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Sax on the Web Forum / Conn Saxophones / Key Height on Chu Altos

Hornlip
User ID: 9342693 Nov 25th 12:34 PM
How do folks have their Chu's set up, key-height wise? Do you feel they generally have a "high" standard setting?

Though it has good action, the keys on my Chu alto are set pretty high, especially in the lower stack. Seems like the action on the one or two other Chu horns I've played wasn't as high. Definately higher than action on a 6M.

When I got the horn all it needed was some tweaking & a couple of pads, so i've never had anyone work on the key height; also, it plays in decent tune.

Bill
User ID: 8284183 Nov 25th 1:07 PM
My 146K alto measures on avg 5mm on top and 10mm on the lower stack. With Conns becareful to make sure the lower "C" key is open enough to allow the lower stack D,E,F to speak freely. The lower "F" key can be lowered to flaten out "G" if necessary.

Good luck

Hornlip
User ID: 9342693 Nov 27th 3:04 PM
Bill -- I assume you're measuring from the front edge of the tone holes where you find the widest distance from tone-hole edge to the pads, correct?

The distance is significantly more than 10MM on the lower "D" pad.

Bill
User ID: 8284183 Nov 27th 5:21 PM
Yes I am measuring as you say. The key height can be [generally] found by lowering the first open tone hole key until the instrument is in tune for that note. If the keys are too low then the horn is stuffy and flat, if way to high then the notes can be a bit sharp [in general]. Also, generally speaking, the characteristics of the horn can be changed a bit by using slightly high key settings. This makes the horn sound big and more resonate!

For the "D" pad I would check the instrument on a chromatic tuner [for low E] to see if that pad needed to be brought down a little bit. The lower notes are not a critical as the upper stack.

mutha potamus
User ID: 0171704 Nov 27th 7:32 PM
Bill, would you please email me at kabaragoya@kgreen.org.

Hornlip User ID: 9342693	Nov 25th 12:34 PM How do folks have their Chu's set up, key-height wise? Do you feel they generally have a "high" standard setting? Though it has good action, the keys on my Chu alto are set pretty high, especially in the lower stack. Seems like the action on the one or two other Chu horns I've played wasn't as high. Definately higher than action on a 6M. When I got the horn all it needed was some tweaking & a couple of pads, so i've never had anyone work on the key height; also, it plays in decent tune.
Bill User ID: 8284183	Nov 25th 1:07 PM My 146K alto measures on avg 5mm on top and 10mm on the lower stack. With Conns becareful to make sure the lower "C" key is open enough to allow the lower stack D,E,F to speak freely. The lower "F" key can be lowered to flaten out "G" if necessary. Good luck
Hornlip User ID: 9342693	Nov 27th 3:04 PM Bill -- I assume you're measuring from the front edge of the tone holes where you find the widest distance from tone-hole edge to the pads, correct? The distance is significantly more than 10MM on the lower "D" pad.
Bill User ID: 8284183	Nov 27th 5:21 PM Yes I am measuring as you say. The key height can be [generally] found by lowering the first open tone hole key until the instrument is in tune for that note. If the keys are too low then the horn is stuffy and flat, if way to high then the notes can be a bit sharp [in general]. Also, generally speaking, the characteristics of the horn can be changed a bit by using slightly high key settings. This makes the horn sound big and more resonate! For the "D" pad I would check the instrument on a chromatic tuner [for low E] to see if that pad needed to be brought down a little bit. The lower notes are not a critical as the upper stack.
mutha potamus User ID: 0171704	Nov 27th 7:32 PM Bill, would you please email me at kabaragoya@kgreen.org.