How to Care for a Baritone Saxophone

Proper care and handling of your baritone saxophone will keep your instrument looking good and sounding great for many years. There are some basic maintenance instructions you should follow each time you use your instrument to care for your baritone saxophone properly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Remove the mouthpiece and neck from the baritone saxophone. Wipe off all the moisture you can from the mouthpiece and neck using a soft cloth. Also wipe down into the instrument where the neck attaches to the horn as best you can.
2. Wipe the rest of the instrument down with your cleaning cloth. It is especially important to clean around any valves, pads and joints because saliva can come out of these openings after a long practice or play session.
3. Keep the mouthpiece cover on your instrument any time you are not playing it. The reeds are very fragile and even with the best care, little snags can happen, breaking the reed. The mouthpiece cover protects the reed and mouthpiece from bumps and breaks.
4. Have some cork grease handy for the corks on your baritone saxophone. Saliva and air conditions can cause the corks to dry out. Check your corks and grease them regularly so they do not become brittle and crack. In a pinch, you can use chap stick instead of cork grease.
5. Throw out all reeds that are not in good working condition. There is nothing worse than taking the time to prepare to play only to find out that the reed you have put on your saxophone is cracked, chipped or worn.
6. Use cotton swabs to clean any hard-to-reach places like behind keys or in tight joints. For the inside of the saxophone, you can use a swab, which is a piece of cleaning cloth fastened to a weighted string. You can purchase these at most music stores.