Daily Maintenance Tips

Never set your bassoon down flat while taking a break from playing. Water can move up the unlined side of the boot joint causing wood rot.

When you have finished playing:

• Blow any water out of the high D, C, A/Bb pips, the high E and Eb tone holes and the C# trill tone hole on the boot joint. Blow any water out of the finger holes in the tenor and boot joints. Pour any accumulated water out of the LINED side of the boot, angling the boot so that no water gets into any tone holes.
• Swab out the tenor and boot joints using drop swabs. Do not use the old style push swabs for this.
• Wipe off the wood and keys with a soft dust cloth. Place the cloth in between the tenor and long joints when the bassoon is in its case in order to prevent any scratches and chips to the finish.
• Blow any water out of the bocal and wipe it off with a soft cloth.
• Do not leave you bassoon standing in the corner overnight.

  Other Maintenance Tips

  Every once in a while dust in between the keys with a soft brush. An old style shaving brush is excellent for this.

  Every month or so clean out the water tubes with a Q-Tip dampened slightly with water or rubbing alcohol. Be sure to clean up any water or alcohol that gets in the bore.

  Every month or so, rinse your bocal out with hot water.

  Remove the high D, C and A/Bb keys and clean out the pips with a bristle from a whiskbroom.

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