What happens to an instrument between renters?

Every returning instrument goes through the same two-station process, and no instrument skips it: a full cleaning and sanitizing first, brass bathed in the dip tanks and every mouthpiece sanitized, then a separate checker who actually plays it, every key, valve, and slide, before it can go out again.

First, the cleaner. The instrument is fully cleaned and sanitized. Brass gets properly bathed, not wiped. Trumpets go through the dip tanks so the inside is as clean as the outside. Woodwinds are cleaned with particular attention to everything that touches a mouth; every mouthpiece is sanitized before reissue, always.

Then, the checker. A separate set of hands plays the instrument, actually plays it, testing every key, every valve, every slide, before it returns to circulation. Our founder still does checking himself, because in his words, making it look pretty is not the job; making sure it plays perfectly is. If a checked instrument is not right, it goes back to the bench, not onto the shelf.

Then it is re-kitted. A saxophone, for example, leaves with its neck strap, cork grease, a fresh reed, a clean mouthpiece, and the protective cap for the tall keys all verified in the case. Those are the details a family will not know to check and should never have to.

And a brand-new instrument is exactly that: new, untouched, straight from the case. But everything pre-rented has been through the hands above, every single time. It is not glamorous work, but it is the most important thing we do.