Hire a Howarth Junior Oboe

What's In The Box?

Each Howarth Junior Oboe rental instrument comes with all the relevant accessories to be maintained and played right away.

• Howarth Oboe Case
• Beginner Oboe Reed
• Cleaning Swab/Gauze

How The Hire Works

It's very quick and easy to set-up an oboe hire via our online checkout (2-3 mins). We will then send the instrument to you via our UK couriers (1-2 days) OR you can choose to collect the oboe from our Maidenhead store.

• First month payment made by debit/credit card at checkout
• Online monthly payments via Direct Debit (GoCardless)
• Quick, easy and secure online checkout process
• No time limit on hire (min. 3 months required)
• Maintenance and insurance included

Use of Payments:

Half of the payments you make from month 4 onwards can be used towards the cost of a new or used instrument from Dawkes.

The instrument you hire is always returned to use, you are not buying it over a period of time. For further details please read the FAQ section.

FAQs

Q: What is Included?

A: Rental Howarth Junior oboes comes with a case, reed, and cleaning accessories. You can find more details in the ‘What’s In The Box' section.

Q: What is the duration for which I can rent?

A: You are required to commit to, and pay for, a minimum rental term of 3 months. The first payment is made when you set up the rental online. Payments for the second and third months are processed via Direct Debit through our partner, GoCardless. Following this period, you have the flexibility to rent for as long as you desire.

Q: What occurs after the third month?

1. You can carry on with your monthly payments. Half of each subsequent payment (from month 4 onwards) can be used later as a credit towards an instrument purchase.
2. You can choose to purchase any new/used instrument from Dawkes and simply return your rental junior oboe.
3. You can cancel and return your rental junior oboe (please see ‘How do I return/cancel a rental’ question below).

Q: Will I own the rental instrument?

A: No, the instrument you rent is strictly a rental, meaning it must be returned to us; you are not making monthly payments to own it, as that would constitute a hire purchase agreement. However, if your goal is to distribute the cost of a new instrument over time, we provide a 0% APR finance option on instruments over £250.

Q: Why can't I buy the rental instrument?

A: As previously stated, selling you the rental instrument would transform the arrangement into a hire purchase agreement. You can do this via our 0% APR finance option at the outset if that's what would suit you better. Nevertheless, the hire plan allows you to begin at a minimal monthly expense and have the option to return the instrument at any point after month 3.

For example, if you hire for 12-18 months, you may actually want to buy a different model from the oboe you started with. We don't believe in locking you into a purchase from the outset of something that would be 12-18 months old at that point, and also may not be relevant to the player at that stage. In this instance you may be looking to buy an upgraded oboe with standard keywork.

Our rental plan provides the flexibility to apply your accumulated credit towards selecting the perfect instrument for you, whenever the timing is ideal. Rental instruments go on to be re-rented sometimes and this is what allows us to offer high-quality Yamaha instruments for a low monthly cost. 

Q: Is it possible to apply my payments towards a future purchase?

A: Certainly, you can. Starting from the fourth month, 50% of all your ongoing payments can be credited towards the purchase of any new or pre-owned instrument available at Dawkes Music.

Q: Will the instrument I rent be brand new?

A: This is contingent upon our inventory at the time you place your order. Some of our rental instruments are brand new, while others may have been rented previously for a period of 12-18 months. However, each instrument undergoes a thorough inspection, servicing, and is sanitised in our workshop before being sent out.

Q: What should I do if the instrument encounters a problem?

A: Your monthly payment includes maintenance and insurance. In the event of a routine maintenance issue, which is common with mechanical instruments, you have two options:

1. If you can visit our Maidenhead store, we can address the problem in our workshop while you wait.
2. Should you be unable to visit the Maidenhead store, we can organise a courier to pick up the instrument from you. We will then fix the problem and send it back to you through the courier service.

This process takes 3-4 working days (if using couriers) and is often quicker than dealing with a local store who has to send it to an off-site technician. We have 7 full-time repairers who can take care of any issues very quickly and professionally ensuring you get your instrument back ASAP.

If the instrument is damaged beyond economical repair by accident or lost/stolen there is a £50 excess due. Please inform us immediately in writing if this occurs.

Q: What is the process for returning or cancelling a rental?

A: After the first 3 months, you are free to terminate your rental agreement at any time. You can either:

1. Bring the oboe into our Maidenhead branch and we will cancel the contract whilst you wait.
2. You can use a courier or the Royal Mail Home Collection service to return it remotely. Upon receiving the instrument, we terminate the agreement. Please visit our ‘How To Return a Rental Instrument’ page for more details.

Q: Why should I choose Dawkes Music for my rental/hire?

1. We offer high quality Howarth Junior oboes on our rental program. This means the player gets the best possible start with an oboe that is easy to play, reliable and highly recommended by teachers.
2. Our flexible rental program allows you to pay a low monthly amount, yet still save money towards a relevant future purchase at a later date.
3. All our hired Howarth Junior oboes are fully checked, set-up and sanitised in our workshop prior to dispatch. This ensures the instrument you receive will be playing perfectly straight out of the box.
4. We have thousands of active customer rentals, so you are joining a large community of music-makers across the UK.
5. Our payments are taken by Direct Debit (via GoCardless) so you have a safe guarantee that your payments are secure.