You just spent $10,000 on the horn of your dreams. Now what?
1. Insure the instrument
We are happy to offer official appraisals for insurance purposes at $35 per appraisal. A free appraisal is included with the purchase of any instrument from Houghton Horns, up to 6 months after purchase. You should be able to add your instrument as a rider to your renter's or homeowner's insurance, or there are private companies that specifically insure musical instruments. Protect your horn and investment –it might seem annoying to have an extra expense, but the insurance is worth it.
2. Save your instrument's details
If it needs a warranty repair or gets stolen, the first thing you will be asked for is the make, model, serial number, and purchase date. Save a copy of the receipt both physically and digitally. Many receipts do not include the serial number, so you might need to manually write that down.
If you can, save a screenshot of the specifications off the website you purchased it from. Then you might have answers to questions like "What material is the leadpipe made of?" or "Is it lacquered?" before you take it into the repair shop.
It never hurts to have a few photos, including of any special features, dents, customizations, etc. that would help the police identify the instrument.
3. Follow these theft-prevention tips
See this article on how to deter thieves from stealing your horn.
4. Follow the manufacturer's recommended cleaning routine
The manufacturer's website should tell you the daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning routine for your instrument.
If you can't find that information, please feel free to contact us at sales@houghtonhorns.com or 817-993-6400. We are happy to give you maintenance tips.
Don't eat and play. You don't want sticky, moldy food stuck inside the instrument. It never hurts to brush your teeth before you play so that the repair shop isn't calling everyone over to see the gross green gunk they just found inside your horn.
Start budgeting now: you WILL need a professional ultrasonic cleaning once a year. You might want to budget $15/month for a cleaning and repair savings fund.
Expect to have to oil the valves every 2-4 days. Some instruments may need oiling daily / every time you play it so that the valves do not dry up. Trombone hand slides and tuning slides might also need oiling/greasing every 1-2 weeks. It depends on the age of the instrument and the material it's made of; when in doubt treat stickiness with more frequent oiling.
Also schedule a "spa day" for your instrument every 2-4 months. You'll need to pull out all of the parts, wash them in warm soapy warm, fully dry them, and then oil them before reassembly.
Some helpful videos:
5. Leave it somewhere safe
Never leave the instrument sitting on the ground where someone could trip over it. We also discourage setting it on a chair or table or high place it could fall from. Don't let your pesky younger sibling or hyperactive pet anywhere near it!
You can buy a stand for your instrument. Make sure to put the stand somewhere far out of the reach of any children, pets, or clumsy walkers. Putting it on top of a table might not be the best idea either.
Otherwise, leave the instrument in the case when it is not being played. Although we must warn you: leaving the instrument in the case for weeks or months at a time can cause the valves to stick and may damage the finish on your instrument. If you have to leave it in the case for an extended period of time, follow these instructions for long-term storage. But if your horn is in the case that long, it sounds like you need to practice more!
Empty the spit out of it before you put it in the case.
Pretty much any reputable case manufacturer is a good, reliable option for protecting your instrument from minor bumps and short falls. No case is going to save your instrument if you run it over with your car, but the major manufacturers such as Protec, Marcus Bonna, Wiseman, and BAGS of Spain should provide a reasonable amount of protection from daily life.
6. Know what's normal wear and tear, and what's a problem
Every brass instrument needs to be oiled regularly or its valves will dry up. If it was just shipped to you and it sat in a shipping box for several days, expect to have to oil it before it will play smoothly.
If the instrument is not lacquered, you will see fingerprints start to develop on the brass as soon as you touch it. This is normal, and over the next several months or years the horn will develop a golden patina.
See this article on identifying spots on your instrument.
Keep spare rotor bumpers and rotor string on hand because those will need frequent replacing, often at the most inconvenient times.
Know what types of damage are and are not covered under warranty. Here's Houghton Horns' warranty page, and you may also receive additional coverage through the manufacturer, so check out their website too. As a rule of thumb: Manufacturing defects such as malfunctioning valves are probably covered. Accidents, falls, and damage caused by failure to properly clean and maintain the instrument are probably not covered. Standard cleanings and maintenance are not covered.
7. Adjust the fit
If the instrument doesn't feel comfortable to you, there are often things you can do to adjust it. See this article What to do when playing hurts.
8. When in doubt, call for help!
If it's not moving and it should be, don't force it. Give us a call.
If it's moving and it shouldn't be, give us a call.
We have seen people cause hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage by trying to pull out stuck mouthpieces, rings, and tuning slides at home.
Our phone number is 817-993-6400. Seriously, please just call us.