Why Oboes Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

[@beatriceotter8718]

If you're wondering why they crack so easily and need such exclusive wood, the answer is bore diameter. The body of a clarinet has the same diameter all the way from top to bottom (excluding the bell at the bottom and the mouthpiece). This gives it great structural stability. An oboe, on the other hand, has a constantly increasing diameter as you go from top to bottom. So it's a lot more fragile. That's why they have to age it and can only use really hard and resilient wood to make it.

[@HWHY]

Thank you for taking the time to share this information.

[@filip6307]

the diameter of a clarinet is also increasing to the bottom, probably just not quite as much but still quite a bit

[@gabrielbotsford791]

cone versus tube. overall. yes, they both taper outwards, but one is mostly conical, one is mostly tubular

[@chrisperyagh]

While the bore diameter and outside diameter increase from top to bottom with around a 1 : 40 taper, the wall thickness remains pretty much the same across the majority of the length of the main joints, so they're no less fragile than any other wooden tube made with the same wall thickness along its length. Wooden flutes made with a 19mm cylindrical bore have a much thinner wall and are far more fragile than oboes, so the shape of the bore isn't the factor here - the wall thickness and also the diameters of the toneholes and their proximities to one another is where the strength (or weakness) lies. The bore diameter at the top end of the bore (immediately below the reed well) is just under 4mm compared to the outer diameter of around 19mm to 22mm (depending on the make and model) when measured at the same point which makes the wall thickness between 7.5mm to 9mm which is just as thick or even thicker than the wall thickness of a Buffet clarinet.

[@diskoeric2248]

yeah. they said that.

[@Real28]

The smirk after "one tap?!" Is classic. That's the smirk of a worker who has immense knowledge and experience.

[@theduckcompany]

Also a little bit of "glad we got a one-tapper for the camera" in there i think.

[@WatchMeDIYIt]

This is a perfect example of the "I charged you $1 for the tap, but $99 for knowing how to do it."

[@madpistol]

Craftsman: "That'll be $100." Purchaser: "But it was only 1 tap!!!" Craftsman: "Took me 20 years to perfect it too."

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

It's the smirk of a soon to be obsolete skill.

[@unlink1649]

anybody can tap. knowing how hard and where to tap takes years of training

[@zianeovo5547]

Student oboe here! Started when I first joined band in middle school and I remember my middle school band director tightening something on my school owned oboe and hearing something pop. From what I was told that was a $6000-$8000 oboe that had be sent to shop and that was the best one we had.

[@ChevonneF]

I was lucky that my Aunt played the oboe and gave me her spare Howarth when I started. Going to the shop when I was 10 with her is a memory I will always remember. I played it for years until I was able to buy a more advanced one. I completed all my grades with that oboe and still have them 20 years later.

[@owenkelsey6279]

Very cool

[@Founderschannel123]

Tbh i might buy that just to keep it as a souvenir lol cus its like a collectors item for me.

[@isaacchapman393]

White privilege

[@smartestmoronx19]

Jesus, they get more expensive than these?

[@emirtijerina]

post a video of you playing on your KZbin or you're lying 🤥 🤣🤣🤣

[@bobboulden]

I love how the repairman looks right at you without saying a word, the absolute confidence.

[@truebluekit]

Sir, make no mistake. No repairman was he, but a craftsman.

[@IamShanee]

@@truebluekit artisan?

[@truebluekit]

@@IamShanee artisan is good, too, but we gotta leave something for the people who actually make the entire stuff from scratch to finish. I think so, anyway.

[@IamShanee]

@@truebluekit thats fair

[@bobboscarato1313]

@@truebluekit Correct!

[@mikenunya5606]

Now I understand why my stepmother was so angry and heartbroken when hers was stolen. I always wondered why out of all the other instruments that were stolen why she was only concerned about her oboe, now I know.

[@yamiyo6050]

How many instruments did she have

[@nyaanekonya]

it sounds like she had a habit to get her instruments stolen

[@mikenunya5606]

@@nyaanekonya it was all at one time, she was loaded up for a gig.

[@mikenunya5606]

@@yamiyo6050 she had only a few stolen from what I remember. She has over a hundred instruments

[@mr.mr.4772]

You mean when you pawned it.

[@JLawL]

We saw a purple heartwood Oboe at an auction made by this same maker. The keys were made of silver, which obsidian inlays. It was a custom order and the owner had a stroke so the family sold it. It took 16 years for that Oboe to be made from harvest to completion. It sold for $62,000!

[@TheNuclearBolton]

Do you have a picture of it?

[@CastorRabbit]

I knew a guy that spent $62,000 on crack. Funny guy.

[@libtardslayer3048]

Wait, is this the same guy from breaking bad in the video?

[@NoName-ym1ls]

@@CastorRabbit LMAOOOOO, I knew a guy who spent 60k on crack over the course of like 5 weeks. He was also a funny guy

[@geomacaulay]

the owner died when they saw the invoice.

[@KalebChesnicFlutist]

Love the Oboe (married to an oboist), and LOVE the info from the maker in this video, but will point out that “High end professional flutes” have a starting price around $15,000. Depending on the gold/platinum content, flutes can easily extend beyond $50,000. Most orchestral flutists play flutes with a replacement value of ~$20,000 - $40,000.

[@matebagi3892]

yeah, as a flute player that made my blood boil lmao

[@flutesmith]

@@matebagi3892 As a professional flute repair tech, I also agree with you. A few hours ago I have just finished the overhaul of Powell 18K flute with 14k mechanism, which costs like more than 60000-70000$ brand new.

[@VivaLaVittoria]

Exactly! I wrote a similar comment just now (before scrolling down and seeing yours). My blood boiled at that!!! Crazy talk. What professional flutist is playing on a $3k flute??? WTF. Try adding a zero to that and then we're getting warmer.

[@darkwingscooter9637]

I also wrote a bristling comment about this. The funny thing is that $14k is just about the range for high end Grenadilla wood flutes like the Yamaha at $10k, Sankyo at $16k, or Powell at $17k. So it's really quite comparable.

[@reillywalker195]

Yeah, the only professional flutes available for affordable prices are simple-system flutes, and you'd never play one of those in an orchestra. Simple-system flutes are mostly diatonic and with a strong low end, being made for traditional music.

