A
well maintained instrument increases “playability” and
enjoyment. The most important thing you can do to make
your instrument last a long time is to keep the valves, valve
casings, slides,
and the entire bore clean.  Brass
is a very soft metal and easy to bend
so always be careful NEVER to use pliers or force, in any way,
on a stuck mouthpiece,
slide, or valve. If there is ever any question in your mind
about the proper thing to do in caring for your instrument, take
it
to a certified Summerhays Music repair technician for their
advice.
Remember to:
• Oil the valves or hand slide everyday.
• Grease the tuning slide once a month.
• Clean your mouthpiece once a week.
• Have the instrument chemically cleaned once or twice per year.
• NEVER use Vaseline on the slides. Do not leave your instrument in your car. Contact Summerhays Music’s professional Service & Repair
department if you have any questions about, or are in need of
service for your instrument.
You will need a few items to assist you in keeping your instrument
clean, well lubricated, and well protected. They include:
An important item in the care of brass instruments is keeping
the mouthpiece clean. Do this by removing all particles of dirt
with the mouthpiece brush in a solution of liquid dishwashing
soap and lukewarm water, then rinsing it with clean water.
Piston Valve Instrument Care
- Weekly
Piston valve instruments include trumpets, euphoniums, coronets,
etc. Clean the valves once a week
(or more if necessary). Very carefully remove the valves and
the bottom caps. DO NOT DROP THEM. With
the valves out, thoroughly wipe them off with a lint-free cloth.
Take care to remove all valve oil and dirt. Clean the casings
with the cloth wrapped completely around a casing cleaning rod.
Do the same for each casing. As you replace each valve, put
a generous amount of valve oil on it and check to make sure you
have the correct valve in the
correct casing. The number one valve is always closest to the
mouthpiece. Most valves and casings are also marked with numbers.
Line up the valve guide with the slot inside the casing, replace
the valve, and screw down the cap. Clean out the bottom valve
caps and replace them. Trombone
Care – Weekly
Thoroughly clean and re-lubricate the slide once a week (or more
if necessary). Both the inner and outer slides should be flushed
out with lukewarm water and liquid dishwashing soap, then swabbed
out (scrubbed) with the flexible “snake” brush. Rinse
them out with clean water and wipe them dry with a clean lint-free
cloth. (Always be careful when handling the inner and outer slides
not to bend, bow, or dent them in any way. It is costly and time-consuming
to repair bent, broken, bowed, or dented slides.) Re-lubricate the slide before
reassembling it. Because of the great variety of finishes used
on trombone slides and the variation
in the amount of tolerance used in fitting slides, it is always
best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding
lubrication. If slide cream and water is recommended, have a
Summerhays repair technician show you how to apply it. If instructions
are not available, it is generally accepted as safe practice
to use a few drops of trombone slide oil on the stocking of each
inner slide.Work the slide in and out to thoroughly distribute
the oil over the entire surface of both inner and outer slides. French
Horn Care – Weekly
Place 3 drops of oil in the lead pipe each time the instrument
is played. DO NOT DISASSEMBLE THE ROTORS. Your french horn requires
no other special maintenance on a weekly basis. General
Instrument Care – Monthly
Once a month, the tuning slide should be cleaned with a snake
brush, lukewarm water, and liquid dishwashing soap. After cleaning
the tuning slide, apply a small amount of tuning slide grease
to the slide. NEVER USE VASELINE in place of slide grease. Never
force the slide in or out. Use thumb pressure only in the center
of the slide brace.
Once a month you may consider giving the entire instrument a
bath (excludes french horns). If you wish to do this, consult
a Summerhays repair technician for step-by-step instructions. Once or twice a year, the bore
of your instrument should be chemically cleaned. Consult a Summerhays
repair technician for this service.
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