New Instrument Care for Wooden Oboes and Clarinets

New wooden oboes and and clarinets are notorious for cracking, especially in the top joint. To help prevent this problem we suggest that the steps below be carefully followed. Also follow the guidelines suggested for student model oboes and clarinets.

1.  Break in your new instrument

• No more than 15 minutes of playing per day for the first two weeks.

• Following this, gradually lengthen your playing time over the next two weeks.
  There is no set  rule on length of the break-in period, however, the longer you take
  to break in a new instrument, the less stress is created in the wood.

2.    Always warm the outside of the instrument, especially the top joint, before playing

• Simply hold it in your hands for several instruments.
  If this is not done, the player will be blowing warm, most air into the cold bore.
  This causes the bore to expand outward. The outside is cold and is not expanding along with
  the bore. This type of stress is often the cause of cracks.

3.  Use a Dampit type humidifier inside the case.

• The amount of moisture in the air, or lack of it, greatly affects the wood. The Dampit helps
  to keep the humidity level constant. Call our sales desk for diffenrent models.

4.  Swab the bore after each use.

• excess moisture in the bore can damage the wood

• Silk swabs work best. Careful not to knot up the drawstring or cloth.

5.  Oil the bore

• Prolonged use, dry climates, and acidity in saliva can rob the wood of its natural oils.

• Natural almond oil works well. Apply a few drops of oil to an old pull through swab and then
  draw it through the bore. You don't want too much or the oil will run, damaging pads and corks.
  The number of applications will depend on your climate. One to four applications per year is common.

• Never use synthetic bore oil, as this can clog the wood's natural pores

We recommend a follow up visit within 90 days of purchasing the instrument. This allows us to re-adjust the pads once they have had a chance to settle in. This is a free service provided by Northwest Music for those instruments purchased through Northwest Music.

For any further questions contact our service department.

from the Repair Staff at Northwest Musical Services
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