[@sammy2840]

I’m a trumpet player. Playing an oboe is like walking on a high wire without a net! Beautiful instrument!

[@SaxJockey]

So true; nowhere to hide in the orchestra.

[@Leomerya12]

I'm a clarinetist. Playing a trumpet is like driving a mack truck... anywhere.

[@alejandrovenegas2716]

My oboe professor used to have a saying, it would be translated something like: "The oboe is a beautiful instrument, but it is full of bullshit"

[@poindextertunes]

@@alejandrovenegas2716😂 this made me laugh way more than it should have lmao

[@rstevenhanson]

The instrument is made so well that she can relax and just be the artist she wants to be. That has to be the greatest thing a manufacturer can hear!

[@heinrichmuller7974]

they are truly pieces of "functional" art, i don't think i'll ever look at an oboe the same way again.

[@kishascape]

Same with all these baroque type instruments and their complex keys. Clarinet and bassoon is also another good one, I prefer the original style from the medieval periods before they added keys to them. They look beautiful and more woody.

[@Founderschannel123]

Back then i used to watch shows showing that instument but i never know what the name of it was until now and see how even more complicated it is then i ever knew.

[@joachimakerlind4453]

As with clarinets

[@Violamanben]

It’s very beautiful, but I think violin family instruments are more impressive.

[@bobboscarato1313]

@@kishascape Without metal keys the instruments will look woodier!

[@cerb1221]

i played an oboe for 4ish years. looking at and knowing what each little piece does gives you an understanding of the craft. its crazy how intricate they can get.

[@alsto8298]

Have you heard... the device, you are using right now... has millions of much more important components per each millimeter... and costs few dozens times less. Does this fact trigger your ability to think critically? Maybe it rises some questions?

[@cerb1221]

@@alsto8298 its different when its assembled by a machine.

[@alsto8298]

@@cerb1221 Ye, it is different when it is plastic instead of rare wood, despite it will be better in every possible way. It is different when modern production methodology is used instead of old-style hand-picking. It is different when you do need the polishing works due to poor production process. It is all different - in every single case, price goes higher and quality goes lower. Am I wrong in any statement?

[@cerb1221]

@@alsto8298 stop trying to start shit im not gonna do this.

[@alsto8298]

@@cerb1221 You are mistaken, It was not me who said "looking at and knowing what each little piece does gives you an understanding of the craft. its crazy how intricate they can get".

[@JenniferMKirby-zn5wy]

I absolutely adore my Howarth and the care they put into it is very apparent compared to other professional oboes I have played. I will note there is one fact that is incorrect: the pads under the keys are not paper-thin themselves - they require a surface that can perfectly seal, which is tested with paper.

[@tkat6442]

The silencer corks under the adjusting screws could be described as approaching paper thinness (or fully paper thinness, depending on what paper we're talking about). But the pads (defined as the component that creates a seal on the openings of the tone holes), no.

[@chups4790]

I think the guy that makes them for a living knows what he’s talking about

[@tkat6442]

@@chups4790 so do oboe players. People who put videos together and people who narrate them may get the finer details wrong on something as complex as this, though.

[@chups4790]

@@tkat6442 he was narrating his own work live? He literally touched on the subject in his own words at 5:49

[@tkat6442]

@@chups4790 the OP was correct in saying that the pads are not paper thin, but listening to that excerpt, that wasn't what he was saying. He was "fitting them to the thinness of paper", as he put it. That means he uses a piece of paper, cigarette paper to be specific, as a feeler guage to feel all the way around to see that it touches the tone hole edge evenly for a good seal (notice, he draws suction on the instrument after testing with the cigarette paper).

[@emryswalton1802]

My howarth's oboe is over 60 years old, and still works perfectly with a great sound! It belonged to my grandmother, who played professionally and was the oboist playing Gabriel's Oboe on the original soundtrack, using my oboe!

[@ericoschmitt]

I thought that had been recorded by Gordon Hunt? But then looked up and couldn't find an answer about who recorded the original soundtrack

[@emryswalton1802]

@@ericoschmitt That was a cover, my grandmother was on the soundtrack of the film :)

[@andrewfortmusic]

Wasn’t Gabriel’s Oboe written for English horn, not oboe? Also, I think I heard about your grandmother somewhat recently! Did she retire from the London Symphony Orchestra a few months ago?

[@emryswalton1802]

@@andrewfortmusic I suppose it was for baroque oboe but was played on a modern one. She retired from the London Philharmonic in 1995

[@andrewfortmusic]

@@emryswalton1802 Was your grandmother Joan Whiting?

[@OmarAbdulMalikDHEdMPASPACPAPro]

Thanks for sharing this. I played oboe for two years, in middle school, because we didn't have an orchestra. The notes for the oboe are similar to those of the violin, which I had played for several years.I had no IDEA how much time and dedication went into making oboes. My parents spent a small fortune on my oboe mouthpieces! They were $10 a piece back in the early 80s.

[@BenAtTheTube]

$10 cheap! Most professional oboists make their own from pieces of raw reeds, because it is not possible to buy one that meets their personal requirements.

[@mformem]

i've played an oboe for 4 years, but up until now i've found the true answer as to why oboes are expensive. they're truly underrated and under-appreciated instruments

[@chribm]

They may be under-rated, but not under-appreciated. I am a sax player, primarily the soprano. My goal has always been to mimick the sound of the oboe. With reed choice, custom mouthpiece, neck adjustments, etc. I have come very close. Why would I do this? Simply because I don't play the oboe and can't afford a good one. So I do the best that I am able to. But please, don't believe that it is under-appreciated. I feel that a well played oboe is one of the most beautiful sounds that can be heard.

[@thewooddove2]

@@chribm ayyyy a fellow saxist I'm a tenor player who transitioned to oboe not long ago. It's soooooo much easier on the hands, though it has a less convenient fingerings system and mouthwork but it's still similar. With experience on the actual instrument, I'm sure it'll aid your efforts to get your soprano closer.

[@Blokfluitgroep]

@@chribm Ah nice! As a oboe player, I actually like the classical soprano saxophone sound. Yes, in the higher register it sounds like an oboe, but for me, it sounds In the lower register more like an English horn (alto oboe). Just one remark: yes, oboes are expensive, but you can get a good one for far less the price they mentioned. I also think the reed is even more important: if you have an acceptable oboe problems are more occurring with the reed than with the oboe.

