Caring for your B.A.C. Trombone
Caring for your trombone has never been easier! Here are some tips and tricks to care for your trombone.
Preparing the slide
First, clean any dirt from inside the slide, then apply a bit of slide cream (or slide oil) on the slightly thicker end sections of the slide (the stockings). Do not use slide grease.
After applying slide cream, use a water spray bottle to moisten the slide sufficiently. If you used slide oil, just blow on it. You can use regular tap water in the water spray bottle, but it's better to use water without any chlorine in it, such as mineral water.
Insert the inner slide into the outer slide, then slide the two sections back and forth several times to spread the cream evenly. If the slide becomes sluggish while playing, moisten the slide with the water spray bottle. A small water spray bottle in your pocket could come in very handy when performing!
Oiling the rotary valve (Tenor Bb/F Trombones and Bass Trombones)
On tenor Bb/F trombones and bass trombones, apply rotor oil to the rotary valve through the slide receiver.
When to use slide cream and when to use slide oil
Slide cream and slide oil both allow the slide to move more smoothly. Which to use is up to personal preference. The condition of your instrument and the amount of cream or oil applied to it can also change how it feels to play, so it behooves you to discover what amount you feel most comfortable with. Incidentally, Yamaha slide oil contains an anti-rust agent to prevent the inside of the slide from rusting.
How much slide cream to apply
As a rule of thumb, you should apply only enough cream that the slide is still visible beneath it.
Advice
If the slide becomes sluggish 10 to 15 minutes after you start playing, you should have the slide checked at the shop. If the slide is dirty the slide oil won't be able to lubricate it well. Prior to applying slide oil, be sure to thoroughly clean any dirt or moisture from the outside of the inner slide and the inside of the outer slide. Be careful however not to apply any unreasonable force on the slides when doing so.
Do not use a different oil on a pre-oiled slide. (ex: Yamaha Slide Lubricant and Slide-o-Mix), always swab out and clean before applying a different oil. Most oils don't mix together.
After playing
Cleaning the slide
Open the water key to remove moisture from inside the slide section. You can blow air through the slide to make sure its as empty a possible
Wrap gauze or thin cloth around the cleaning rod so that the metal is not exposed, then clean inside the inner slide and outer slide. When you remove the cleaning rod, make sure there is no gauze left in the tube. Grip both the cleaning rod and gauze when pulling it out from the instrument. Always hold the slide brace when doing this.
Do NOT use paper towels or similar material around the cleaning rod.*
Maintaining the exterior
The silver parts on a trombone's main slide and F attachment are surface-treated (finished) with the same lacquer as the other parts. The colors are different because the materials are different. The surface finish is the same for all surfaces. To maintain the exterior of the instrument, either wipe it gently with a polishing cloth. Pledge spray works on lacquered instruments only.
Silver plated instruments require more polishing. Gloves and silver polish cloth are needed. Silver polish like Hagerty’s help protect the silver from quick tarnish and make it shine. Ask a local instrument technician for more details.
What to do if the plating is peeling
If the plating is beginning to peel, bring it to an authorized technician for evaluation. If plating wear becomes more severe, it will need to be replated.
We hope that these tips help your instrument live a long and happy life! As always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions at orders@bacmusic.com or 816-945-9133
