I agree with Oboboe...oboes should be shot...just kidding! But seriously, what is the reed situation? If the loud ones are playing ones are playing on soft reeds, that is a huge issue. My most successful oboes began on medium hard reeds, and if they are playing on cheaper machine made reeds, that is also an issue! The reed is the starting point, after that, where are they placing the reed? I cringe every time I see an oboist with whole reed up to the wire in their mouth!