The trombone is a unique instrument in a band. It is the only instrument left that uses a sliding rod to find the notes. The legendary Vincent Bach predicted that even a trombone could become a valve instrument and the wand would be a forgotten relic of the past. Mr. Bach was wrong about that. The versatility of the trombone has made it an important band instrument. It is the only brass band instrument that can do a long glissando (glide from one note to another). The trombone has become a dynamic part of symphonic bands, orchestras, jazz and brass bands. In order to play the trombone well in tune, you must do routine maintenance. Even if you have a new horn, you should clean the rod and the rest of the trombone. Even if you plan to sell the trombone in a few years or keep it 30 more, taking good care of it will make it last a long time in good condition.
Steps
Step 1. You should do this once every 2 to 6 months:
Step 2. Fill the bathtub with warm water
Don't use hot water. It helps to put a towel or rag at the bottom of the tub to avoid scratches or bumps. I repeat, DO NOT use hot water.
Hot water can damage the hairspray
Step 3. Disassemble the trombone into two parts, the wand section and the bell section
Then take the inner stick out of the outer one. You should now have three parts. Then take out the slider. * You should now have four or five parts depending on the type of trombone you have. Include the mouthpiece and you will have one more.
Step 4. Put all the parts in the water and let them soak
* Grip the parts carefully all the time.
Step 5. Once the parts have soaked for about five to ten minutes, stand up the hood section separate from the others, and gently rub it with cotton rags on the outside and as much as possible on the inside
- Rinse the hood with cold water.
- Use a beach towel and dry the hood as much as possible. Leave it outside where it can air dry and won't be dropped or thrown away.
Step 6. Take the outer rod and pass the snake brush inside
Make sure it is full of water. Do this for a minute or two on each side of the stick.
Dirt will come out often, that's good. Keep working on each side for at least a minute on each side. Then rinse it off with a stream of cold water. Dry it with a towel and let it air dry with the hood
Step 7. Take the inner stick and gently wipe it with a cotton cloth on the outside
Then clean its interior with the snake brush as with the other stick. Rinse and place it next to the other pieces to dry.
Step 8. Use the snake to clean the inside of the tone stick
Wand lubricant may soak into tone wand. To clean this, use a penetrating oil like WD-40. Spray the tone wand and allow it to sit for several minutes before cleaning. If you haven't cleaned the instrument in a long time, you may need to repeat the process several times
Step 9. Take the brush from the mouthpiece and clean from the part that joins the trombone
It will only take about 30 seconds. Rub the mouthpiece with a cloth, then dry it. If there is grime on the mouthpiece, it will affect the airflow when you touch, so don't forget to clean it.
Step 10. To finish
- When the horn is perfectly dry, you will have a good trombone. You will need to apply lubricant to the wand. Don't wear too much, a cape is fine.
- Insert the wand into its section. Wipe off any lubricant stains with a rag.
Advice
- To rinse the parts, use the shower head if your bathtub has.
- Silver plated horns will probably tarnish the next day. Use rinse aid and clean it according to the instructions on the container. Clean only the exterior, as the interior is only brass or copper.
Warnings
- Be very careful with the parts, especially the inner and outer poles.
- Don't use a blow dryer with any part in the drying process, as a blow dryer can get very hot and damage the hairspray.
- Do not use abrasive cleaners or scourers, as it will remove the protective lacquer. In other words, don't use Ajax, Comet, Brasso, SOS wipes, steel mesh, etc.