Sax on the Web Forum

Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / My new bari stinks

baga
User ID: 6939693 Aug 5th 3:45 AM
Hi,
I bought a Bari two days ago, and either the case stinks or the Bari. But I fear it's the Bari. Anyway, I'd like to clean it inside. Right now it's just lying by an open window, and I hope some fresh air would do some tricks. But that wont solve the problem I fear.
What's strange is that the only removable part is the neck, just before the 'spit' valve, the rest is just all one piece.
Is it normal for Baris to be built like that? What about inserting Pad Savers? I can't insert a Pad Saver into this Bari.
I'm thinking about pouring some liquid inside to clean it. Cleaning liquid? 90% alcohol ? What would be safe for the pads, coating, what's not, anyone know? Oh, BTW, don't advise me any USA-sold equipment, as I've got a limited access to such equipment and would have to order it.
And as you probably guess, I'm not really into having a lot of dough, just after purchasing this Bari, so if there's anything cheap but good from normal household equipment please let me know.
The pads are new and fresh, as I've checked them. But the smell is awful, I fear its germs or some sort of other nasty thing. And I have to clean it, cause I don't want to end up eating anyone's germs. My tenor doesn't stink, I keep it clean and all, same with soprano, I see no reason why my Bari should stink!
The guy who sold me the Bari played on it not really often but once in a while (he's a normal sax player). He said that it's probably the metal that stinks, or the coating (it's an Amati Bari) or the case (the layout material IS STRANGE). But I'm not sure and in doubt.
The Bari plays nice, has some tuning problems, but that's normal and I'll get it worked over.
Any help/recommendation would be great!

MusicMan
User ID: 0108854 Aug 5th 3:15 PM
There are several swabs made for baris...the one I use is a silk pull through style. Then I use a clarinet swab for the neck. Someone also makes a foam push in swab for the upper crook.

I don't know about pouring any kind of liquid, alcohol based or not into a bari.

The neck is the only normally removeable part on a bari. Selmer makes their horns so a repairman can remove the upper crook and bell, but I wouldn't recommend a novice doing that.

As far as the smell goes, I'd clean the interior as thoroughly as possible using swabs. If the smell continues, consider taking case and horn to a furniture repair shop that specializes in fire damage. They'll have an ozone chamber and that should be able to kill any smell present, case and all...

Wes
User ID: 8053963 Aug 5th 11:26 PM
Some of the odors of new saxes and cases are due to outgassing of plastic, leather, or fabric. The metal itself would have no odor. There are also odors due to fungi that develop over time that are difficult to eliminate. The only thing I could suggest is to be patient and hope that fresh air will take the odors away. Leave the case open as much as you can.

Very little moisture gets into the main body of the baritone, although a pull through swab might help get the moisture out of the top crook. I would never use a "pad saver" on any of my instruments as they keep the moisture in the instrument, making it more fungus susceptible. I'd rather dry the instrument out with a pull through swab.

Every new instrument I've purchased(15 to 20) has needed some adjustment to eliminate leaks. This was especially true with an Amati bassoon I bought new which, by the way, had some odor from the case materials. It would be a good idea to take your great new sax to a local repairman to check for leaks, pad height adjustment, and lost motion in the keys. Good luck!

baga
User ID: 6939693 Aug 6th 1:51 AM
Thanks,
I'll take the bari to the repairman as soon as I have some money. It does have some strange innovations made by the former sax player (tape instead of cork on keys, blah blah). Maybe it also needs some pad readjusting as the intonation goes slightly off in certain parts. Or maybe I'm just not used to it.
As to your suggestions - many thanks!

Anji
User ID: 2031664 Aug 6th 7:17 AM
For a cheap detox;

A ziploc plastic bag loosely filled with Baking
soda or kitty litter (no kidding) will help absorb some of the odor.

Change the bag daily with fresh stuff.

Your horn, if it has been well loved, needs a detergent bath, which will help immensely.

Your tech can manage this, no doubt.

(Sometimes, that "Granpa's Attic" smell is from the pad adhesive lacquer denaturing.)

Bootman
User ID: 1676554 Aug 6th 7:57 AM
Another great odor remover is odor-eaters, you know the inner soles you put in your shoes to get rid of that bad foot odor stench. These can work easily, and should remove a minor smell like your Grandfathers shed. Although I kind like that smell, it reminds of my Grandfather and the things he always was tinkering with.

danmcb
User ID: 0324974 Aug 6th 8:13 AM
in fact, I got some old worn out odour eaters you cna have cheap ... you'll never smell the sax once those are in there ;-)

baga
User ID: 6939693 Aug 9th 3:30 AM
Well, the bari is slightly stopping to stink lying by that window.
However... if I close the window, I can smell it from several feet away after - say - a hour.
I'm sure I like those shoe odor-eaters, but frankly I think this bari needs some thorough cleaning inside.
I remember, when I bought the tenor, it smelled bad also. I had it cleaned, and now.. it just smells a bit, but it's no bad smell. Frankly I don't notice the smell of the tenor or any other of my saxes, which I think is as it should be. If I notice it, than I notice it and its bad.
This bari is just slightly different.
Maybe this detergent bath might help, but I wouldn't like to do it myself, as I might hurt the horn, as I'm no expert in this.
As to the worn out odour eaters, danmcb, I'm sure the sax won't smell the same ;)) And what will happen if I stop using odor eaters in shoes? Will I notice any difference between my sax and my shoes?
I wouldn't like to develop a good breath support with my shoes before my nose! Yup! ;))

danmcb
User ID: 0324974 Aug 9th 3:43 AM
I had this problem on my soprano.

