Whether you've just purchased a saxophone, or you're renting, you may be curious how you can help your instrument when issues arise. Most homes have tools in them, and if you're a regular patron of your local music store you probably have some items specific to saxophone maintenance on hand.
We asked our woodwind technicians what the dos and don'ts of at home saxophone repairs and maintenance are, and here's what they said:
Do
Treat Sticky Pads
Dust Between Keys
Mouthpiece Cleaning
Don't
Turn Loose Screws
Glue Detached Pads
Bend Back Keys
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Below we'll go in depth about why these are Dos and Don'ts and help familiarize you with some helpful techniques for taking care of your saxophone between visits to the repair shop.
DO
Treat Sticky Pads
If you notice your saxophone pads are feeling sticky or seem to take an extra moment to release from their tone hole, one of the easiest things you can try is removing some of the moisture that may be causing the stickiness. This is pretty common, and an easy bit of maintenance you can do yourself.
We're a big fan of the Spit Sponge because it's washable, absorbent, and reusable, but some folks like to use Pad Paper because it uses a bit of talc to help absorb excess moisture. Simply insert one of these between the key and tone hole, and press the sticky key down onto the material. You may need to do this a few times to fully remove the built up moisture, and if it doesn't seem to fix the issue you may be in need of a professional repair.
Dust Between Keys
Skin cells, pet hair, spit, crumbs, dirt, and grime. These are some of the most common things we see gunking up the keywork of saxophones. Don't be embarrassed if you've never given thought to cleaning between the keys and notice your horn is dirtier than you thought.
We love to use a dry duster brush to clean up the keys of a saxophone. They're perfect for reaching in between posts, hinges, and levers. Be careful not to bend keys during the process.
Mouthpiece Cleaning
If there's anything you should be cleaning often it's your mouthpiece. With your reed and mouthpiece coming into contact with your mouth often it's a breeding ground for bacteria, build-up, and gunk.
Running your mouthpiece under warm water and giving it a good scrub with a woodwind mouthpiece brush is the best way to remove any debris and grime. Between washes we love to use sanitizing spray to disinfect after playing.
Alto Saxophone Spiffy Kit
Everything necessary to keep your alto sax clean, consistent, and comfortable.
Includes: Saxophone Swab, Thumb Rest, Rotor Oil, Duster Brush, Mouthpiece Brush, Reed Guard, Cork Grease & Mouthpiece Saver
DON'T
Turn Loose Screws
Tightening or loosening one little screw may not seem like a big deal, but in reality your keys are a complex system of rods, levers, springs, and more. Turning one screw can affect more than just one area of your keywork.
Beware of tightening the neck screw on your horn as well. Stripped screws, and damaged necks are some common issues our technicians see come through the shop.
Glue Detached Pads
I know. It's tempting. A pad has fallen out of your saxophone keys, and it doesn't seem too bad. There's a little residue from the glue used to put it in before, but it seems like adding some more glue could be an easy fix. STOP RIGHT THERE!
Pads are made of natural materials, set at specific angles, heights, and the way they fit against their tone holes is essential to making sure you can reach all of your notes with no leaks and squeaks. Put away the super glue, hot glue gun, and E6000. Let the professionals handle this as an adjustment may also be required.
Bend Back Keys
Oh no. A bump! A drop! A key that got caught! Now your key has a NASTY bend in it. This can feel embarrassing, and might look like something you've fixed before: a bent spoon, a wire hanger, or a piece of jewelry.
Shake off the shock, and put away the pliers. One bent key can mean more to the complex keywork system of your horn. You're better off getting a full adjustment to ensure that your whole horn is working properly.
Hopefully you now have more clarity on what you can do to make sure no unintentional damage comes to your saxophone. If something has come up that isn't listed here, it's always a good idea to consult with a professional woodwind technician.
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