Not sure why you're complaining, but a bluegrass instrument has gotta be one of the cheapest pasttimes known to mankind...

Finger picks? peanuts...10 bucks each, last for years. Thumb pick? There is no better than Blue Chip for $40, and mine looks brand new after a year of hard use. Strings? chump change...Ten bucks a month. Instrument? You can get a good one for $800 and a great one for $2K.

Maybe I’m calloused and cynical from being a professional Oboist all these years (likely ), but I’ve come to expect playing an instrument to actually cost something to be a practitioner…

Oboe reeds? $25 each, they change each time you play ‘em, and each one lasts for about 10 hours of playing time before dying. You need a half dozen with you at all times.

Instrument? a crappy one runs $1500, a good student model $2500, and a pro model $8,000, and they wear out after 15-20 years…

Soooooo….quitcherbittchin, count yer blessings, and start practicing more, gents!

Yeah, but the Oboe groupies make it all worth while!!! ;)

  Dane that was too damn funny and very educational. I had no idea of the costs incurred to play the oboe. I hope you made some money playing. I hope the Tuba is cheaper because that is my next instrument. Om-pa-pa.

I paid $125.00 for my Regal and for all I know it's a great one (please be kind, folks).

Dane,

Doesn't it help to be full of hot air as well to play the Oboe? LOL

Q: What do you throw to a drowning (or complaining) guitar player?

A: An Amplifier!

quote:

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Originally posted by va picker

Dane,

Doesn't it help to be full of hot air as well to play the Oboe? LOL

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Helps? It's absolutely essential!

Q: What's the difference between an Oboe and an Onion?

A: Nobody cries when you chop up an Oboe...

I happen to find the Oboe to be a very suductive sounding instrument. Agreed it just don't fit anywhere but when you hear it, it just give that feeling and you know what it it.

I had a friend playing in a symphony orchestra- 1st violinist and her violin was something like 150 years old and tens of thousands of dollars. Think of it like this- so many trades need tens of thousands of dollars of equipment, then you have tuition fees. Even an expensive dobro isn't a lot. My Dr Z guitar amps and cabs cost, my pedal board is full of Fulltone pedals and others costing a bomb, add to that a tele, a strat, a couple of hotrod humbucker guitars, a jazz box, lap steel, nice acoustic, all for a versatile band gig.
Dobros are cheap, I agree!

Edited by - bustertheboy on 06/23/2012 05:32:20

I only know one thing after all this discussion. I'm not cheap but I'm easy.

You're better off with a reso anyway, I don't think an oboe works out too well for bluegrass

thanks for the perspective Dane.  i never knew oboe reeds were so expensive!

BTW, how's that Aura pedal working out?

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Originally posted by will wanderin

BTW, how's that Aura pedal working out?

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The Aura pedal is wicked cool! My W/S is just an average sounding instrument, but with the pedal, it sounds pretty freeeeking amazing!

I just got a Fishman Loudbox Mini, and the two of them go very well together....

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Originally posted by tooslobro
You're better off with a reso anyway, I don't think an oboe works out too well for bluegrass

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You are so right...completely different genre, style, and mentality....but still playing the symphony gigs while I have the chops to sound good before I become a geezer who can only play the Dobro...

quote:

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Originally posted by Oboe Cadobro

quote:

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Originally posted by tooslobro
You're better off with a reso anyway, I don't think an oboe works out too well for bluegrass

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You are so right...completely different genre, style, and mentality....but still playing the symphony gigs while I have the chops to sound good before I become a geezer who can only play the Dobro...

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Geezer?????? Dobro???????  Just what makes you think these two go together. I suppose Rob, Andy, Mike Witcher et al are geezers? I'm no damn geezer and your no spring chicken, in case you haven't noticed. I resemble that remark.

Edited by - Grizz on 06/26/2012 07:43:22

Go get 'em Grizz!!!!!!!  BTW what's wrong with only playing Dobro, the coolest instrument on the planet , no matter what your age???

Your betcha' Dave. Someone has to keep the Oboe and Tuba players in line or we would have utter chaos.

Edited by - Grizz on 06/26/2012 20:14:13

quote:

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Originally posted by tooslobro

You're better off with a reso anyway, I don't think an oboe works out too well for bluegrass

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My brother's a good amateur oboe player.  Of course he mostly plays classical, but when he visits here he plays along with oldtyme, a bit of bluegrass, and a little country. Tell him what key we're in and he fits right in.  Never misses a beat or plays a wrong note. And it sounds just fine for back porch pickin'.