Maintenance of: Trombone | Drum | Flute | Trumpet | Clarinet | Saxophone

PROPER  Pad-Saver^® PROCEDURE

Pad-Savers^® should be inserted into instrument bores immediately after swabbing (several times) with a pull-through swab designed for the respective instrument. The primary benefit is the wicking of residual moisture (saliva) containing pad-destroying contents such as sugars, calcium, and other mineral content away from pads, bore and tone holes into the absorbent fibers of the Pad-Saver^®. A secondary benefit: inserting and removing the Pad-Saver^® will polish the instrument's bore, keeping a clean bore clean.

Roberson’s recommendation of the Pad-Saver^® is coupled with two very important caveats.

• First, to increase the absorbency of the product, the Pad-Saver^® should be washed with a mild hand soap, rinsed thoroughly and air dried before its initial use in the instrument, for the same reason that one washes a new towel before using it in the bath.

• Second, and most important, when the instrument is brought home, the Pad-Saver^® should be removed from the instrument and the case should be left open to allow for air drying of the Pad-Saver^®, the instrument, and the case. Not only will the instrument play better for a longer period of time between maintenance servicing, but issues such as reed mildew, rusty rods and springs, case odor, etc., will disappear.

We also recommend periodic use of Pad Papers to wipe saliva borne sugars and minerals from instrument pads, preventing “sticky pads.” Pad Papers are an inexpensive investment in increased playability. Note: We discourage the practice of using dollar bills as pad papers because the chemicals contained in the currency are extremely destructive to pad leather, shortening pad life considerably. Pad Papers are designed specifically to clean pads – just the right amount of absorbency and abrasive characteristics to accomplish the job.

And, to keep your student healthy, make sure he/she has (and uses) a brush to remove deposits from their mouthpieces. Lukewarm water and a mild soap used with a correctly shaped Mouthpiece Brush will keep deposits (and illnesses) at bay.

Encouraging cleanliness is the best way we know to keep your student's instrument playing at its best.

last updated on 4/24/2009