Care instructions

ALL INSTRUMENTS

A new instrument should be played about twenty minutes a day in the begining, then raise gradually the time of playing, according to the degree of saturation of the instrument.

A dry athmosphere should be avoided, especially in winter because of central heating, to prevent cracks and distortions, the instrument is to be kept in a 40 to 50 % minimum relative humidity atmosphere (a pot of water in a cupboard may do right).

After playing, the bore should be wiped with a dry cloth.

The thread or corks on the tenons should be greased often so that it is unsensitive to humidity and the instrument remains easy to put together or into pieces. while putting the instrument together or into pieces, make sure that you make it clockwise.

The bore sould be oiled with any non sicative oil (soft almond, rapeseed, wallnut, paraffine…) about once a month the six first months then every three to six months depending on the frequency of using. It is important to let the instrument dry for 24 hours befor oiling. The oil is to be applied and wiped with a soft cloth, making sure that it doesn't leave any fluff inside ,and that the oil doesn't reach the edge, the bottom of the block or the windway.

RECORDERS

While blowing strongly through the windway to chase the condensation, the finger should be put flat on the windway in order to save the edge.

The block had a special treatment that prevent swelling, however an adjusting may appear necessary so I remain at your command for any operation that you might find useful

In case of condensation troubles you may pour in the windway a few drops of a 10 % solution of dishes detergent (use organic fully degradable detergent).

OBOES DA CACCIA AND CURVED CORNETTS

The bore sould be oiled with any non sicative oil (soft almond, olive, wallnut, paraffine…) about once a month the six first months then every three months. To do so, dismantle keys then close holes and top end with wax or plasticine (make sure you don't introduce material into the holes !). you may then fill the instrument with oil, empty at once and allow to drip for an hour before removing the wax.

After playing, the bore should be wiped with a dry cloth with a lead (oboe model for oboes and cornet or bassoon model for tenor cornett. Make sure that it's long enough and that the lead go through the grain (check it before introduce it into the bore) there should be a thread on each end of the cloth in order to take it out by the big end if it would not go through the grain (this is an important matter because a cloth stucked in the bore is very difficult to get out.

DULZIAN

After playing, the closing plate (at the bottom of instrument) should be removed and the bore is to be wiped with a soft cloth.