Top Pick: Best Affordable Professional Oboe

My top pick for new professional oboe under $7,000 is Mistral CM- And It Is Actually Priced Under $5,000! Here's Why:

Elite professional oboes are more expensive than ever- costing $10-14k for the brands that recording artists, conservatory trained and the most accomplished amateur oboists prefer.  This doesn't mean that they are the right choice for the rest of the oboe community.  In many cases it is overkill in terms of musical training and/or pocketbook. Mistral CM is a terrific option when a player is seeking a Loree type playing experience without the Loree price tag.  It was designed for both excellence and affordability- a noble cause to be sure. As a professional oboist and reed maker, I had my doubts that an oboe from China that is finished in the US could meet my standards.  I was pleasantly surprised.  It had all the functional capability I needed including: a warm tone; an even scale; and responsiveness (including at the top of the register without forcing).  There are some differences in tone vs. the Loree, but they are generally subtle, and not discernible by most players or listeners.  In my opinion, this oboe performs better than the other oboes I surveyed in its price range and up to  $7000 (which tend to be too bright or too muffled). It has so much that is comparable to the highest end oboes that I gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up and decided to carry them on my site.  If you are in the market for a new oboe, and care more about how well it functions than prestige, visit MagicReed.com to learn more.