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A new wooden recorder must be played in A new recorder needs some time to get used to the humidity and warmth coming up with playing. For you as a player, this is an important period too, because meanwhile you can explore the special character and possibilities of your new recorder.
During the first three to four weeks, you should play your recorder every day – but please do not play more than 20 minutes. Please prefer calm music. Explore every single note: when does it sound at its best? Please experience dynamic play. Look for limits but do not strain your recorder especially at the high notes. Older recorders that were not played for a long time have to be played in again. Recorders with a plastic head can be played immediately without any restriction.
Wood is a living material: this is why our recorder maker worked out the windway a bit more widely. So it has the opportunity to swell during playing in. Sometimes, the block is expanding more than expected and then hoarseness or problems with the attack can arise. In this case, a simple adjustment of the block in our recorder clinic is helpful.
Warm up the instrument, especially in winter season: for example under your arm or in the trouser pocket. So you prevent formation of condensation water and according to this hoarseness and problems with the attack.
After playing, please, dry the parts of the recorder carefully. For this occasion you take best a swap with a non-fuzzing cotton cloth. Do not forget to blow the condensation water out of the windway. Let your recorder dry out by exposure to air. Therefore, you should not leave the instrument stuck together because it is possible that warping or cracks can emerge at the tenon. Recorders that cannot dry sufficiently tend to mold! Prevent your recorder from sudden variation in temperature because this can lead to stress cracks. Avoid impact of heat, for example, in your car or on the window sill because the paraffin wax that the recorders are coated with can melt. Once in a while you should clean your recorder: just wipe it with a dampish cloth, possibly adding a drop of washing-up liquid. Especially in the area of the beak you can often see hints of usage that can be removed easily this way. The windway can be wiped out carefully with a feather.
MOLLENHAUER recorders made of plastic can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
The tenons of your wood recorder need maintenance to stay flexible and smooth. Therefore you should apply the cork grease included in every instrument package sparingly to the tenons. Please remove spare grease so it cannot clog the finger holes. Please turn rough-running tenons only into one direction. It will be much easier!
Recorders with keys need special attention: if you turn the parts of your your recorder to put it together or apart, take hold of it above or below the keys to avoid bending the key mechanics. If a key runs rough and clatters it possibly needs a drop of oil you should pour into the hinge. Please use solely oil for mechanics (purchase order number 6136). Never use recorder oil because this should be used only for maintaining the wood!
Anticondens (purchase order number 6138) is a mixture of biological detergent and water. It releases the tension of the surface of interfering water drops in the windway so that they build a tiny water film. Anticondens is an effective utility against recorder hoarseness that is caused by the formation of little drops in the windway.
Our maintenance set (purchase order number 6132) contains everything you need to take care of your wooden recorder including detailed maintenance instructions. Maintenance tips in detail and more information about recorders you can find on www.mollenhauer.com/care
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