Trombone Care & Maintenance
Assembly
Keep the mouthpiece shank clean and check regularly to see that it is perfectly round. Insert the mouthpiece into the mouthpipe and turn it slightly. Do not “pop” it in with palm of your hand, as this may make the mouthpiece impossible to remove by hand after playing. Should this occur, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE MOUTHPIECE WITH A TOOL. It must be removed with a special mouthpiece puller. Always make certain that the slide is locked before removing it from the case and attaching it to the body of the trombone.
Regular Lubricating and Cleaning
Put a few drops of slide oil directly on both of the inner slide tubes before playing. An alternative to slide oil is commercial slide cream or cold cream. A very thin coating should be applied evenly, paying particular attention to the expanded section at the end of the tubes. The inner slide is then sprayed periodically with a light coating of water from a small spray bottle. Check the tuning slide regularly to see that it moves freely. Lubricate when necessary with a commercial tuning slide lubricant after first removing all grease and dirt from slides. Put a thin coat of lubricant on each slide tube and insert tubes one at a time, rotating them to distribute lubricant evenly. Then assemble the slide in its correct position. Always remove as much moisture as possible from the inside of the instrument after playing. Wipe the body of the instrument with a soft cloth to remove fingerprints.
Periodic Maintenance
Regular maintenance of the Trombone will go a long way toward avoiding unnecessary repair bills.
RECOMMENDED ACCESSORY ITEMS: Mouthpiece brush, flexible cleaning coil, tuning slide grease, slide oil or cream, polishing cloth (lacquer finishes only.)
ONCE A WEEK (or as needed): Wash the mouthpiece in warm soapy water and clean with the mouthpiece brush. Thoroughly clean the inner slide tubes and dry with a soft cloth. Re-lubricate the slide.
EVERY TWO MONTHS: Disassemble the trombone and place all parts in the bathtub or a large basin of LUKEWARM water and a mild detergent. After the instrument has soaked for a while, run the flexible brush though all body tubing and the inner and outer slides. Rinse thoroughly with a solution of baking soda and water followed by a final rinse with clear water and allow to dry. Reassemble the instrument, lubricating the hand and tuning slides. This procedure will help to prevent corrosion from condensation and saliva inside the instrument. Finally, polish the body with a treated polishing cloth (lacquered instruments only.) Silver plated instruments may be polished with silver polish as needed.
NEVER:
* Use hot water to clean the instrument, as this can cause serious damage to the finish.
* Store music books, folders, etc. in the case, as this may cause damage to the instrument.
* Attempt to remove a stuck mouthpiece using a pliers, etc. Ask your band director if he/she has a mouthpiece puller.