Saxophones Assembly, Care and Maintenance

Assembly

Before you open your case, be sure that it is right side up. Grease the cork on the neckpiece, so the mouthpiece goes on easily. Put the mouthpiece and reed on the neckpiece. Place the neckpiece in the body of the saxophone by gently twisting (apply cork grease if there is any resistance). The octave key lever should go under the ring on the neckpiece. Attach neckstrap.

After Playing

Be sure to swab the inside of your saxophone every time you finish playing. There are two types of swabs- the most common is a cloth attached by a string to a weight. The weight is dropped through the body of the saxophone and the cloth pulled through. Push-through swabs are available- they are designed to leave inside the saxophone, after swabbing with a drop-through swab.

Wipe the keys with a cloth to remove finger marks and acid left by perspiration. This acid will tarnish the metal if it isn’t removed. Remove your reed from the mouthpiece and place it in a reed guard. This will extend the life of the reed. Swab out the mouthpiece. Leave the ligature on the mouthpiece to keep it from getting bent, and be sure to replace the mouthpiece cover on the mouthpiece.

Always keep your saxophone in the case when you are not playing it. Never put anything in your case that it was not designed to hold. The pressure from music or papers in your case can bend the keys and rods. Vacuum your case when necessary.

The Reed

Always have 3 or 4 reeds that work well and alternate them. This extends the life of the reeds and you’ll always have a backup!

Regular Maintenance

Do not polish the keys on your saxophone, as this can ruin the pads and the finish on the instrument. Instead, use a cloth, preferably muslin, to wipe off moisture and finger marks. Do not adjust the screws on your saxophone- only your teacher or a repairperson will know how to use them correctly.

Wash the mouthpiece regularly with lukewarm water and clean it using a mouthpiece brush. Be careful to keep the corks dry- water can damage it.

Be careful with your saxophone- accidental dents look ugly and are expensive to remove.

Under each key is a pad that seals the tone hole when the key closes. If pads start to stick, it means they are dirty. To clean the pads, place a soft cloth under the pad (muslin works well), close the key, and pull the cloth through. To keep pads clean, don’t eat candy or chew gum before or while playing! Rinse your mouth if you’ve been eating anything sweet.

Supplies Needed to Care for the Saxophone

1. Lint-free cloth swab/drop-though swab, and/or push-through swab

2. Clean cloth, preferably muslin (to clean keys and body of instrument)

3. Cork grease

4. Mouthpiece brush

Handling the Saxophone

Don’t let anyone but your teacher handle or play your instrument. If you need to set it down during rehearsal or practice, put it on a stable, flat surface with the keys up. Never leave your saxophone on a music stand or the floor.

Identification

Be sure your instrument has a tag identifying that it belongs to you. Also, have a record of the serial number of your instrument for insurance purposes.