[@MAGGOT_VOMIT]

I don't have any musical talent nor an ear for music, but after hearing the lady in the vid playing it, would I be wrong in thinking it was the key instrument playing the "tones" in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"??

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@MAGGOT_VOMIT That was an ARP 500 Synthesizer.

[@SedonaMTB]

Wonderful video. I was a professional clarinetist at high level and alway marveled at the complexity of the oboe, and bassoon, and scarcity of good players. I was also an aprentice at an instrument repair shop. The one instument I wasn't allowed to work on was the oboe. Incredible instrument.

[@breakbeat_hardcore]

I've played clarinet and bassoon during middle and high school, and people often skip over the 2nd most expensive aspect of just about every woodwind instrument except the flute. Reeds.

[@madpistol]

The sub-millimeter precision of these instruments is amazing. They are built to incredibly exacting standards... You're not paying for the materials of the instrument. You're paying for the countless hours and precise craftsman skills required to meet such a standard. Quite the work of art.

[@ARockyRock]

well, not JUST the materials at least. they definitely play a part in the price lol.

[@idleprepress]

and now imagine what it used to take like a century or two ago, without all that high-precision CNC machining and stuff.

[@Tacos888]

Well and the use of a cnc machine ;)

[@pathologicaldoubt]

Well put

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

Skills akin to swiss watch making.

[@peace4myheart]

It's not just an instrument for producing musical art; it's a piece of art in and of itself.

[@razpootis5802]

I bet you my entire 401k you couldn't tell the difference between one of these and a cheap piece of plastic. You might as well pay 1000% in shipping for your postman to do a lap around the country before delivering your package.

[@douwemusic]

@@razpootis5802 tbf all professional instrumentalists will tell you indeed that the musician is 80+% of the sound, the instrument makes up 20% or less

[@rift8966]

I remember back in middle school we were required to pick 2 instruments we would like to play for music class. A first pick, and a second pick. I picked the saxophone and trumpet. I didn't get either of my picks, and instead got stuck with a trombone. My music teacher used to get so mad at me for being terrible at the trombone, since I never practiced and finally asked me why. I was like, "Because I could care less about the trombone. Why would I practice something I didn't want to learn?" I mean, I know not everyone can get what they want, because then the orchestra would sound awful. But, don't expect anyone to be enthusiastic about playing an instrument they didn't want. A buddy of mine picked the drums and oboe, but got stuck with the tuba. He didn't practice either, lol.

[@joshnguyen6203]

I’m sorry but you are very incorrect abt this oboe costing more than a high end professional flute. You said this oboe costs 14,000$. A high end professional flute depending on whether it’s gold, silver, or platinum can run from 20,000$ to 80,000$. I’m a professional flutist and my flute was abt 40,000$.

[@raynegoins]

I just made this comment! I was so confused when I heard that, flutes are so expensive!

[@lisameyerhofer4621]

Thank you for posting this! Professional flutes almost never cost less than $14,000 anymore

[@procarpenter1788]

The narrator said $40,000, not $14,000.

[@joshnguyen6203]

@@procarpenter1788 still doesn’t compare to a flute 😒

[@tkat6442]

@@procarpenter1788 If the narrator said a professional oboe goes for $40,000, they were mistaken for sure. That's more like a bassoon price.

[@boriss.861]

The rabbit hole of top quality instruments. There is a whole series there on all instruments... Well Done you've just left the starting blocks.

[@greglongphee2034]

Fascinating. Along with the bassoon, the oboe has long been one of my favourite instruments. It's haunting quality never fails to impart atmosphere to a musical passage.

[@Fake-qn9qw]

I think you should make this a series with different instruments

[@jacobbass6437]

Yeah because let’s face it, all professional instruments are expensive like the $30,000 tubax saxophones made Benedikt Eppelsheim.

[@venM9]

Yes and like Gola accordions which go for 58000 to 65000 dollars.

[@Violamanben]

@@venM9 and then there are violins where the sky is the limit. Most professional violinists have instruments that are $10,000-$100,000, but that’s honestly at the low end of the spectrum when they can cost so much more.

[@elissahunt]

@@Violamanben I was thinking about violins, too. $14k would be about as cheap as you can go for a professional grade violin. And of course, the top ones go for millions.

[@diskoeric2248]

they do. did you look at their page?

[@OboeQueen27]

Oboe is in fact one of the hardest instruments to master, not only do you need to work out all the complexity of the fingerings, breath pressure, articulation -to really play Oboe you need to be a proficient reed maker. Making reeds is integral, so the player is not at the whim of the reeds. Some of the reed making equipment can be very costly (40g+ for some set ups depending on how percise you want to be). It's a labour intensive project, to produce a reed from start to finish can also take years, from growing a plant to harvest, and curing. When reduced to the simplest- Oboe is an instrument that is really a refinement of blowing on a blade of grass. It is a labour of love, to build the instruments, reeds, and the 1000s of hours it takes to learn to play. Oboe is analogous to the best parts of man, when we take raw materials, and make such incomprehensible beauty from that. I'm so lucky to have even scratched a surface of playing this wonderful instrument. Thank you, on behalf of all the Oboe players, to all the instrument builders and techs that take on producing these instruments. Thank you for the joy these things can bring the soul.

[@drewgreis6792]

ha haha yeah 🤣 it took me over ten years to make a decent reed, but I had a great teacher in Ronald Roseman who helped take the mystery out of reed making ¡¡!!

[@mywifebeatheroin]

breathe pressure, articulation [redacted] Oboe

[@chopsonyou2007]

40,000 for an oboe reed making set up? I wouldn’t pay more than 30,000

[@yuwaishun1]

@@chopsonyou2007 tbh 30,000 is too much already in my opinion, I can't imagine the price going over 10,000 unless you are a top player and buys extra templates for different reed shape..

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

Not only that… but Oboists as well as other Double Reed Instrumentalists make their own Reeds!

[@Pixeleyes]

I love the idea that, if there were more oboe players, oboe construction would be more industrialized but there aren't, so we require skilled artisans to produce them. That's fascinating.

