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Re: Grease your bass clari neck?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-01-15 12:00

If you had a tuning slide on the crook itself (as on most pro basses except Leblanc), then that should be greased.

But a metal tenon fitting in a metal socket should be kept clean and not greased. So after playing, wipe both the tenon and socket clean so you don't get any mineral build-up on either part which makes them feel too tight in the long term.

The socket screw shouldn't be over torqued to lock the crook in place or to create the seal - provided the tenon fits well in the socket, you'll only need a quarter turn of the screw to secure it so it doesn't spin. The socket screw only clamps onto the tenon to lock it and the seal is the fit between the tenon and socket which is very critical. If the tenon is loose in the socket, get it fitted properly and don't over torque the screw as that will only do damage - at best the screw will break, but at worst the lugs on the socket can get broken off where they join and at the very worst the socket can succumb to metal fatigue.

I'm surprised at the amount of saxes I see with filthy crook tenons and sockets and the owners complain about them being difficult to assemble/remove. Then I give them a wipe down with a piece of old T-shirt and get them to try it and the lookon their face is priceless - that's all you need to do to maintain a good fit of both parts. The same applies to bass clarinets and flutes - keep the tenons and sockets clean and dryl

So keep a cotton cloth or an old T-shirt in with your bass to do this (and also to wipe any fingerprints off the plating).

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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