Accessories & Maintenance - Looking after your Steel Pans

Accessories
Necessary steel pan accessories are sticks, stands and cases. A variety of stands are available including affordable 'U' stands, the more stable 'H' stands (ideal for younger players) and folding stands for travelling.

PanStiX can be purchased for immediate dispatch. Large or small orders welcome.

Cases have heavy duty straps and are padded to protect the playing surface, also known as the bowl. Cases are available for the full range including guitar pans, cello pans and tenor basses. Cases are available for bass pans although pan hats are an affordable option.

Click here for more on instruments and accessories.

Tuning and maintenance
With good care and maintenance, the instruments can last up to twenty years, although bass pans tend to have a shorter life. By ensuring instruments are never struck hard, knocked or dropped they will stay in tune for longer.

Store them in cases when travelling or not in use. Alternatively, use pan hats to protect against dust when instruments are set up for long periods.

Tuning is an absolute necessity and should be carried out once or twice a year depending on frequency of use. Although tuning a ten-instrument orchestra can set you back hundreds, do not be tempted to wait until the pans become badly out of tune as this will considerably shorten their life. Book a pan tuner here.

Steel pans should be cleaned using a soft damp cloth and gently polished with a non-corrosive cleaner.

Click here for more on tuning and maintenance

PanStiX