[@Янус_Ырт]

There are many oboe players around the world,since every orchestra requires at least two. Industrialization just kills this insane precision and quality that is needed here

[@Qermaq]

They can mass-produce oboes, but even the best hand-crafted oboe is a pain to keep in tune.Those would be worse. And there isn't a huge market for "intermediate" oboes. Most students start on an inexpensive plastic beginner model, and those who step up go to a pro model.

[@fafmotorsport]

As someone whose least favourite instrument is the oboe, I must say this: I actually had no idea the complexity and craftsmanship involved in producing a ‘proper’ wood oboe! New respect! 🙏🏻 This video alone will make me listen out and appreciate more the sounds of the oboe in the music I listen to.

[@heiseheise]

as someone who played the oboe in 5th grade, then switched to saxophone throughout the rest of his school years... an untalented person playing the oboe is like strangling a goose. A talented artist playing the oboe is heavenly.

[@tamasfoldesi2358]

@@heiseheise It's not about talent but about practice.

[@andrewfortmusic]

I used to hate the oboe until I discovered Ravel. His oboe writing in Le Tombeau de Couperin and Ma Mere l'lye (and of course Daphnis et Chloe) is incredible. The Menuet from the orchestrated version of Le Tombeau de Couperin is the piece that sent me over the edge in regard to the oboe. Now, I not only feature the oboe in most of my orchestral music, I also play oboe (at a low level, of course; mine is student-grade).

[@ckmoore101]

@@tamasfoldesi2358 Both. That is like saying literally everyone could be a world-class musician, just practice a lot!!! Which as anyone who has actually practiced a lot, would know. Genetics plays a part

[@tamasfoldesi2358]

@@ckmoore101 It's also about the quality not just the quantity of the practice sessions. The genetic part is not the determining factor. Just look at Derek Brown. He admits that he's a slow learner, but he puts a ton of effort in that's why he's a pretty fuckin' good sax player.

[@zeniktorres4320]

I love the oboe but it make me appreciate my violin which is just a sound box and 4 strings strung across two posts. The differences in the number parts and the amount of workmanship and time are staggering. That is some beautiful wood too. Those oboes, a piece of fine art.

[@andrewfortmusic]

Hey there! I’m a violinist and oboist, and I have to say that there is just as much craftsmanship and artistry in a violin as in an oboe. They require very different processes, but they are both beautiful instruments :)

[@zeniktorres4320]

@@andrewfortmusic I know that. I'm just pointing out the difference in simplicity of producing notes on a box with 4 strings, to something that needs hundreds of intricate parts.

[@Battle_Beard]

From the perspective of a machinist with lots of experience in turning metal and plastic it was pretty wild seeing African Blackwood cut with indexable inserts on a CNC lathe.

[@kaing5074]

I'd hazard this blackwood might be the only use case for wood in cnc. Other products would neither call for such precision nor justify the sheer cost of thr beautiful enclosed cncs. If they used carbide or diamond heads it would be even more overkill

[@nonapplicable6619]

This video was fascinating to watch. Especially as an oboist myself. Every individual instrument truly is a work of art.

[@williamsanborn9195]

The oboe is such a beautiful instrument. Both in its sound and its overall look. It’s not easy to make an instrument by hand. That’s one of the reasons why it takes Howarth 5 years to make a single oboe.

[@williamm4366]

It's called a HAUT BOIS not a Oboe stupid english retards, haut means HIGH, bois means WOOD, if you called it a HIGH WOOD it would be closer than that french MASSACRE of OBOE what a stupid guy wrote that that's why we killed you so much you english bastards you're so stupid that's baffling. Also if you think that's expensive try and buy a Selmer Sax which is a paris born instrument.

[@Orchid88-r6c]

I chose to play the oboe in high school because it was so unique and the sound so beautiful and poignant (you can always hear the oboe soar above its woodwind and band counterparts). Didn’t realize how expensive it was (not just the instruments but the reeds) AND how difficult it was to master.

[@yowo6105]

I have a pretty good oboe, not conservatory standard but just below it. I was lucky to meet an older lady who quit playing because of her health and wanted to sell it to someone who would use it well. Another person was in for the bid, but he was a dealer who wouldn't use it for personal use, so the woman sold it to me for 1100 euros.

[@thecrankjonkie2391]

That is the absolute best thing when you can meet someone that wants to sell you an instrument at a great price BECAUSE they want it to find a good home where it will be enjoyed to the fullest. The same thing is happening fir me too. But in my case a small Raffin hand cranked organ. !

[@jimbob123412]

Mike the finisher needs his own show, seems like a good bloke.

[@JaneEMcLernon]

My son played alto saxophone for awhile. I was in the music store buying him reeds right before school began. The woman beside me was buying oboe reeds. My son's reeds were about $2.25 each; the thinner and more fragile oboe reeds were $18.00 each! (I believe that most oboists make their own reeds and I understand why.)

[@Sjels17]

I remember learning to play oboe at only 8 y/o and everyone was Proud, while I was dissapointed to be assigned the oboe Cause I wanted to learn clarinet. Ended up playing it for 9 years and got 2 dutch musician degrees with it while being so young. Afther that I learned to play the flute and guitar but never to a level like I did with the oboe. J miss it sometimes

[@theclimbingchef]

I played clarinet from 3rd grade to 8th grade and took up oboe because there was too many clarinets , lok

[@malthus101]

buy one and start again.

[@blakebro1]

I love oboes!! Although I play trumpet, woodwinds are so harmonious.

[@austinhernandez2716]

I originally chose oboe but got placed on trumpet and studied on it in college. I still love oboe though

[@jpsned]

I love this video. I have an Incagnoli oboe made out of black hardwood. It was manufactured sometime during the 1950s. I love not only playing it but also taking care of it.

[@keishas9138]

My son use to play Oboe through middle school and he loved it, I remember he'd always have to remind people that "it's not a clarinet" lol

[@laurabiemmi3702]

Hooray, an oboe video!! In addition to everything said here, a lot of (but not all) oboes ‘blow out’ and lose their precise intonation after five or so years of heavy playing due to consistent changes in moisture in the narrowest part of the bore- the width and evenness can change ever so slightly here over time in a way you only find with conical bores. So buying a whole new instrument is a must at a certain point in time. And that’s not even mentioning the multiple machines and technology required to make and sustain a proper reed-making set up. (A follow up ‘why are oboe reeds so expensive’ would be hugely educational to those interested in why it’s cheaper, but still costly, to make your own reeds as opposed to buying them retail from specialist makers. Profilers, gougers, shapers, oh my!) Oboe playing can be such a privileged person’s game and really inaccessible without money at hand. I was so lucky to get my Dupin oboe second hand- it’s a game changer. The damn instrument is also immensely rewarding, to the point where it’s almost an addiction. Ah well. Onwards we go!

