I just got a new wood oboe today and I really dont want it to crack or shrink or something wierd like that. Is there anything other than cleaning it out really good after i play it that will prevent cracking or other stuff like that?

I use products from www.doctorsprod.com to clean and treat the wood of my oboe. If you use his bore-oil (regular or his new Grend-Oil) it will help prevent cracking. In addition to his bore oil i use his "cork life", pad cleaner, woodwind wax and "sentex" key oil. After one application of that key oil i felt an immediate difference in the key action.

A couple words of advice, always warm up the oboe before playing, put the upper joint in your sleave or jacket to keep it warm. Also make sure you get your oboe maintained by a professional oboe repair person. Take it to a person who specializes in just double reed instrumets. I have used www.mmimports.com in the past, and they are great.

May i ask what type of oboe you just received?

I just got a Fossati. I was on a student oboe that only had some keys, so its a big jump up.

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thank you for that great info. I need to get some bore-oil. thanks again!

I hope you enjoy playing your new oboe. I have only played a Fossati EH, but i have heard good things about Fossati oboes.

I don't have a wood oboe myself...yet, but it's nice to hear stuff like this. I'm gonna get a Covey oboe (I've tried Fox, Loree, and Covey, and Covey is my fave).
I hope you enjoy your new oboe! Having all those extra keys really is a big jump up!


*R.I.P Paul Covey