Many instruments that come into my workshop would have lasted much longer with a few minutes of care each week. Here are the steps that really make a difference.
After every playing session
- Empty the water through the water keys.
- Don’t put the instrument straight into a closed case – let it dry briefly first.
- Rinse the mouthpiece – that is where most builds up.
Oiling piston valves
Pull the piston halfway out, put two or three drops of valve oil on it, push it back in and turn it until it clicks into place. Depending on how often you play, every few days. Important: always use the same oil – different oils may not mix well.
Oiling rotary valves
Rotary valves need two oils: a thin rotor oil for the rotor, which you drip in through the valve slides, and a thicker bearing oil for the spindles at the top and bottom. The linkage joints get a drop now and then.
Greasing slides
Every few weeks, pull out the tuning and valve slides, wipe off the old grease and apply a thin layer of new slide grease. A slide that hasn’t moved for years will seize.
Trombone slide
The trombone slide doesn’t need grease but slide oil or slide cream. Clean it regularly with a cleaning rod and then apply a thin new layer.
Thorough cleaning
A bath in lukewarm water with a little washing-up liquid and a cleaning brush helps in between. Against limescale and stubborn deposits, only professional cleaning will do. Once a year the instrument should go in for its annual service.
The right care products
Under Care & oils you will find oils from J. Meinlschmidt, La Tromba and Yamaha. It’s even easier with a BrassWerkstatt care kit, which I have put together to match rotary or piston valves and for trombones. Not sure which oil suits your valves? Call me: +49 4931 97 57 780.
