Had a few pupils enquiring about these as they're on offer for £199...

They're branded as 'Volt' - the prices are certainly electric - but do they lose their spark after a short time in the hands of a beginner?

If anyone's got any observations or comments that would be welcome. Obviously they're very much a starter instrument with no appreciable resale value, but I just wonder how durable they are.

I've had pupils with the cheap 'Selmer' Prelude AS700 altos and they do tend to bend easily - the cheap case doesn't help. Then again they were about £165 ex VAT!

You can get Lidl trumpets and I know someone's mum who bought a Lidl oboe once

I know someone who's just bought a couple of Lidl trumpets. He played them in the shop and decided that they'll do fine for a beginner, but I don't know about the saxophones. I wonder how good they'll be in a year's time...as for the Lidl oboe, I'm intrigued, having just spent money on upgrading my oboe, what do they sound like?

I belive Hanson have got two altos for £250 which will be well worth the extra £50.

Agreed - the Lidl instruments sound rather like those sold a few years back by one of the remainder book stores. Personally, I wouldn't touch them at any price - the shop will know nothing about them, no-one will repair them, and I very much doubt if they will work.

For cheap Chinese instruments I have heard good things about Gear 4 Music (online shop with ground base in York), who at least know about instruments. But as ever caveat emptor.

nick

Just found these:

http://www.gear4music.com/inventory-detail...xi0mZL_AyDLyeoR

http://www.gear4music.com/inventory-detail...xi0mZL_AyDLyeoR

Obviously chinese, possibly the same as John Packer's oboe.

But the 14 day trial period is interesting, as is the 2 year warranty.

Steve

For what it's worth, I got my digital portable piano from Gear4Music and I found them a good company to deal with.

Someone in Howarths recommends steering clear of Chinese instruments such as Gear 4 music as they are really awkward to repair because as soon as one thing gets repaired, another things moves in sympathy. Sure, some of the Chinese models will be ok, but caution is definitely recommended.

I think the price of these means that if more than very simple adjustment is required, repairs will not be economic, Bit shocking, but still ...

Steve Howard has a good article on 'ultra-cheap horns' on his website

nick

I saw these in lidl!

I wanted to play the trumpet so badly, but the box was sealed and this polish guy gave me a weird look. >.>

We bought our son's first trumpet in Poland!

You should have asked: Moge sprobowac'? "mOgu sprobovach"

Steve

PS Of course the heavy vodka drinking session in the evening IS obligatory!

I was going to take emsoboe to our local Lidl to try out the Sax. They don't have any The trumpet box was there but the instrument was elsewhere. They did have a Yamaha keyboard and a classical guitar (no brand) both very reasonably priced.

As a musician I know that instruments like this should probably be avoided, but I really need to get the basics of oboe and trumpet playing sorted (it would be very helpful in my job!). With student debt still hanging over me I can't justify spending the amount that I'd need for most basic oboes, so it's quite tempting!

If you're doubtful about G4M, then try Packers (probably the same instrument) .... or quite a lot of s/h oboes come up in various places.

nick

Have seen the trumpets in Lidl but they were all boxed so couldn't try them. Haven't seen the oboes though, were they recent? We have been watching ebay for a while and just bought one, it was relatively very cheap but am still eagerly waiting for it to come through


Just found these:

http://www.gear4music.com/inventory-detail...xi0mZL_AyDLyeoR

http://www.gear4music.com/inventory-detail...xi0mZL_AyDLyeoR

Obviously chinese, possibly the same as John Packer's oboe.

But the 14 day trial period is interesting, as is the 2 year warranty.

Steve
[/quote]


Do you think they're really the same as the JP ones? They do seem to have agood review, although I hope I'm not being too naive

Oh did they have a review? I didn't see.

I wouldn't touch the Packer oboe with a very long barge pole. There have been plenty of PMs going around about these instruments!

But one of the Gear4gear oboes actually had a trial period and a 2 year warranty! Now that IS tempting.

The problem with these chinese oboes is the quality of the keywork and screws. I know that Packer have been addressing this problem, so maybe they've all got it sussed.

The Packer oboe sounds geat when it works. But ours stopped working after a few weeks because of the soft keys bending, the rough bore that directs the condensation into the toneholes, and the fact that some screws are either impossible to turn or .. the opposite.. too loose!

But how strange that it's the cheaper student oboe that has the trial period and warranty, but not the more expensive model. Or maybe that's a mistake in the advertisement.

If anyone is thinking of getting one, make sure you play it to death before the trial period is up, and make sure all the screws turn!!!

Steve