[@GhtPTR]

Indeed. A Marigaux comes with 2 heads, not sure if that solves all or part of the problem, way too expensive for me.

[@laurabiemmi3702]

@@GhtPTR ahhh the gorgeous M2, certainly a great choice for those with $$ !

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Amen.

[@rj5529]

does the wood actually affect the sound at all?

[@alexandraallan6764]

Oboe in mainstream media! Also why is so much of this news to me...

[@devmeistersuperprecision4155]

Black wood is a rare rose wood. The saw logs grow slowly and the grain varies. It is extremely hard. As rose woods age, the lumber stability increases. This is why I have used it to make infill planes. The largest consumer of black wood is the musical industry. Turning black wood is risky. It’s not uncommon to have a billet explode as internal stresses are relieved. Many have mistaken black wood as ebony. It is not an ebony. It is way harder than rock maple making hand tools difficult to work it. But when you have a good blank, it machines like plastic and can hold tight tolerances. Hats off to these craftsmen!

[@TheEvertw]

The Oboe is my favorite orchestral instrument. Way out of my league to play, but I LOVE the sound of it.

[@maggiemartelli5306]

I played in a Victorian building once with millions of stone steps. After my instrument bounced down all the way to the bottom my instrument was FINE- well done Howarths ❤ M M

[@Dr.Schlitz]

I played the Oboe for 7 years before giving it up. At the time (1980s), I coveted a Loree Oboe. I believe the price then was around $2,500 - too much for my family. To prevent cracking, I used some kind of rubber coated insert dipped in distilled water as a humidifier when the Oboe was in its case. I never mastered reed making, so I used reeds made for me by my teacher.

[@kodywillnauer9422]

Played oboe in hs and college on my way to being a music ed major. For the life of me I could never perfect reed making.

[@Blokfluitgroep]

I actually think the reed is even more important than the oboe: I only started to like the oboe again after I found a good reed maker. BTW: Lorees oboes are cheaper nowadays than it was.

[@danielwow12]

@@Blokfluitgroep The oboist is only as good as the reed they play! Few other instruments require split practice time between instrument proficiency and reed making.

[@DabloonsTNT3]

@@danielwow12 Bassoonists are with you on that boat!

[@xminusone1]

I have a humidifier like this for my acoustic guitar.

[@kinexkid]

You should do one on bassoon next! Especially the Heckel bassoons, they cost upwards of 50-70k!

[@sycophantic0]

Agreed!

[@hunteralexander9791]

Agreed! A friend of mine who I go to school with is currently trialing a Heckel 6K series that’s only priced at about $31K and that’s a good deal for that horn!

[@darklombax2580]

@@hunteralexander9791 that’s new car worth

[@hunteralexander9791]

@@darklombax2580 it sure is. He doesn’t have a car but thought that since cars depreciate and bassoons appreciate, it’d be more worth it to get a horn that will outlive him earlier on

[@vonHolzwege]

regarding flutes. High end flute costs depend on what they are made of: Wood/silver: $10-15K. gold: $20-50K, depending on the amount of gold. Platinum: $70K+. Of course, a flute can remain in first class shape for 100 years.

[@yam2050]

I first heard this instrument in 2008, and has imprinted a lasting memory.

[@mellow1750]

I enjoyed my time playing oboe in Junior & High School 😊 The price of the instrument never allowed me to own one of my own. It’s still my favorite instrument 🥰

[@jamespatrick20906]

I’m really impressed with your comment, if you don’t mind can we be friends, where are you from?

[@Roger__Wilco]

@@jamespatrick20906 get a load of this dude's oboe fetish

[@TheNuclearBolton]

💀

[@lingling1865]

@@jamespatrick20906 AHAHAHAHA

[@HoaxManTheOne]

thats what im thinking. like who the f actually starts this instrument and keeps at it if even the shittiest ones cost you thousands of bucks. also, why is nobody planting these trees on a larger scale?

[@Juidodin]

6:36 now that's a man rightfully proud of his skill acquired over decades..

[@thebassoonman2020]

Can you do one on why bassoons are so expensive??? Bassoons are amazing!

[@mattmccallum2007]

My teacher had a Heckle bassoon and a heckle contrabassoon. I think even back then he said they were over 40,000 dollars.

[@limonscore]

@@mattmccallum2007 today you get a Heckel for 90k and 13years waiting time

[@anthonycall5566]

I had the pleasure of learning on a Fox Artist Model in high school. It was a functional work of art! Handcrafting reeds was like meditation.

[@alienmachine]

Yes! An entry level bassoon starts at around 7,000 dollars, while professional bassoons start at around 30,000 dollars.

[@godbluffvdgg]

Wow, I had no idea!...I've always loved the oboe sound. It's great to see how they're made...Thanks for the upload...

[@sanndit0095]

it has the richest wind instrument sound ive ever heared..... it can charm me soo well i could drop my tears just because it's beautiful ... i have goosebombs when ever i hear oboe in orchestras .... now it makes way more sense why , years and hard work have been put into, ❤️

[@arriazaq4]

Idk where you got the price of a professional flute from, but they start at $10K and can go up to $50K

[@sg_dan]

Right? Especially if we're talking wooden flutes! Those are extra pricey!

[@tkat6442]

@@sg_dan or gold!

[@matebagi3892]

yeah plz send me where they're getting high end pro flutes for 3.5k 😭

[@JoshChristiane]

Please do one of these videos on classical guitars. Good classical guitars are tremendously difficult to find, I've gone through 10+ brands this year disappointed in all of them, then finally ran into a guy named Turkowiak in Poland, and his instruments are absolute masterpieces. The process for making them is very seldom documented and hard to find information on, I'd LOVE to see a video following a great Luthier like Turkowiak.

[@ME-pb2gf]

McPherson

[@lb8384]

Nah you can easily find good classical guitars.

