Yamaha YOB-241 Series Student Oboe Owner’s Manual

Oboe
Owner’s Manual

You are now the owner of a high-quality musical instrument. Thank you for choosing Yamaha.
For instructions on the proper assembly of the instrument, and how to keep the instrument in optimum condition for as long as possible, we urge you to read this Owner’s Manual thoroughly.

Precautions

Please read before using the instrument.

The precautions below cover the proper and safe use of the instrument and are designed to protect you and others from damage or injury. Please observe all precautions carefully!
If a child will use the instrument, a guardian should clearly explain these precautions to the child and make sure they are fully understood and observed.

About the icons
: This icon indicates points worthy of your attention.
: This icon indicates prohibited actions.

Caution
Failure to obey the points indicated with this mark may lead to injury.

Do not throw or swing the instrument toward others.
Parts may possibly strike other people. Always handle the instrument gently.
Keep oil, polish, etc., out of reach of children – especially their mouths! Oils and polishes can be harmful or fatal if swallowed!
Keep oil, polish, etc. out of reach of children and perform care and maintenance only when children are not present.
Keep small parts out of the reach of infants.
Your children may accidentally swallow them.
Be careful not to touch the pin springs during maintenance or on any occasion.
The ends of pin springs on high-end models are sharpened to provide greater key action.

NOTICE

Be aware of climatic conditions such as temperature and humidity. Keep the instrument away from heat sources, such as stoves, furnaces, or heaters. Do not use or store the instrument under any extreme temperature or humidity. Doing so may damage the key balance, linkage, or pads and result in performance problems.
Do not use benzene or thinner for maintenance on instruments that feature a lacquer finish. Doing so may damage the finish topcoat.
Take care not to disfigure the instrument. Placing the instrument on an unstable surface may cause the instrument to fall or drop, resulting in disfigurement. Take care as to where and how you place the instrument.
Do not modify the instrument. Modification to the instrument voids the warranty and may make repairs impossible.

In regard to brass instruments with plate finishes: The color of the finish may change over time. However, this does not affect the instrument’s performance. Discoloration in its early stages can be removed easily by routine maintenance. (As discoloration progresses, it may become more difficult to remove.)
* Please use the accessories specified for the particular type of finish on your instrument. Also, note that metal polishes remove a thin layer of the finish topcoat, resulting in a thinner finish. Please consider this before you apply metal polish.

Etiquette during practice
Although this instrument creates beautiful sounds, some people may be bothered by the repetitive or awkward nature of the practice. Please be considerate of your neighbors.

Precautions for Wooden Bodies

The wooden body of a Yamaha oboe is made of natural grenadilla, etc. For this reason, the instrument is more susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity than metal or resin instruments. In particular, sudden changes in temperature or humidity may distort the wood, resulting in body cracks or key malfunction. The body of the oboe is thicker and more delicate than many other woodwind instruments.
To keep your instrument in optimal condition for a long period of time, please observe the following precautions:

In cold weather, before you play the oboe, allow it to adjust to room temperature. Never warm up the instrument by blowing into it. Otherwise, drastic changes in temperature inside the body may cause cracking or other damage.
When the instrument is new, especially during the first month or two, set it aside for extended periods of time. Play it little by little, for only about 20 to 30 minutes per day for the first week, then extend the duration gradually by about 10 minutes per day.
After you play the instrument, remove moisture and dirt from inside the instrument using the included cleaning swabs.
After you play the instrument, store it in its case. Do not store it in places exposed to high temperatures or humidity.
Before you set the instrument down for a short time, remove moisture and dirt from it using a cleaning swab, and then place it on a stable surface with the keys facing up.
Never leave damp gauze or cloth in the case.

The oboe is a very delicate instrument. Do not use it under the following conditions. Otherwise, damage to the body may result.
Do not expose the instrument to:

Direct sunlight for an extended period of time
* Refer to page 7, “Maintenance After Performance.”
Rain or excessive humidity
* Refer to page 10, “Caution: Storing the Oboe.”
Heat sources, such as stoves or fan heaters
Cool air, such as from an air-conditioner

Nomenclature

Assembly and Tuning

Before assembling the instrument, please observe the following:
When holding and assembling the instrument, take care not to apply excessive force to the keys.
Applying excessive force may bend the keys, resulting in unbalanced adjustment.
When you assemble the instrument for the first time, you may have difficulty connecting the joints due to tightness. In this case, apply a thin coat of the included cork grease to the joint cork, and try again to connect the joints. If the joints still do not fit together smoothly, apply a thin coat of cork grease to the receiver side as well. When applying cork grease, be careful not to apply too much.

Assembling the Oboe

Apply cork grease.
Before assembling the oboe, apply a thin coat of cork grease to the joint cork and around the lower part of the reed tube.
Attach the bell to the lower joint.
Hold the bell in your left hand and check the position of the connection keys for the lower joint and the bell. Slide the bell into the lower joint.
Connect the upper and lower joints.
Hold the lower joint in your left hand and check the position of the connection keys.
Slide the lower joint into the upper joint.

Hints on Tuning the Oboe

The pitch of an oboe is affected by the length and type of the reed tube, and the length, width, scrape and gouge of the reed. If you have difficulty turning the oboe, experiment and adjust these elements.
In addition, the temperature in the room and inside the oboe affect the pitch of the instrument.
Before you start to tune, allow the instrument to adjust to room temperature, or warm the instrument by holding it in your hands.

Thumb Rest Adjustment and Instrument Maintenance

Setting the Adjustable Thumb Rest (Only for instruments with an adjustable thumb rest) In addition to the vertical position, the angle can also be adjusted to better fit the shape of the player’s thumb.

