In 1995 Howarth began to develop a prestige model oboe with a completely new bore and tone hole structure. Working in collaboration with world-class players, our craftsmen have created an instrument with a more focussed sound, and unparalleled intonation and projection. The XL found immediate success in the greatest orchestras, and in the hands of the world’s finest soloists, and it remains first choice for discerning oboists across the globe. The flexibility of the XL appeals to both the professional and the accomplished amateur, and is prominent in many leading youth orchestras.