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Re: Oboe water problems

Author: sylvangale
Date: 2008-04-27 01:07

My oboe is around 70 years old.

Whenever I get water problems it's usually because my swab is run down and buying a new swab remedies the situation (thankfully!). For me water will build up in the trill key and then back up into the octave keys.

Make sure those trill keys and octave key are dry when you put the oboe away.

To fully dry out the top joint:

1) Take the top joint separately and put a piece of un-gummed cigarette paper under your trill key.

2) Cover the three main key holes and the bottom hole. Press the trill key to open the key and blow, opening and closing the trill key.

3. Move the cigarete paper to dry areas until the trill key stops sputtering water.

4. Swab.

5. Move the cigarette paper up to the next trill key/octave key and repeat.

edit:

6. Sometimes the octave key surface will retain water (it's like a cup with a hole in the middle. Open the key and give it a good blow. My old teacher liked to use canned air.