[Dixielandjazz] Dirty Trombone

[Don Ingle]

If he smokes enough to make the slide thicken up with black gook, don't
worry about it...he won't be alive much longer.
Usually cold cream and water misted on does the job for 90 percent of bone
players. Some use slide oil. But I would recommend that he completely washes
off the slide oil after each day's use and start fresh. Oils can congeal,
and of course an old silver plating may contribute to the blackness you
mentioned.
Bob Barnard, clearly one fine trumpet man, uses dishwasher detergent for
oil. It cleans out all the gook and washes out at day's end. I tried it once
and it does work, but I am addicted to valve oil.
But it might be one solution.
After all of this, take it to a good bone repair guy and let him figure it
out.
Don Ingle
----- Original Message -----
From: "Elazar Brandt" <jazzmin at actcom.net.il>
To: "Dixie Jazz Mail List" <Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 6:42 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Dirty Trombone


> Question for you bone players:
>
> I bought a fairly old Amati silver plated tenor trombone in Prague last
year, and have been renting it to a student. The instrument
> is in reasonably good condition, but the slide was sluggish from non-use.
We cleaned it up thoroughly with warm water, soap, soft
> and hard nylon bristle brushes, swabs, etc. until water ran through it
clear as a mountain stream and the slide moved freely.
>
> The problem is, every couple days, the student reports black gook building
up on the slide and it starts getting sluggish again. He
> cleans it every week, and I have cleaned it with him several times, but
the black stuff returns.
>
> He's been using slide oil to lubricate, but last time we cleaned it we
tried cold cream and water, only the results were worse. So
> we're back on slide oil.
>
> The only thing we can think of is that he smokes. But is that enough to
cause a gooky buildup that will slow down the slide? He
> can't be the only bone player who smokes!
>
> Anyone have any wisdom for us. You can answer off line if this mystery is
deemed not to be of interest to the list in general.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
>
> Elazar
> Misrad HaJazz
> Doctor Jazz Band
> Jerusalem, Israel
> <www.israel.net/ministry-of-jazz>
> Tel: +972-2-679-2537
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