[km]

so - the new sax is starting to look a little spotty - lots of little white dots, from saliva sprayed out in moments of emotion:

what to do?

get the lacquer cloth out & start polishing - but does this maintain the "new" look longer, or does it eventually wear through the lacquer itself?

leave the spots & simply enjoy playing - is this the inevitable ultimate answer?

how long between the first and the second answers?

km

 

[rs1sensen]

I've always just used a lacquer cloth (or a corner of my shirt!) to wipe the spots off. Your lacquer will wear over time, no matter what you do. as long as you don't use a polishing compound and just stick with some sort of cloth, you'll be fine!

I noticed lacquer wear on some of my keys within a year (usually the high D and E keys), and a little on my octave key. Your keys may be nickel plated, in which case you won't see wear on those for longer. The rest of my sax, though, doesn't have much wear on it yet after a few years of very heavy playing. It really depends on the saxophone itself (quality, type, and application of lacquer on it), and the acidity of your saliva and sweat.

I personally don't worry about my horns getting some wear and tear. I've got a 1961 tenor with 50% lacquer or so, which although a bit beastly, plays like a dream. I've got a 1921 c-melody with a lot of its silver-plating intact, but it tarnishes like no other. I've got a fairly new professional Selmer alto, and a 10ish year old Yamaha alto, both are still in very good shape. I don't believe finish effects my horns, and although I take care of them, I know that they get worn over time.

 

[Chris Peryagh]

Just clean the spitty spots off with a soft damp cloth - pretty simple really.

Do not use solvent.

 

[HUTMO]

Care Of Finish

A dry soft cloth with some Pledge furniture polish on it. Trust me, it works well and will not harm the finish. This will make it easier to keep clean and your horn will smell lemony fresh.

What I do.... NOTHING. Leave it alone and it will show the amount of time you put in.

HUTMO

 

[rs1sensen]

I'll second the Pledge suggestion. Try not to get it gunked up in the keywork or on the pads, but it really makes an excellent, and safe polish for the sax.

 

[km]

thanks for these

I WILL try to keep the horn looking new - not entirely sure why, perhaps just a sense/ guilt feeling that after paying out all the money I really ought to - even though I am ambivalent about the REALLY NEW look;I expect that if I wanted to sell it would help

anyone else have these mixed feelings re new horns?

km

 

[Al Stevens]

Clean off the spit at the end of the gig/practice session. It contains trace amounts of whatever you've eaten and drunk recently. It contains whatever else might be inside you and your salivary glands. It can't be good for the finish.

 

[griff136]

I use pledge - but spray it on the cloth and not the sax.

 

[Kini]

Ive always used a Chamois cloth that has only been used on the horn. But I've been curious about lacquer creme and polish...do those products really do anything over a clean cloth?