The saxophone is an instrument that must be carefully maintained to avoid moisture, oxidation and other deterioration that could cause technical problems.
The neck and the mouthpiece
After each play session, the mouthpiece should be taken off the neck and wiped with the mouthpiece/neck swab. The neck slide should be cleaned with a soft cloth (6).
The saxophone
To avoid oxidation, it is advisable to wipe the interior of the saxophone (7) after each use with a pull-through swab, and take care never to leave a wet swab in the instrument tube. Wipe the outside of the instrument regularly with a soft cloth. Never use solvents. In order to preserve the imprint of the pads, the open-ended keys of the instrument can be wedged backwards for transport. There are many clamping devices available. Caution! The instrument should be placed on adequate support or, failing that, on the key guards, but never on the keyboard's side (left-hand little finger).
The choice of the case is important, because a badly moulded shape can, in the long run, create technical problems such as key damage or air leakage. Never leave the instrument in a closed case for too long, as residual moisture can swell the pads and accelerate the deterioration of the lacquer.
In pictures: https://new.selmer.fr/fr/beyond-the-sound/categorie/entretien/entretien-du-saxophone
