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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Conn Saxophones / 10M leak

Mike C
User ID: 9663323 Oct 7th 8:05 PM
My 10M is feeling a little stuffy lately. Put a leak light and saw 1-2 minute leaks but I thought I'd see more. Anyway I was wondering how I would check the neck tenon for a leak. The horn has been playing great .Usually when I can't find a reed to play and they are all stuffy I start thinking I've got a leak.

ferrari
User ID: 8416263 Oct 7th 9:42 PM
MIke try some teflon plumber's tape on the neck tenon and if it improves...viola! Btw, ever since I started drilling my reeds ala the Bootman method, ALL my reeds are playable. I know you've probably read about reed drilling countless times by now, but we play very similar setups( 1941 10M w/ Florida Link STM for me) and the reed drilling has made a world of difference in consistancy of my sound.

How's "The Eternal Triangle" coming along?

MusicMedic
User ID: 8757283 Oct 9th 4:56 PM
One way to test the neck for leaks (aside from purchasing the right tool) that is effective is this; -let's see if I can explain this one...

Use some small rubber bands to affix a small balloon (like a water balloon) to the end of a long (3 feet should be plenty) piece if tubing. You might use a fish-tank air supply line.

When you’re done with this it will just be a balloon on the end of a tube that you can blow up from three feet away.

Use some grease or petroleum jelly and lube up the balloon. Sounds strange I know.

Now, take the neck off and put the tubing down the body balloon side last. Once the balloon is past the area that the neck sits, leave it there and work the tubing out of a tone hole (low C should work).

Blow up the balloon in the body (be sure it's above the F tone hole and below the neck receiver) with the tubing you connected it to. It should form a seal.

Bend the tubing and stop it off with a rubber band like you would a garden hose to stop the water.

With the balloon lovingly placed in the body, put the neck on POP -Just kidding.

Suck the air out of the neck and see if it forms a constant suction. If it does your set. If it does not the neck, the octave key, the receiver, or the balloon are leaking.

Mike C User ID: 9663323	Oct 7th 8:05 PM My 10M is feeling a little stuffy lately. Put a leak light and saw 1-2 minute leaks but I thought I'd see more. Anyway I was wondering how I would check the neck tenon for a leak. The horn has been playing great .Usually when I can't find a reed to play and they are all stuffy I start thinking I've got a leak.
ferrari User ID: 8416263	Oct 7th 9:42 PM MIke try some teflon plumber's tape on the neck tenon and if it improves...viola! Btw, ever since I started drilling my reeds ala the Bootman method, ALL my reeds are playable. I know you've probably read about reed drilling countless times by now, but we play very similar setups( 1941 10M w/ Florida Link STM for me) and the reed drilling has made a world of difference in consistancy of my sound. How's "The Eternal Triangle" coming along?
MusicMedic User ID: 8757283	Oct 9th 4:56 PM One way to test the neck for leaks (aside from purchasing the right tool) that is effective is this; -let's see if I can explain this one... Use some small rubber bands to affix a small balloon (like a water balloon) to the end of a long (3 feet should be plenty) piece if tubing. You might use a fish-tank air supply line. When you’re done with this it will just be a balloon on the end of a tube that you can blow up from three feet away. Use some grease or petroleum jelly and lube up the balloon. Sounds strange I know. Now, take the neck off and put the tubing down the body balloon side last. Once the balloon is past the area that the neck sits, leave it there and work the tubing out of a tone hole (low C should work). Blow up the balloon in the body (be sure it's above the F tone hole and below the neck receiver) with the tubing you connected it to. It should form a seal. Bend the tubing and stop it off with a rubber band like you would a garden hose to stop the water. With the balloon lovingly placed in the body, put the neck on POP -Just kidding. Suck the air out of the neck and see if it forms a constant suction. If it does your set. If it does not the neck, the octave key, the receiver, or the balloon are leaking.