Sax on the Web

-->

Sax on the Web Archive / Buffet Archive / G# octave warble on my SDA

kelly
User ID: 0631424 Nov 1st 9:34 AM
My newly arrived Super Dynaction alto plays fast and light, although the key layout really feels different from my Mk VI. Great sounding horn but my octave G# is just on the verge of warbling. What are the most common sources of this? Should I be looking for a leak or an adjustment problem?

Thanks in advance

Gordon (NZ) Nov 4th 6:56 AM
Is G# opening fully?

tungp
User ID: 0952054 Nov 4th 1:49 PM
My guess, too.

Randy M. Nov 7th 7:19 PM
If your horn is mechanically OK, then it might be air speed (move faster) or voicing. You might check your octave mechanism to make sure it's not sluggish and working properly. Body octave should be open from D2 to G#2. Beginning a A2 the body key sholud close and the neck octave should open, hopefully smooth, quick, and without bouncing.

To get a feel for what I'm talking about (voicing) try:
Finger F1, play F2 (without register Key) then F1, then F2. (no register key--use air and tongue position.) Slur if you can.

Do the same with E. Then try G.

This may help you get a feel for what you need to do to get a secure G every time. Good luck.

madav
User ID: 9892733 Nov 8th 6:27 AM
you can get a near-warble/gargle if you're getting key-bounce. I have had a similar thing on my SA80 II, which I corrected by bending the g# spring to increase the tension, without dismantling.

morgan
User ID: 0784604 Nov 9th 7:51 PM
I experienced warbly G# (and G) when the side C had too weak a spring. Air pressure caused the C key to wobble.

Gordon (NZ) Nov 11th 5:18 AM
Any results to report, Kelly?

kelly
User ID: 0631424 Nov 12th 11:10 AM
Gordon, sorry for failing to report. The body octave key is opening several mm's and the coordination with the neck vent looks good. I have tried some Runyon pad-dope on all the pads. I took my Mark VI to get a few pads replaced and to regulate the C# Bb artic, but left my best mpc's with the VI! So, I havent been able to test the SDA with mpc's I trust. I'm looking for a leak.

Promise to post when I find it.

kelly
User ID: 9892733 Jan 18th 11:00 AM
Problem solved! Leak light showed no leaks in the upper stack. But I noticed that the problem correlated with the length of playing. So I snaked a pipe cleaner through the body octave vent and the problem disappeared. I mentioned this to Randy Jones of Tenor Madness on a recent visit (what a great place - he showed me some spectular horns that he's working on for clients, like a flawless gold plated Conn tranny alto)and he thinks some lint or something was in the vent. So, it accumulated moisture the longer I played, eventually compromising the venting.

Anyway, problem solved.

Gordon (NZ)
User ID: 7106263 Jan 20th 8:18 AM
Great. I don't think I've ever come across a blocked octave vent problem myself. Only on clarinets and oboes.

saxdaddy@napbirt.org
User ID: 0701364 Jan 20th 9:51 PM
Mosst of the time they come from cheap shove it, or pull through swabs, but it happens. I only see half a dozen cases every year though. I see way more on oboes though, and I only do about 1 oboe to every 50 saxs.

kelly User ID: 0631424	Nov 1st 9:34 AM My newly arrived Super Dynaction alto plays fast and light, although the key layout really feels different from my Mk VI. Great sounding horn but my octave G# is just on the verge of warbling. What are the most common sources of this? Should I be looking for a leak or an adjustment problem? Thanks in advance
Gordon (NZ)	Nov 4th 6:56 AM Is G# opening fully?
tungp User ID: 0952054	Nov 4th 1:49 PM My guess, too.
Randy M.	Nov 7th 7:19 PM If your horn is mechanically OK, then it might be air speed (move faster) or voicing. You might check your octave mechanism to make sure it's not sluggish and working properly. Body octave should be open from D2 to G#2. Beginning a A2 the body key sholud close and the neck octave should open, hopefully smooth, quick, and without bouncing. To get a feel for what I'm talking about (voicing) try: Finger F1, play F2 (without register Key) then F1, then F2. (no register key--use air and tongue position.) Slur if you can. Do the same with E. Then try G. This may help you get a feel for what you need to do to get a secure G every time. Good luck.
madav User ID: 9892733	Nov 8th 6:27 AM you can get a near-warble/gargle if you're getting key-bounce. I have had a similar thing on my SA80 II, which I corrected by bending the g# spring to increase the tension, without dismantling.
morgan User ID: 0784604	Nov 9th 7:51 PM I experienced warbly G# (and G) when the side C had too weak a spring. Air pressure caused the C key to wobble.
Gordon (NZ)	Nov 11th 5:18 AM Any results to report, Kelly?
kelly User ID: 0631424	Nov 12th 11:10 AM Gordon, sorry for failing to report. The body octave key is opening several mm's and the coordination with the neck vent looks good. I have tried some Runyon pad-dope on all the pads. I took my Mark VI to get a few pads replaced and to regulate the C# Bb artic, but left my best mpc's with the VI! So, I havent been able to test the SDA with mpc's I trust. I'm looking for a leak. Promise to post when I find it.
kelly User ID: 9892733	Jan 18th 11:00 AM Problem solved! Leak light showed no leaks in the upper stack. But I noticed that the problem correlated with the length of playing. So I snaked a pipe cleaner through the body octave vent and the problem disappeared. I mentioned this to Randy Jones of Tenor Madness on a recent visit (what a great place - he showed me some spectular horns that he's working on for clients, like a flawless gold plated Conn tranny alto)and he thinks some lint or something was in the vent. So, it accumulated moisture the longer I played, eventually compromising the venting. Anyway, problem solved.
Gordon (NZ) User ID: 7106263	Jan 20th 8:18 AM Great. I don't think I've ever come across a blocked octave vent problem myself. Only on clarinets and oboes.
saxdaddy@napbirt.org User ID: 0701364	Jan 20th 9:51 PM Mosst of the time they come from cheap shove it, or pull through swabs, but it happens. I only see half a dozen cases every year though. I see way more on oboes though, and I only do about 1 oboe to every 50 saxs.