[@nicholasrix1707]

I wonder if Backun Musical will ever make oboes using their patented carbon fiber integrated exterior. Backun is an amazing Clarinet manufacturer and only recently started making saxophone mouthpieces as an extension of their product line. The CG carbon cost between $13k and 14k depending on the key and wood configuration, and the wood contraction and expansion factor is practically 100% eliminated because of this. I absolutely love Backun Musical because they experiment with the best solutions to basically every problem the clarinet has had in its history. I repair clarinets as loved hobby as mine and though never worked on an oboe, felt the pain to hear 40 keys were what those repair techs deal with!

[@ianrobst6648]

Good to see such craftsmanship may it live long!

[@HoaxManTheOne]

it wont tho if nobody can start learning it with reasonable beginner instruments. its only possible with a significant financial incentive that will come years if not decades down the line. last time i checked there arent too many opening for "professional oboe player"

[@MooreYouTube]

Hello, flute and oboe player here. Professional flutes are on average 10,000 to 12,000 dollars. Starting as low as around 6,000 to as much as 20,000, even 50,000 in some cases. It all depends on brand and model. I heard the 4x more than a professional flute and giggled. My professional flute is roughly $13,800. Brannen, a very well known professional only brand starts as low as 10,000 if I remember correctly.

[@ninoding]

4x more than a pro flute is hilarious, I’m sure there are 15k oboes out there. The most expensive a flute can get is around 130k for a full 24k Muramatsu.

[@ashleejones586]

As a sax/clarinet player, it’s cool to see how another woodwind is so drastically different. I respect the crap out of people that know how to do this kind of stuff.

[@Nightcrawler333]

Another high quality Business Insider video 👍👍 great work 👍👍

[@HobbyOrganist]

yeah these are fantastic videos, all of the business insider videos!

[@Malcoladdin]

Would be cool to see modern makers give timbers that have historically been used to make woodwinds a chance (ie pear, cherry, etc.) If there is any way that we can use less species that are endangered, I feel it is always good to at least give it a try

[@DrDaab]

I think the video implies that this very unique African Wood is so dense etc. that it can be machine more precisely than other woods, more like metals. Under a microscope try looking at the structure (pores) very thin slices of different types of wood and then metals such as brass (a common material for brass instruments) and you will get a feel for why this happens to be true.

[@Elthenar]

@@DrDaab This is pure uneducated guesswork but it might also have to do with the sound produced. An oboe has a very distinct sound and that exotic wood likely plays a part.

[@qingkunli9235]

The various woods that were available to historical makers, even the hardest, most dense European boxwood, have absolutely nothing on the tropical hardwoods modern makers can use like rosewoods and ebonies, and grenadilla is the cream of the crop of woods, being almost literally rock hard. Pear or olive or box flutes, oboes, clarinets would have noticeably poor projection and tone, because the less dense material doesn't reflect sound waves as well. Structural integrity also becomes a serious concern with softer woods, which explains why oboes and clarinets have always been made from the hardest woods makers can get their hands on. Of course, in the other direction instruments can also be made from metal - modern flutes are mostly all metal. The essential problem is, once again, tone quality; different instruments have different upper limits for material hardness before the tone starts deteriorating. Metal clarinets have been tried out, but they sounded poor in concert; I don't believe a metal oboe has been significantly considered. Bassoons are of course still made from the very soft maple, and recorders tend to get awful ringing resonances when made from grenadilla. This isn't to say that nobody makes flutes, oboes, clarinets from boxwood anymore. However, these instruments are typically speaking copies of historical models that would've been played 2, 3 centuries ago, not instruments intended for or capable of fitting with conventional modern instruments.

[@jjforcebreaker]

Ennio Morricone made me love this instrument. Great vid as usual.

[@albanberg1626]

While I find this video amazing and informative about the process, I must point out what is completely wrong. While professional oboes can reach 20000$, that's not the case with flutes. Student models which are made of silver cost between approximately 9k and 25k dollars. These are what students play in conservatories. Good solid silver is a must if one considers taking musical path. If someone wants to upgrade to gold headjoint it might cost from 7 to 12 thousand dollars additionally. Gold flutes range from as "little" as 23 000$ to as much as 120 000$. Platinum is in the same range as expensive gold flutes. But obviously, these high end professional flutes are out of price range for many people. Regardless, many people in conservatories play 9 karat to 14 karat gold. I see 18k very occasionally (70 000$?). Disclaimer: All prices I listed are very approximate. Prices withing same precious metal depend on brand and whether it is new, demo or pre owned. I mostly chose to list prices for new flutes. PS I heard from oboe players, that there are even more expensive oboes than those for 20000$. Can you tell me whether it is true or not? I'm sure I've seen an oboe with gold mechanism, unless it was plated. This must be expensive.

[@Derekzparty]

Of all the woodwinds, oboes have the funniest sounding squeak for a learning player.

[@russelljackman1413]

Truly amazing! So many gifted artists, on BOTH ends of the oboe!

[@BsktImp]

Bassoonist: Expensive? Hold my reed.

[@skylargurnett8483]

Yeah I weep for y’all. 😂 My car cost less than a Fox 680.

[@skylargurnett8483]

And I should add, I bought my car brand new several years ago!

[@tkat6442]

@@skylargurnett8483 well, by the time you get a backup, an English horn, an oboe d'more, a bass oboe, a heckelphone, and gougers and shapers and cane for all of them...trust me, I know!

[@SrPelo]

pero como huele el oboe?

[@JoRdi-ul4xg]

yo pelo

[@beesfan]

que hace sr. pelo aqui xd?

[@cristoff3]

This was a great watch. More Business Insider, more!

[@1.4142]

This makes me want to take care of my instrument so much more

[@AllenHanPR]

Same, I clean out my instrument in the shower every morning.

[@vincentellin3821]

If you want expensive, look to the oboe's larger brother the bassoon with a price tag of 35,000 and more US dollars for a professional instrument!!

[@tkat6442]

Or if it's a Heckel, double that!

[@NathanErtznerMusic]

I wish to thank all these craftsmanship personally. I played oboe my freshman year of high school, but had no one to teach me to properly play so I gave it up for guitar instead. I miss it now and wish to play one again.

[@isaacmcareavey237]

Please do bassoons, they are even more expensive!

