I`ve never oiled, replace my pads, or get it clean at the shop. It`s been about three years. Is that bad? Would that affect my tone? I`ve been having trouble with tone lately but i always think it`s my braces that`s causing it. I also never thought about cleaning it, because i have a standerd gemienhardt(my only flute). SO, do you think this is effecting my tone? PLEASE REPLY FAST!!^_^ thank you.

one more thing to add...
so IF it`s affecting my tone i need to take it to the shop right away, because i have a concert that day, and i have a solo i DON`T what to mess up on.^_^

You have never cleaned your flute you were through playing it? :0 Do you know how many bacteria`s grow inside the flute if you don`t swab it out? I was made to watch a video when I started playing the flute where they showed what exactly grows inside of it if you don`t swab it out. Lets just say after seeing that video I ALWAYS swabbed it out when I was through.

It should take your flute into a repair shop at least once a year to get it oiled and have the pads checked. That most likely could be your problem.

Don`t worry i clean the inside and once in a while I would clean the outside by wiping it by a cloth. I just never had a professional repair person clean it, that`s all.=)

Oh, okay, that is good then.

PS. You really should clean out the inside after eveytime you are done playing, it will help maintain your flute.

ookkaaayyy....yes you need to clean your flute everytime you play it....even if you only play it for a few mins...all the spit you put into it blocks and absorbs sound and grows bacteria and causes the sound to fade.I would reccomend you take it to the shop and repad it because the pads, if they dont shut all the way over the hole then air leaks and the sound is leaked also. just make sure you oil the headjoint and foot because those get stuck pretty easily.

Mandy

just make sure you oil the headjoint and foot because those get stuck pretty easily.

OH LORD!!! Kara hits head!!!

Mandy, PLEASE be careful about what you advice people to do with their flutes. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER should you oil headjoint or footjoint on your flute!!! If it is stuck, it is most likely gummed up from the oil that was put on that wasn't supposed to be. If it hasn't been destroyed with oil and his too tight then take it into a technician and have it adjusted.

Another thing, it is not spit that is in your flute, it is moisture. It is like putting a very cold glass of water out in a warn environment.

Once again, I know you are just trying to help, but this is the second time that you have given really poor advice. Just be careful what you advice people to do.

Where do you get all this nonsense from? Your teacher? Hmm!!

Lol!! Most likely a band director. Yikes! My niece will be starting the flute next school year and I told her not to do anything her band directors tells her to do with the flute maintenance wise, until she consults me first.

I think just about the funnies one was Bilbo's student who oiled all their pads and then the next best one was the dishwasher incident.

"
I think just about the funnies one was Bilbo's student who oiled all their pads...."
A lovely student but didn't seem to be exactly with the program...:
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=nice%20names%20for%20stupid%20people

A clarinet player friend of mine had a student who gave her clarinet a bath before a concert so it would be nice and shiny on stage, the pads ballooned up so much no sound came out

OUCH!^^ you guys have good stories... well, i don't have my gemienhardt and as some of you guys know i recently got a new flute I bet my old flute is reALLY messed up. i'm just really glad to have a new one. Oh, and my TONE is a lot better know. I know what to do..everytime i play. I don't think i'll have a professional clean it...waste of money.. i could shine it myself^^