Instrument that hurt lover, so they say (4)
I believe the answer is:
oboe
'instrument' is the definition.
(type of musical instrument)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for oboe that I've seen before include "it's blown" , "issuer of notes" , "Reed instrument" , "Musical instrument" , "source of notes" .)