In the end I stripped the instrument and washed it out with a solution of white vinegar and water, then reassembled, cleaning, oiling etc as I went. It was fine after (and played better too as I fixed a few other problems ...)

For the case I used Fabreze (which smells like cheap perfume) and also left it open a long time. In the short term that helps - if you can stand the smell of Fabrreze! The bad smell does come back after a bit ... but not as bad. I don't think anything short of burning is really going to get rid of that musty smell for good. Or Arizona sunlight apparently.

But I have done minor servicing on my instruments before. If you haven't then it's a job for a tech.
You can't wash the instrument without stripping it. On the other hand if you are mechanically minded, have the time, and are confident that you can do this without damage (ie you know how to remove screws without damaging the heads and so on) you can do it, with care and patience.

baga
User ID: 6939693 Aug 9th 4:09 AM
I had a talk with my sax tech some time ago. As it is becoming more and more a lost art - sax repairing that is - I decided it might be a nice occupation for me when I retire from sax playing (I'm still young though, though not THAT young as I wish I was).
I asked the guy if he can teach some things in the beginning. He just smiled and said: 'We'll have a talk about this, only after you strip down and assemble your sax three times. Then we can talk!'
Seems I gotta try :)

DD
User ID: 1982994 Aug 10th 9:17 PM
Baking soda does eliminate the "musties" - I once bought a grand piano just out of storage and put a dozen boxes of the stuff inside the lid on a sheet, closed it up and covered it for a couple of weeks, opened it up, took out the sheet with the soda, and the smell was all but gone! Problem was, the only thing it would play for a while was Golliwog's Cakewalk. I like the ozone chamber idea too.

izzybob
User ID: 1731514 Aug 28th 4:08 PM
do not use alcohole in a sax, you will cause major damage

rhino004
User ID: 9962683 Sep 29th 8:47 PM
I bought a soprano with a padded case and it had a smell. I left it open in the HOT Arizona sun for 10 hours and the smell is now gone. Time of year was July so had maximum sun and temperature. It worked great an was free!

