FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Oil the dry recorder with a cleaning rod (fuzz-free cloth about 2 x 5 cm, insert through loop), polishing inside (and out, if the instrument is not lacquered!) but do not use an excessive amount. Please do not oil the tenon with cork.

Use almond oil or cold-pressed linseed oil. Be careful with the headpiece: oil inside only up to 2 cm before the block, oil the whole of the outside, but on the labium surface apply very carefully just a little oil at the front. No oil should get near the block! Stand the oiled recorder overnight on newspaper to dry, in such a way that the superfluous oil does not get into the finger-holes or onto the block. Wipe away any remaining oil the next day with a dry cloth.

If you are unsure, it is better not to apply enough oil than to use too much! Depending on the amount of use, oil the recorder once or twice a year inside and out! Oil takes care of and impregnates the wood, and the sound becomes fuller.

 (PDF-file 30KB) click

How can a hoarse sound be avoided?

Hoarse sound - occurs when water-drops get trapped in the wind-channel.

Remedies:

• pre-warm the mouthpiece to body temperature (prevents cold condensation)

• Anticondens Sprinkle the air exit opening (1) with Anticondens, especially in the corners. With the palm of your hand, hold closed the opening of the underneath of the headpiece (2) and forcefully blow back the liquid, starting from the labium opening through the wind-channel (3). Enclose the labium opening with your lips to do this.

A 'clogging' is usually normal until the block edge is completely wet and the water can run off at the front. If the wood surface in the wind- channel is rough or overlaid with dirt particles, neither pre-warming or Anticondens will help (characteristic: the hoarseness persists). The only solution is to send it in for cleaning. A block which is too swollen increases the clogging tendency.

Hoarse sound PDF-file (20KB)