Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2012-01-25 23:25
This topic will generate lots of disagreement, at least it has before.
I live in Colorado (for 18 years post Maryland and Florida.) I bore oil and wipe down the exterior wood a couple times a year using Naylor's bore oil. I used sweet almond oil previously. A spare pull-though swab is dedicated to that purpose and use care so only a small amount of oil is deposited on the bore and ensuring none flows into tone holes or octave vents.
I have the same oboe and english horn I had in Md and Fla,.. and no cracks (yet).
I have a newer oboe, too, that came to me from Ohio 5 years ago.
I treat it the same, and so far no cracks. I also had no cracks in Loree I owned in Va.
When I notice the keys starting to bind in the winter, I place the horns on a stand in my bathroom following a shower, or even on the shower stall of the master bath.
I let the heat dissipate a bit, then place the horns in there, a couple minutes on day one, a couple more on day 2 and perhaps 15 minutes on day three.
I repeat throughout the winter dry months. I have a solar home, and electric baseboard as backup, so it does get really dry.
Some people place fresh orange peels in the oboe case over the oboe in winter, using something like a sandwich bag to keep the acids off the keys.
A proper break-in was done on these instruments, which means a few minutes of playing daily for a couple weeks, and a few more added weekly for a month or two.
good luck with it,
-Craig
Post Edited (2012-01-25 23:26)
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