I have a question about my oboe. I`ve been playing for about a year now, and I started in 7th grade. I started out on a Bundy school oboe, and a few months ago started to rent a Yamaha. Then I bought an oboe on Ebay, and it`s a Fox 333, although I haven`t turned in my rented on yet. At first when I got it, I couldn`t play it at all, just squeaks. I could play the things I was trying well on my Yamaha, but not the new Fox. I got the oboe about three days ago, and have practiced on it for about an hour every day. I still am squeaky. I can play the B flat scale, but my half holes E flat and D don`t work, along with the lower notes like C and B. Those notes come out as squeaks. Is it me or the oboe? My reeds are fine, and i checked them for cracks. I`ve tried all of my good reeds on both oboes, but the new one squeaks and the rented one has a good tone. The Fox is a better model, does that have anything to do with it? Thanks for your help in advance.
~Claire

Maybe the pads aren`t sealing properly or are slightly out of alignment. I don`t play the oboe at all, but I know that bad pads can cause huge problems on the clarinet.

GET IT CHECKED!!!!!!!!!!

An hour a day for three days?

It can take a lot longer than that to adjust to a new instrument. However, if you think something is wrong with it, get it checked out right away-- especially if you bought it online.