baga User ID: 6939693	Aug 5th 3:45 AM Hi, I bought a Bari two days ago, and either the case stinks or the Bari. But I fear it's the Bari. Anyway, I'd like to clean it inside. Right now it's just lying by an open window, and I hope some fresh air would do some tricks. But that wont solve the problem I fear. What's strange is that the only removable part is the neck, just before the 'spit' valve, the rest is just all one piece. Is it normal for Baris to be built like that? What about inserting Pad Savers? I can't insert a Pad Saver into this Bari. I'm thinking about pouring some liquid inside to clean it. Cleaning liquid? 90% alcohol ? What would be safe for the pads, coating, what's not, anyone know? Oh, BTW, don't advise me any USA-sold equipment, as I've got a limited access to such equipment and would have to order it. And as you probably guess, I'm not really into having a lot of dough, just after purchasing this Bari, so if there's anything cheap but good from normal household equipment please let me know. The pads are new and fresh, as I've checked them. But the smell is awful, I fear its germs or some sort of other nasty thing. And I have to clean it, cause I don't want to end up eating anyone's germs. My tenor doesn't stink, I keep it clean and all, same with soprano, I see no reason why my Bari should stink! The guy who sold me the Bari played on it not really often but once in a while (he's a normal sax player). He said that it's probably the metal that stinks, or the coating (it's an Amati Bari) or the case (the layout material IS STRANGE). But I'm not sure and in doubt. The Bari plays nice, has some tuning problems, but that's normal and I'll get it worked over. Any help/recommendation would be great!
MusicMan User ID: 0108854	Aug 5th 3:15 PM There are several swabs made for baris...the one I use is a silk pull through style. Then I use a clarinet swab for the neck. Someone also makes a foam push in swab for the upper crook. I don't know about pouring any kind of liquid, alcohol based or not into a bari. The neck is the only normally removeable part on a bari. Selmer makes their horns so a repairman can remove the upper crook and bell, but I wouldn't recommend a novice doing that. As far as the smell goes, I'd clean the interior as thoroughly as possible using swabs. If the smell continues, consider taking case and horn to a furniture repair shop that specializes in fire damage. They'll have an ozone chamber and that should be able to kill any smell present, case and all...
Wes User ID: 8053963	Aug 5th 11:26 PM Some of the odors of new saxes and cases are due to outgassing of plastic, leather, or fabric. The metal itself would have no odor. There are also odors due to fungi that develop over time that are difficult to eliminate. The only thing I could suggest is to be patient and hope that fresh air will take the odors away. Leave the case open as much as you can. Very little moisture gets into the main body of the baritone, although a pull through swab might help get the moisture out of the top crook. I would never use a "pad saver" on any of my instruments as they keep the moisture in the instrument, making it more fungus susceptible. I'd rather dry the instrument out with a pull through swab. Every new instrument I've purchased(15 to 20) has needed some adjustment to eliminate leaks. This was especially true with an Amati bassoon I bought new which, by the way, had some odor from the case materials. It would be a good idea to take your great new sax to a local repairman to check for leaks, pad height adjustment, and lost motion in the keys. Good luck!
baga User ID: 6939693	Aug 6th 1:51 AM Thanks, I'll take the bari to the repairman as soon as I have some money. It does have some strange innovations made by the former sax player (tape instead of cork on keys, blah blah). Maybe it also needs some pad readjusting as the intonation goes slightly off in certain parts. Or maybe I'm just not used to it. As to your suggestions - many thanks!
Anji User ID: 2031664	Aug 6th 7:17 AM For a cheap detox; A ziploc plastic bag loosely filled with Baking soda or kitty litter (no kidding) will help absorb some of the odor. Change the bag daily with fresh stuff. Your horn, if it has been well loved, needs a detergent bath, which will help immensely. Your tech can manage this, no doubt. (Sometimes, that "Granpa's Attic" smell is from the pad adhesive lacquer denaturing.)
Bootman User ID: 1676554	Aug 6th 7:57 AM Another great odor remover is odor-eaters, you know the inner soles you put in your shoes to get rid of that bad foot odor stench. These can work easily, and should remove a minor smell like your Grandfathers shed. Although I kind like that smell, it reminds of my Grandfather and the things he always was tinkering with.
danmcb User ID: 0324974	Aug 6th 8:13 AM in fact, I got some old worn out odour eaters you cna have cheap ... you'll never smell the sax once those are in there ;-)
baga User ID: 6939693	Aug 9th 3:30 AM Well, the bari is slightly stopping to stink lying by that window. However... if I close the window, I can smell it from several feet away after - say - a hour. I'm sure I like those shoe odor-eaters, but frankly I think this bari needs some thorough cleaning inside. I remember, when I bought the tenor, it smelled bad also. I had it cleaned, and now.. it just smells a bit, but it's no bad smell. Frankly I don't notice the smell of the tenor or any other of my saxes, which I think is as it should be. If I notice it, than I notice it and its bad. This bari is just slightly different. Maybe this detergent bath might help, but I wouldn't like to do it myself, as I might hurt the horn, as I'm no expert in this. As to the worn out odour eaters, danmcb, I'm sure the sax won't smell the same ;)) And what will happen if I stop using odor eaters in shoes? Will I notice any difference between my sax and my shoes? I wouldn't like to develop a good breath support with my shoes before my nose! Yup! ;))
danmcb User ID: 0324974	Aug 9th 3:43 AM I had this problem on my soprano. In the end I stripped the instrument and washed it out with a solution of white vinegar and water, then reassembled, cleaning, oiling etc as I went. It was fine after (and played better too as I fixed a few other problems ...) For the case I used Fabreze (which smells like cheap perfume) and also left it open a long time. In the short term that helps - if you can stand the smell of Fabrreze! The bad smell does come back after a bit ... but not as bad. I don't think anything short of burning is really going to get rid of that musty smell for good. Or Arizona sunlight apparently. But I have done minor servicing on my instruments before. If you haven't then it's a job for a tech. You can't wash the instrument without stripping it. On the other hand if you are mechanically minded, have the time, and are confident that you can do this without damage (ie you know how to remove screws without damaging the heads and so on) you can do it, with care and patience.
baga User ID: 6939693	Aug 9th 4:09 AM I had a talk with my sax tech some time ago. As it is becoming more and more a lost art - sax repairing that is - I decided it might be a nice occupation for me when I retire from sax playing (I'm still young though, though not THAT young as I wish I was). I asked the guy if he can teach some things in the beginning. He just smiled and said: 'We'll have a talk about this, only after you strip down and assemble your sax three times. Then we can talk!' Seems I gotta try :)
DD User ID: 1982994	Aug 10th 9:17 PM Baking soda does eliminate the "musties" - I once bought a grand piano just out of storage and put a dozen boxes of the stuff inside the lid on a sheet, closed it up and covered it for a couple of weeks, opened it up, took out the sheet with the soda, and the smell was all but gone! Problem was, the only thing it would play for a while was Golliwog's Cakewalk. I like the ozone chamber idea too.
izzybob User ID: 1731514	Aug 28th 4:08 PM do not use alcohole in a sax, you will cause major damage
rhino004 User ID: 9962683	Sep 29th 8:47 PM I bought a soprano with a padded case and it had a smell. I left it open in the HOT Arizona sun for 10 hours and the smell is now gone. Time of year was July so had maximum sun and temperature. It worked great an was free!