Adjustment
Using the supplied hex wrench (1.5mm) loosen the screws and adjust the thumb rest to the preferred position. In the diagram below, q sets the vertical position while w sets the angle.
* To prevent loss of parts, do not remove the screws.

During Performance

Do not place the oboe on a table with its tone holes facing down. Do not lean the oboe against a wall with its tone holes facing down diagonally. In this way, you can reduce the chance of moisture dripping from the tone holes during the performance, which could increase the risk of body cracks.
If you leave the instrument – even for a short period of time – place it in its case for protection and to avoid tripping others.

Maintenance After Performance

After you play your oboe, follow the procedure below to clean the instrument.

Caution: Disassembling the Oboe
If you plan to disassemble the oboe into its upper and lower joints and bell, do not hold the instrument close to your face or near other people. If a part detaches unexpectedly, it may cause injury or damage.

Remove the reed tube, use a piece of gauze to wipe away the moisture, then store it in a reed case.
Use the supplied cleaning swab to clean inside the main body. If moisture is left inside the tube, it may result in cracking.

NOTICE
This cleaning swab is intended to be inserted and removed from the bell side. It cannot be pulled out from the top of the upper joint. When you feel the resistance of the cleaning swab, pull it back to the bell side. If pulled too strongly, the cleaning swab may get stuck inside the instrument.

The joint sections, in particular, tend to collect moisture, which can cause cracking. Dry the joints carefully with gauze.* Even during playing sessions, remove moisture from the body interior as frequently as possible.
Keep the cleaning swab clean and dry.
Once or twice a month, wipe the surface of the instrument using a polishing cloth. Be careful not to damage the keys or other parts.
If you feel the keys are not moving well, use special key oil (sold separately). Do not apply too much oil. Completely wipe any excess oil from the key surfaces.* Do not apply too much key oil.
* If you are unsure of where to apply the key oil, consult the store where you purchased it.
Use a tone hole cleaner to remove dirt from inside the tone holes and the spaces between and underneath the keys. Be careful not to damage the springs or pads.
Use cleaning paper to remove dirt and moisture from the pads. In particular, the octave tone holes tend to collect moisture, which should be removed as soon as possible.

NOTICE
Do not pull out the cleaning paper with the keys closed. The cleaning paper may break and leave pieces of paper, causing unbalanced adjustment.

Troubleshooting

The tone is not clear or the instrument plays out of tune.

If pads are deformed or the body is cracking, take the instrument to your dealer for repair.

The keys are stiff. The keys do not move.

Spring may have been dislodged or the keys may be deformed.

Cannot assemble because the joints are too tight or too loose.

The joint cork may have shrunk or expanded due to changes in temperature or humidity.
The joint cork may be worn.

The keys are noisy.

The keys may lack oil or the screws may be loose.
The cork or felt on the keys is worn or has fallen off. Or, the keys may have come in contact with the body or other keys.

Caution: Storing the Oboe

Do not place the oboe on a table with its tone holes facing down.

Correct placement

The oboe features perhaps the most complicated mechanism of all wind instruments. A subtle change in temperature or humidity or the slightest external pressure may damage keys or pad balance or precipitate changes in key touch. We recommend that you take the instrument to your dealer for adjustment once every two or three months.
Do not place any object in the case that might apply pressure to the keys.
Do not apply excessive force to the instrument or case.
When you are not using the instrument, store it in its case and case cover.
To protect the instrument from changes in temperature and humidity, store the case in a bag.
Do not place the instrument in the vicinity of cooling or heating devices, such as air conditioners or heaters.

Maintenance Accessories for Your Oboe

Silver cloth
Removes discoloration and stains on the surface of silver and silver-plated musical instruments, and produces a fine and beautiful luster.
Polishing cloth
A soft, dense cloth is suitable for polishing the instrument surface.
The umb rest cushion
A soft and fine texture cloth is suitable for polishing the surface of musical instruments.
Polishing gauze
Removes dirt from the instrument surface to restore the luster to the finish.
Cleaning paper
Place a cleaning paper between the pad and the tone hole and open/close the keys to completely absorb moisture and grease.
Cork grease
Helps to keep joints smooth and the tube airtight.
Remove any dirt from the joint cork, apply a small amount of cork grease to the cork, then join the upper and lower tubes and distribute the grease.
Key oil
Apply a small amount of key oil between the key post and key tube, or inside the key tube, to prevent rust and wear.
Tone hole cleaner
Th is cleaner and is suitable for removing dirt from the tone holes and corners on the keys.
Cleaning swab
This swab is absorptive and can remove moisture and dirt from inside the body of the instrument.
Silver polish
Use this polish to treat discoloration or remove dirt from the silver or silver-plate finish of your instrument.
Apply a small amount to polishing gauze or a polishing cloth, then polish the instrument surface.
Bore oil
Th is oil to prevent the deformation and cracking of wooden musical instruments due to moisture.
Wipe off the water and dirt on the inner surface of the pipe, soak a cleaning swab (or the like) with a very small amount of oil, and then apply it to the inside of the pipe.

Fingering chart for semi-automatic keys


Left hand	Right hand

Close
Open
Half hole
The left index finger opens keys G, G+, and G3 are G# keys. E and E+ are Eb keys. 81 is the first-octave key. 82 is the second-octave key. 83 is the third-octave key. Sp. is a spatula key.

When Low B-C is linked, the C key is unnecessary.
When Low B-C is linked, this fingering is not possible.

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Yamaha YOB-241 Series Student Oboe Owner’s Manual

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