[@BajiBunny]

This series is legitimately interesting, but it seems like a lot of the reasons these things are expensive boils down to the exclusivity of the market, the specialty skills/tools required and the lack of demand.

[@d3buggr]

*the lack of supply

[@bruhmoment1835]

The skills and tools are irrelevant. The market for these instruments are generally stupid, spoilt, and wasteful people who really want for nothing meaningful. The companies project scarcity, and decide on a price tag inflated 1000s of time. It doesn't really matter, so no one bothers challenging it.

[@daveklein2826]

Bruh stop the lies

[@firebird4269]

@@bruhmoment1835 What?

[@ThorneyedWT]

I'd say it all roots down to snobbery. Exotic and fragile wood could be changed for modern synthetic material (like richlite), parts could be mass-produced in infrequent but big batches, almost everything could be automated except final assembly and fine-tuning. Prices would lose one or two digits, but it would never happen because everything I mentioned is blasphemy for classical musicians. And as guitar playing peasant I can relate, because I too paid too much to have proper Les Paul...

[@TheLRider]

Waaw what utter skill and craftsmanship. The music produced is sublime.

[@mariafox9226]

And this is why I panicked whenever my school bassoon fell over. If it was my flute, I wouldn’t care so much because I own it. If it was my rental bassoon, I immediately went into full blown panic mode.

[@lovermuzak]

This was very good and enjoyed learning more about the oboe, the only thing I had an issue with is saying 14K was more than 4x the cost of a high professional flute. THat was totally incorrect and should have been verified.

[@asymmetricbeing]

And the prize of a high pro flute is?

[@AcornFrog]

@@asymmetricbeing I would expect a high-end flute to be $10-20k. More than $20k probably means the flute has some special, specific quality like an uncommon metal. However, regular silver and gold flutes regularly surpass the $10,000 price point.

[@asymmetricbeing]

@@AcornFrog Thank you for answering, friend

[@matebagi3892]

@@asymmetricbeing yeah, pro flutes pretty much start at 10k, and conservatory stuff is like 5-10k

[@Ququestion]

That look when he fixed the Bend with one tap at 6:38 is Gold.

[@alfiehd5712]

Bassoon next please!

[@Tinjinladakh]

Everything is Expensive according to Business Insider

[@akashbavishi6615]

May be they show only expensive thing

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

They are 👍 always.

[@kapa8514]

@@akashbavishi6615 that's the joke

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

@@kapa8514 I am cheap.

[@HobbyOrganist]

Well. the price on these professional obos is very high, it doesnt take 5 years to make ONE the company makes a bunch of other instruments too according to their web site. Some of that 5 year claim is no doubt for seasoning the blackwood turnings and blanks. If one oboe was worked on 40 hours a week for 5 years and you do the payroll math, even at a nominal $15 an hour that's $30,000 a year, x 5 years the labor cost alone would run $150,000, so clearly the 5 years it takes to make an oboe includes a lot of time where the wood is just sitting in rows on the shelves exposed to heat, cold, dry, moisture etc like the narrator detailed. It would be interesting to learn how many actual man hours goes into the turning and construction, fitting and adjusting processes- the actual making and finishing. In pipe organs we know how long each component and process takes, I often make wood organ pipes, a set of pipes used in a 16 foot rank of pipes numbering 32 pipes takes hundreds of board feet of poplar, and several weeks to contruct, and a few days to voice. A pedal board takes about one work week, it all adds up to fill the $2 or $3 million price tag or whatever the final contract price is depending on the size of the instrument.

[@TheWtfnonamez]

I have watched this video about four times now, and it is a testament to the advancement of human civilisation and culture.

[@aquamusprime4870]

I used too play the oboe .good times

[@c.ladimore1237]

fascinating. creating one seems more complex than playing one (which i believe is the most difficult instrument to learn), so how did they exist before such precise machines came into being? granted the first ones were very basic in comparison...

[@tamasfoldesi2358]

They were just less precise. But actually a lathe is a surprisingly old invention. I think the oldest one found is from ancient Egypt if I remember correctly. Those were manpowered of course and not electric ones. Soldering, casting, smithing, drilling are also pretty old methods.

[@c.ladimore1237]

@@tamasfoldesi2358 lol yah i knew that about lathes and such, but less precise in this case is such an understatement. these are like rocket engines compared to fireworks 🙂.

[@tylerduncan5908]

The sound at the beginning of the video is so satisfying.

[@asc7147]

I would take issue with the statement that one oboe is equivalent to the price of four high end flutes. There are multiple brands of flutes that cost well over $10,000.

[@joshnguyen6203]

I play on a gold flute that costs over 40,000$

[@lukekelley3093]

I’d even say most professional flutes can easily exceed 10,000 and a high end one can go up to 90,000$

[@Undomaranel]

True. But let's compare even student Yamaha model pricing. Hundreds for a flute, thousands for an oboe. Then, there's the English Horn, of which no Alto flute can compare... and let's not get into bassoon territory. I'm lucky enough to play on a used Loreé I purchased through my college instructor. It has a pedigree lol, stories of it's former players in philharmonic orchestras and such. But hey, it was a steal at $3000 and definitely improved my tone from the old student Yamaha I had been on and my chair mate who borrowed it for recitals sounded angelic compared to her usual Bundy. Now if only I could get reeds to last as long as this horn has X'D

[@asc7147]

Yes, but this isn't a video about student model oboes or English horns or bassoons. They made a direct comparison between flutes and oboes that was inaccurate. They are talking about handmade oboes, of which Howarth's cost about $10-13,000. Go look at the top of the line flutes by Powell or Brannen or Altus or any one of a number of brands -- it's not even close.

[@joshnguyen6203]

@@asc7147 yes exactly. I play on a Brannen all gold. Not even close.

[@crash3446]

I got one question: The oboist at the end said it's her fifth instrument from that company and she never had one crack. So, why does she have 5 of them? Is it about the amount of keys that you would need different ones for different arrangements or something else like different tone colours (even though they are produced by the same company)? Really just wondered why that is and am curious :D

[@matmatteo8238]

The explanation Is sad and simple. They do not last a lifetime. Except for the fact that you change a few instruments during your studies (less keys to make It easier to learn and so on), not a single oboe from any producer keeps sound quality up to nowadays professional standards for more than 7 to 10 years. After that It can still be a great instrument, but you'll start to notice a drop in sound quality and sometimes even tuning. Mine degrade even faster, about 6 years and the last one cracked so many times that I just recently replaced It. It still plays great in my opinion, since I repaired It, but not enough for the orchestra. If you add that cost to the continuos expence for making reeds to play, the Oboe becomes the most expencive instrument bar none.

