Four Easy Ways to Reduce Trombone Repair Bills

1) Play the Trombone regularly

Like most mechanical devices, a good trombone will actually last longer if it is used regularly. If your trombone sits for weeks or months without use, the lubricating oils dry up, leaving a gunky residue that can't always be cleaned at home.

2) Clean your trombone after every use

Lets face it...there's a lot of saliva moving through a properly played trumpet. If it's cleaned regularly, the added moisture won't hurt the mechanism. If it sits there and dries up on its own...it will hang up the valves and slides. Your music teacher can show you how to take things apart and clean them, or bring the horn into McClellan's and we'll show you. Click here for a recommended list of trumpet accessories.

3) Give it a bath once in a while

Even with the best care, if the valves or slides start to hang up, or your trombone just isn't playing right, you might want to bring it in for a bath. Our ultrasonic cleaning tank can gently shake loose the accumulated gook you can't reach at home.

4) Keep it in the case (or on a stand).

We see lots of dents and dings on trombones. Some are just cosmetic, but even a slight ding on the slide can render it unplayable. Handle your horn like a newborn baby when taking it out of the case, but spank it hard when you play! If you have a good quality trombone, we can usually massage the dents out of it here at McClellan.

If the unexpected happens, here's a rough guide to how much we'll charge you to fix it:

(Bring it in for a free estimate, anyway).

Ultrasonic Cleaning (hand slide only)  $27

Tenor Trombone Bell Section $19

F Trombone Bell Section $40

Ultrasonic cleaning of a brass instrument involves disassembly of the instrument; ultrasonic cleaning of all parts; manual cleaning of valves, casings, and slides; replacement of all piston bumpers; replacement of water key seals; lubrication of slides and valves; reassemble and playtest. Extra charge for removing stuck slides. Additional work done at shop rate of $60/hour.

Handslide PC (Includes Cleaning) $75

Valve Repair  From $25 per valve

Refit Rotor Bearing $15

Resolder Brace/Flange $15 - 20

Remove CA Glue or Tape Residue $25 - 50