Caring for oboes and bassoons

Part names:oboes and bassoons

Handling precautions

The bodies of oboes and bassoons are made from natural wood, so they are very sensitive to sudden changes in temperature or humidity. Such changes can cause damage or cracking in the body, and shape distortion can prevent the joints from working smoothly. Therefore, bodies should be handled carefully, and the following precautions should be taken.

In winter, wait for the entire instrument to adjust to room temperature before playing it.
*Rapid changes in the temperature of the instrument can cause the keys to stop moving or crack the body.

New instruments should not be played continuously for extended periods of time.
For the first two weeks, limit playing to about 20 or 30 minutes a day.

When you finish playing the instrument, thoroughly dry the body interior by wiping.

Also thoroughly dry the joint ends, then apply a small amount of cork grease to the ends as a moisture blocker.

Whenever possible, use a cleaning swab to dry the body interior during playing sessions as well.

Instrument assembly

Cork grease application

Oboes: Before assembly, apply cork grease to the joint cork, as well as the reed cork. During assembly, be careful not to apply excessive force to the keys.

Bassoons: The body joints are wrapped in string. If the joints are tight, loosen the string to adjust the tightness. There is cork on the bocal. Before inserting it, be sure to apply cork grease.

Care after playing

Cleaning the body interior

If moisture is allowed to remain inside the body, the body may crack. Therefore, you should always dry the body interior with a cleaning swab after playing.
Be careful if you plan to use Yamaha swabs on an instrument made by a different manufacturer. Doing so can lead to problems such as clogging, due to differences in internal diameter, etc.

Oboes:
Pass a cleaning swab through the body to completely dry the interior. The small swab is for the upper joint, and the large one is for the lower joint and bell.

Bassoons:
Tenor joint: To remove moisture that builds up in the tenor joint tone hole, blow the moisture into the body interior, then dry the tenor joint by wiping with a cleaning swab. When removing the swab, be careful not to damage the pad of the whisper key (pianissimo key).

Double joint:

Remove the moisture collected in the U tube through the thin tube. Note that moisture collects when the use # tone hole is pointed straight down.

Insert the end of the cleaning swab (for double joints) in through the tube on the bass joint end (the narrow tube), then pull it out on the tenor joint end to dry the interior.

In cases where moisture collects in the wider tube, be sure to remove the U tube and thoroughly dry the body interior. If there is still moisture inside the use # tone hole, be sure to wipe it dry.

Apply a small amount of cork grease to the surface of the cork packing on the U tube to prevent air leaks.

Caring for the surface

Lightly wipe the surface of the instrument with a polishing cloth.

Caring for the keys

Use a polishing cloth or silver cloth to wipe the key surfaces.

Drying the pads

To clean and dry the pads, insert cleaning paper in the tone hole gaps.

Monthly care

Oiling the keys

Add a small amount of key oil between the keys and the key posts. Wipe off excess oil with cleaning paper. Use the tone hole cleaner to remove debris and dust from small spaces, such as the spaces between the keys and the body.

Caution

*Be careful not to allow the metal pert at the tip of the tone hole cleaner to scratch the tone holes, etc.