsinc.com sells their reeds too but I think best to go direct.

North Texas Oboe Reeds on: www.oboereeds.safeshopper.com
email: oboereeds@aol.com Decent priced student reeds offered.

Also Marilyn at MKL reeds does a good job.

By the way oboe repairer Michelle Forrest is on www.oboefix.com

Hope you have some joy with the oboe. As it is a private sale with no guarantee I would haggle a little bit as the instrument is oldish and the price could realistically be placed between $2300 and $2500 tops. considering its age, cosmetic condition and with no come backs.

You could pick up such an instrument from a dealer for $3000 in good condition and with a short term guarantee.

See how it goes.

Best wishes


Geoffrey