[@robertbigler7743]

@@matmatteo8238 Matt, I've always respected the dedication needed to be a professional orchestra musician. I've always imagined that all high end musical instruments lasted a lifetime. It's interesting to hear your explanation. I play guitar... A fine, professional quality electric guitar can be purchased for $2000 - $10,000, and will last forever. I feel fortunate that my instrument of choice is so affordable.

[@devingonsalves6950]

You can tell that Mike knows that Mike is very good at his job

[@BottleOfCoke]

And it doesn't bother me at all! Seems like a legend in the company!

[@ikemeitz5287]

Y'know, $14,000 for an oboe is a lot. But your professional-level cello can easily reach $60,000.

[@andrewfortmusic]

He said $40,000, not $14,000! And yes, my goodness-professional level stringed instruments are incredibly expensive.

[@Users_rx]

it's 14k, not 40k

[@jonathancormack]

@@Users_rx it's 40k not 14k

[@robertbigler7743]

To me, seeing a beautiful woman playing a cello, is enchanting.

[@tsguy-h3q]

Being a music composer, I feel bad for how little I use oboes in my pieces now.

[@tonyennis1787]

Double-reeds are the bomb

[@ivandasty277]

When I was a little always crying child ,the only thing that could end my cry , as my mother says was the sound of the oboe played by my father . I love its magic sound till now and to the end of my life .

[@addi498]

Small correction. Hand made professional flutes on average cost from $10-50k. Which exceeds the price of a professional oboe.

[@VivaLaVittoria]

Exactly. Craftsmanship quality is similar plus the added cost of raw materials (solid silver, gold, and/or platinum).

[@SmokedOutJ]

Why does it seem like everyone in these comments are a obe master and knows what it takes 🌚😂

[@bobjacobson858]

This is a very interesting video. At the other end of the scale, this morning I won an eBay auction for a Larilee wooden oboe (Elkhart, Indiana) for $70. From what I've been able to determine from other websites, this small company made a quality instrument. The advert claims it's a "good fixerupper". I'm basically a hobbyist who plays many kinds of instruments, and I have found that some claiming to need work are actually playable even if not suitable for a serious performance. I'm looking forward to seeing what arrives in a couple days! I have many brass instruments as well as some woodwinds, and it's obvious the brass, in particular, are much easier to manufacture, both due to relatively inexpensive material and simplicity of design.

[@kenwdesouza]

One wrong fact... the top range flutes can cost more than 10 times the price of a professional oboe..

[@mike4402]

Top grade flutes are embellished with rare metals like platinum, silver and gold. Here the biggest cost is for the skilled artisans.

[@kenwdesouza]

@@mike4402 agreed… but it’s also sold commercially so it’s still wrong to say that the top made oboes are more expensive than a top made flute.

[@VivaLaVittoria]

@@mike4402 not "embellished". Professional flutes are MADE of solid silver, gold and platinum.

[@depressedasfook2893]

I'm an oboe player even have 2 solo awards and 4 band and strings awards for it from high school and college. I had a plastic oboe for all of middle school, and a 4k wood one that I was gifted by an older oboe player. It sadly cracked during travel for a concert a few years after he gifted it to me when I wasn't allowed to have it as a carry on for a concert. Most expensive part is the Reed, $40-$60 a month for reeds. Sadly since my wood one broke I have only had the heart to break out my old middle school plastic one every few months. My ability to play it has severely diminished.

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Congratulations.

[@GhtPTR]

Make your reeds yourself mate, it is not possible to buy good reeds, it is a very personal craft and the only way to really get the sound you prefer.

[@beatriceotter8718]

You weren't allowed to carry your oboe on ?!?!?!?!?!? I've flown with my oboe many times and never had a problem with it, except the one time the TSA agent DROPPED it (fortunately only a few inches, but still).

[@DDR88767]

I played the oboe from grade 4-7. My parents bought mine for 500 bucks (1998). That was so much money back then (still is). My Reed would dry out so often and would need to get replaced. It got so frequent that we couldn't afford to keep replacing them. We eventually sold it back to the company for 300 bucks. I sucked at it too so that's partly the reason as well.

[@pavkey88]

I would venture to say 99% of oboe players suck. It’s an extremely difficult instrument to make sound good. Bravo to that 1% that can do it

[@bravo2966]

I'm not a player but I'm fairly sure if you sucked at it that was the problem, you're supposed to blow it. Hope that helps.

[@DDR88767]

@@bravo2966 Word? I can understand. I was trying to explain the same thing to your mom but she was adamant about "sucking" on it.

[@thereallg4587]

As a flute player myself, I wish I could’ve played more instruments. Especially the oboe.

[@TheAMVDJ]

I was in middle school band and we had an oboe player. Our conductor would non stop talk about her and how hard it is to play the oboe. Little did I know that oboe was a very expensive instrument, and that's why there was only one person to play the oboe.

[@robertbigler7743]

Both of my sons were in the school band... The director was trying to get more students to take up oboe...

[@pianoman878]

I disagree. A high end pro flute can cost around 30k

[@tkat6442]

Or even double or triple that.

[@alanstrong55]

Hunks of money for a musical instrument. Oboes may such a beautiful sound. An orchestra conductor gladly welcomes an oboe player.

[@Master10k2]

Didn't expect to see a Metal Lathe, with precision tool bits, being used to make a Wooden Oboe.

[@RK-kn1ud]

There is a LOT to this story that doesn't add up. I wonder how many man hours it takes to run a CNC...

[@cosmicsans3275]

As a person who does manufacturing/metalworking and favorite instrument is oboe, I just love this video

[@tkat6442]

@@RK-kn1ud the CNC work is only in the turning of the shape of the body, maybe in drilling holes in the proper places, and at Howarth, probably milling some of the metal pieces that are then hand assembled into keys and bands. This gets the process started, but there's so much more. There are endless details, all of which must be painstakingly done by hand. This video barely scratches the surface.