Roberson's Music, Saxophone Maintenance

SAXOPHONE MAINTENANCE

Reeds
The reed should be removed from the mouthpiece after you play and stored in a "reed guard" for protection. This will force the thin reed tip to dry flat which will make it last longer. If your reed becomes chipped or cracked, replace it with a new one. Damaged reeds will "squeak" and cause the saxophone to play poorly. Keep several "fresh" reeds on hand in case you need them.

Mouthpiece
The saxophone mouthpiece should be cleaned once a week using warm soapy water and your mouthpiece cleaning brush which is specially designed for this purpose. This will sanitize the mouthpiece and also remove any foreign matter.

Neck
After you play, the saxophone neck should be swabbed out with a neck swab to remove foreign matter and moisture.

Body
The body of the saxophone is protected by a lacquer finish. This finish should be wiped off with your chemically-treated polishing cloth after you finish handling your instrument. This will remove perspiration acids that can damage the protective coating.

Bore
The inside of your instrument should be swabbed out after you play. This will prevent the build up of moisture and germs. The "Pad-Saver" swab is recommended for this purpose.

Keys
The keys should be wiped off with your polishing cloth after you play. This will remove perspiration acids and protect the key surface.

Cork
The neck cork should be slightly greased with cork grease to allow the mouthpiece to slide on smoothly. Be sure to remove the mouthpiece from the neck after you play to allow the cork to "breathe". If the cork becomes torn or worn thin, be sure to have it replaced by a Roberson's Music repair technician.

Pads
Sax pads are made from leather and should be kept dry. Use "pad papers" to remove dust and other foreign matter from the pads. Have the pads checked every 6 months and have any worn or damaged pads replaced. Your saxophone should be checked by a Roberson's repair technician every 6 months to insure proper playability.

Let Roberson's Music give your instrument the best care possible!

Maintenance Items you should have: "Pad-Saver" swab, corkgrease,lacquer polishing cloth, reedguard, neck swab, mouthpiece brush

last updated on 3/23/2008