Trombone Care
- Prepare warm water in the bath tub. (Enough water to submerge the instrument) (Not hot water. Hot water will remove the finish)
- Put a towel, or rubber matt in the bottom of the bathtub.
- Mix some dishwashing detergent and 1 cup of baking soda in the warm water.
- Take the trombone completely apart.
- Submerge all parts of the trombone in the warm water.
- Use the snake to scrub the insides of the trombone.
- Rinse with warm water.
- Set out on a dry towel.
- Towel-dry all parts of the outside of the trombone.
- Leave the trombone out overnight or about six hours.
- Apply slide cream to the slide and tuning slide.
- Apply the slide oil to the slide.
- Move back and forth vigorously around 40 times
- Spray water with a water bottle on the slide. Again move the slide back and forth vigorously around 40 times
Do this approximately once per month.
Note: If a part of the instrument will not come apart, then please bring the instrument to Mr. Shepard. Please do not use pliers, hammers, etc. to disassemble an instrument. I have special tools to remove parts that are jammed, etc.
After playing your instrument, use a soft polishing cloth, to wipe fingerprints, and oils left by our hands, from the outside of the instrument.
Mouthpiece Care – Weekly clean your mouthpiece with warm water and dish detergent, not dishwasher detergent. Use a mouthpiece brush to clean your mouthpiece.
Items needed to clean your instrument.
Mouthpiece brush – $2.00
Instrument Snake – $5.00
Slide Cream – Superslick – $2.00
Slide Oil – Superslick – $2.00
Water bottle – $2.00
Soft Polishing Cloth – $3.00
You can purchase these from Mr. Shepard. Please make checks payable to YMS. You can purchase these items online or at a local music store like Music Time 2214 Dunn Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32218 (904) 696-9882.