Subscribe For Free Updates!

We'll not spam mate! We promise.

Thứ Ba, 14 tháng 5, 2019

What To Look For When Buying A Used Single Or Double Reed Instrument

By Charles Turner


If you love playing music and are thinking about getting a woodwind instrument you know how expensive they can be. If you are thinking about investing in a professional grade instrument instead of a student grade one it will definitely qualify as an investment that you will need to look after properly. Here are some tips and tricks that you can use to take care of your single or double reed instrument so that it will look and sound beautiful for years to come.

You need to look closely at the mouthpiece of any unit you are thinking about purchasing. Single reeded variants will usually have a plastic piece with a metal clamp that holds down a single piece of reed. Is it cracked or is the metal clamp missing? These can be inexpensive to replace but it can be an indication that there are other problems with a particular unit. Double reeded instruments will have a hole at the top where you plug the reed in. You clamp it with your lips and blow in order to make music.

Single reeded instruments include the saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet. Double reeded woodwinds include the oboe, bassoon and English horn. Some instrument, such as the saxophone, are often made of metal while instruments such as the clarinet, bassoon and oboe are usually made of wood.

Look inside the sections before you agree to buy anything. Does it look like the moisture has been wiped out every time the unit was used? If you are looking at a wooden unit you will want to make sure that moisture has not caused the unit to warp or swell. If it has, this may mean that you will never be able to play your purchase and it may mean you have wasted your money.

Something that is often overlooked is the cork that lines the areas where a woodwind's sections connect. Check it carefully. Is it dry and cracked? Are pieces of the cork missing? If they are the sections may not fit together properly and may be quite expensive to repair. Only you will know whether it is something you are willing to pay for.

It can be a good idea to physically inspect a potential purchase rather than simply looking at pictures. If you do, look at the keys that connect to metal pads. Make sure that any felt that is under the pads is in good shape and that the pads will move when the keys are pressed. If they don't, it may mean that you will need to repair the instrument before using it and this can be quite expensive.

It is a good idea to wipe off the outside of the instrument from time to time. If you have a saxophone or an instrument that is made from metal, wiping down the surface with a soft cloth and using an appropriate metal cleaner will keep your instrument looking its best.

If you are very nervous about whether a second hand instrument is worth buying you may want to have it inspected by someone at a local instrument shop. They may also have second hand or refurbished woodwinds that you may be able to purchase and supplies that you can use to care for an instrument that you do buy.




About the Author:



Please Give Us Your 1 Minute In Sharing This Post!
SOCIALIZE IT →
FOLLOW US →
SHARE IT →
Powered By: BloggerYard.Com

0 nhận xét:

Đăng nhận xét