Accessories A possibly boring question, but...

[Perera]

... My cleaning swab appears to have caused a couple of (really) minor scratches visible at the top on the inside of the bell (and probably more I can't see), so... my question is - what's the best cleaning kit options - for the full body, neck and mpc? Or are small scratches part and parcel? Thanks in advance, guys!

 

[TomMapfumo]

I tend to use BG body swabs of various kinds - A30 A and A30 T on alto and tenor sax respectively, and A 33 for straight soprano and also sax necks on alto and tenor. They are all pull through swabs and seem really gentle, and are easily washed/dried.

Kind regards
Tom

 

[Justin Chune]

Get something that won't scratch your sax. My most recent purchase is a Trevor James Microfiber Swab, and while I was at it I bought a sax neck brush. Don't pull anything through your mouthpiece. Mouthpiece brushes are also available, though I clean mine with cold water and dry it with a sheet of Plenty.

Jim.

 

[Jazzaferri]

Plus one om Tom's BG swabs.

 

[Morgan Fry]

I've always just used the padsavers that you leave in the horn. Wash out the mouthpiece with cold soapy water and a toothbrush maybe weekly, pull any old rag through the neck at the same time.

 

[Perera]

Thanks everyone. Going to invest in a better pull through this weekend. Have already got a gentle brush for neck and mouth.

 

[zannad]

Discussions like this one only reinforce my view that it is better not to clean the exterior of our saxes...within certain limits of course.
Surely I would avoid using any daily rubbing action to get rid of the usual deposits from saliva, dust etc. - the daily 100% shine is desirable but unfortunately the continuous rub and wipe is going to affect the lacquer and the gradual degradation is going to show up one day.
A way to show this would be possible: one should keep sax A "uncleaned" for a year and compare to sax B which has been cleaned on a daily basis...I'm convinced here that in the end the one left alone is going to be the shinier.
All I do is use a light duster here and there (once a month?)....occasionally, I've done a bit of wiping too (every 3 months?).

 

[MandyH]

Zannad, this bodes well for all of my saxes.
I leave them all out on the stands, so they are rarely dried, although I have pull throughs for all of them - one for mouthpiece and neck, one for the body (not the bari, obviously)
They air-dry and collect dust on a daily basis!
I have always been advised not to use a pad saver alone - pull through to dry first.

Occasionally I'll give a sax a wash - damp clean hanky and tepid water, followed by a dry with a clean hanky, and get into the nooks and crannies with the careful use of a pipecleaner folder in half, to avoid the pointy ends doing any scratching.

Mind you, I treat my car the same - 4 years old and washed maybe 3 times...just not worth the effort

 

[daveysaxboy]

I'm lazy.Only wash my mp and inside neck.My sax never gets cleaned !!!!!!!!!!! shiny bad, scruffy goodddddd

 

[Colin the Bear]

I clean mine when they're new and lovely. A quick wipe with a soft cloth while still wet from playing and a now and then intesive with some mr sheen. Once they get a bit battered and tattered I tend to go just for hygiene and practicality with the cleaning.

I think "brand new" and "old friend" are the best looks for me. In between it's just a dilemma. And buying a vintage look brand new sax would just confuse me.

I wouldn't worry about scratches with a sax you intend to keep. It's the sound after all, not the look that matters. Annoying if you're selling it though.