 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: ezyang
Date: 2012-09-14 17:02
I am travelling and brought my oboe with me, but forgot to bring a swab! What is a good way to swab out an oboe otherwise, or how bad is it if I don't swab it for the next few days?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-09-14 17:27
If you can source another oboe pullthrough or mops specifically designed for oboe top joints, do this instead of doing something you may later regret. Find out if there's a music shop nearby and if they stock them.
You should always dry the joints after playing so it removes the majority of condensation from the bore and also evenly distributes the remainder so one side isn't wetter than the other.
If you can get some thin cord or bootlaces and stitch a long triangle of silk to it (from 5mm widening to 40mm over about 200mm in length), then this will work.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: johnt
Date: 2012-09-14 17:39
Take a shoe string with a plastic aglet (tip) & firmly tape one end to a small cotton or silk cloth…a handkerchief would work. Then pull it through the top tube but hold on to the end of the handkerchief while you are doing this. Then pull the makeshift swab backwards (from the tenon end) Do this a few times, then blow the condensation out of the tone holes using cigarette paper. You'll be fine.
You must swab, especially in your country where it tends to be cold outside. You will prevent cracks by so doing.
Best,
john
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-09-14 19:13
That's exactly what I would suggest; you can also take a piece of clean, soft cotton cloth and tie shoe/bootlaces to each end, or just one shoelace with the soft cotton 'flag' attached, cut smallish to pull through OR sewn to the middle part of the lace (you'd then have a 'tail') so you could back it out if it was too fat to pull through.
My homemade swab has a simple knot on one end of the shoelace, giving it enough weight to drop through (the lower joint of) the oboe (or through a whole clarinet); another option if you can get it would be to attach a small link chain to one end for weight.
Let us know what you end up doing!
GoodWinds
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-09-14 22:00
The problem with tying knots is they need to be small enough to pass through the narrowness of the bore right at the top - even an accidental knot in a regular (but thin) pullthrough cord is large enough to get completely stuck in the top joint bore, so stitching the silk fabric along its length onto the bootlace or cord won't increase the width too much. Silk will compress very tightly and pass through very tight spaces, unless it gets bunched up on itself at the wide end.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ezyang
Date: 2012-09-15 01:36
OK. So it sounds like if I avoid taking the oboe through temperature changes (for example, keeping it indoors until it has completely dried) will help reduce the risk of cracking. Is it better to keep it with the case open or closed? I also blew down the bore to get some of the moisture out/distributed.
I will look for a music shop tomorrow, but there are not many in Gothenburg...
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-09-15 20:00
I am against knots too but use my makeshift swab with the knot for the lower joint only and my clarinet. or did I forget to say that? Oops.
GoodWinds
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