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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Selmer saxes / 54 gurgle

Next 20 Messages

Hey
User ID: 9259363 Jan 15th 2:51 PM
I just got a ref. 54, and its really awesome, but some times if i slur around a,g#,g,f#,f it has a tendency to gurgle. I put on a different reed and it doesn't gurgle, it ust feels kinda thin, like its on the border of gurgling. There aren't any good mechanics i know of in my area.Should i buy a cheap leak light and try to fix it myself? Or should i just try different reeds and get used to it?

RS
User ID: 2540134 Jan 15th 2:55 PM
Maybe send it back and have any work done under the warranty. But a quick check for leaks is a good idea.

Sherry
User ID: 1759784 Jan 15th 4:07 PM
I had a new horn that gurgled for a while. One day when I was cleaning it I had it turned upside down and was shaking it - and a cork came falling out.

Make sure that a piece of packing cork or packing material is not in the bottom of the bell.

RS
User ID: 2540134 Jan 15th 11:45 PM
Something in the bell would be unlikely to cause a gurgle. I keep a cork from a wine bottle in the bell of my 74K Mark VI alto to keep the low B from gurgling.

saxilla
User ID: 2205324 Jan 16th 2:56 AM
What is a gurgle?

RS
User ID: 2540134 Jan 16th 10:58 AM
A warbling or bubbling sound usually caused by a leak or leaks in one or more of the bell tone notes. A quick fix is to drop a mpc. cap, cork grease tube, wine bottle cork, or similar object down the bell, thus re-directing the air flow around the leak. The low B seems to be the most susceptible to gurgling or warbling. Hey was getting a gurgle in the F-A range. I have never heard of this.

John T.
User ID: 0247944 Jan 16th 1:27 PM
HEY... I'd be gurgling too if I had a 54 !! :)

Ron
User ID: 9467593 Jan 16th 1:29 PM
I'd be gurgling if I had an empty wine bottle cork.

Bootman
User ID: 2964484 Jan 16th 1:53 PM
Check your spring tensions around the G#. Go and see a tech and get them to look over the horn.

RS
User ID: 2540134 Jan 16th 2:27 PM
And one thing to always watch is the G# opening when the spatula keys are activated. This really throws off the bell tones. But it's an easy fix with the set screw.

Hey
User ID: 9259363 Jan 16th 2:40 PM
Another thing, ive noticed that my 54 sctratches really easily. Anyone else notice this? Anything to do?

Patrick
User ID: 8722703 Jan 17th 1:07 AM
I was wondering if without engraving the littlest little scratches would show up more. Could this be what is happening?

Hey
User ID: 9259363 Jan 21st 8:10 AM
I checked the horn with a leak light, and there werent any leaks.If i change the reed around, it stops gurgling, but it still sounds kind of thin and harsh from low a-f. Should i get used to it or should i do something?

kelly
User ID: 9892733 Jan 21st 10:12 AM
Do you have any other mouthpieces that you can try? I've seen this mentioned once before, but can't speak to its credibility:

http://www.woodwind-shop.com/saxtrouble.html

Bootman
User ID: 2964484 Jan 21st 4:32 PM
There will be a slight leak that is not identifiable with the leak light. Use a cigarette paper as a feeler under the B, Bis key and the key immediately above the B key. Check all around the pad. The leak will probably due to an out of adjustment felt. If in doubt get it fixed by a good repairman. If the horn is playing properly you should be able to play sub ton eat this point. If it is leaking, then you will also have problems playing subtone D and lower.

Hey
User ID: 9259363 Jan 21st 4:42 PM
I doubt its the mouthpiece. i use a morgan7L. those are supposed to be pretty good mouthpieces, and i really like it, but ill try the paper thing.

Marc
User ID: 0805074 Jan 22nd 3:26 PM
Hey,
I bought a ref 54 in December last year.
It was simply "not playable" (low C and B, Bb) at all when I got it, bacause of a lack of tuning.
I sent it back to Selmer Paris (I am in France) and now it is the best sax in the world.
Don't waste time, sent it to a specialist and don't try to fix it yourself.

Marc.

Hey
User ID: 9259363 Jan 22nd 3:41 PM
I would send it to some tech, but i don't know any in my area, i live around williamsburg, norfolk,va. Does anybody know any good any technitions within 60 miles of here?

Patrick
User ID: 8722703 Jan 23rd 3:23 AM
Did you buy it from somewhere that can provide service? With a horn that new I would have to guess any decent dealer would try to help. Good Luck! I feel for you.

Hey
User ID: 9259363 Jan 23rd 6:48 AM
I got it at chuck levins music in maryland. That could be my last resort to go there again, (its a fairly long trip).So id like to know a good tech in my area.

Next 20 Messages

Hey User ID: 9259363	Jan 15th 2:51 PM I just got a ref. 54, and its really awesome, but some times if i slur around a,g#,g,f#,f it has a tendency to gurgle. I put on a different reed and it doesn't gurgle, it ust feels kinda thin, like its on the border of gurgling. There aren't any good mechanics i know of in my area.Should i buy a cheap leak light and try to fix it myself? Or should i just try different reeds and get used to it?
RS User ID: 2540134	Jan 15th 2:55 PM Maybe send it back and have any work done under the warranty. But a quick check for leaks is a good idea.
Sherry User ID: 1759784	Jan 15th 4:07 PM I had a new horn that gurgled for a while. One day when I was cleaning it I had it turned upside down and was shaking it - and a cork came falling out. Make sure that a piece of packing cork or packing material is not in the bottom of the bell.
RS User ID: 2540134	Jan 15th 11:45 PM Something in the bell would be unlikely to cause a gurgle. I keep a cork from a wine bottle in the bell of my 74K Mark VI alto to keep the low B from gurgling.
saxilla User ID: 2205324	Jan 16th 2:56 AM What is a gurgle?
RS User ID: 2540134	Jan 16th 10:58 AM A warbling or bubbling sound usually caused by a leak or leaks in one or more of the bell tone notes. A quick fix is to drop a mpc. cap, cork grease tube, wine bottle cork, or similar object down the bell, thus re-directing the air flow around the leak. The low B seems to be the most susceptible to gurgling or warbling. Hey was getting a gurgle in the F-A range. I have never heard of this.
John T. User ID: 0247944	Jan 16th 1:27 PM HEY... I'd be gurgling too if I had a 54 !! :)
Ron User ID: 9467593	Jan 16th 1:29 PM I'd be gurgling if I had an empty wine bottle cork.
Bootman User ID: 2964484	Jan 16th 1:53 PM Check your spring tensions around the G#. Go and see a tech and get them to look over the horn.
RS User ID: 2540134	Jan 16th 2:27 PM And one thing to always watch is the G# opening when the spatula keys are activated. This really throws off the bell tones. But it's an easy fix with the set screw.
Hey User ID: 9259363	Jan 16th 2:40 PM Another thing, ive noticed that my 54 sctratches really easily. Anyone else notice this? Anything to do?
Patrick User ID: 8722703	Jan 17th 1:07 AM I was wondering if without engraving the littlest little scratches would show up more. Could this be what is happening?
Hey User ID: 9259363	Jan 21st 8:10 AM I checked the horn with a leak light, and there werent any leaks.If i change the reed around, it stops gurgling, but it still sounds kind of thin and harsh from low a-f. Should i get used to it or should i do something?
kelly User ID: 9892733	Jan 21st 10:12 AM Do you have any other mouthpieces that you can try? I've seen this mentioned once before, but can't speak to its credibility: http://www.woodwind-shop.com/saxtrouble.html
Bootman User ID: 2964484	Jan 21st 4:32 PM There will be a slight leak that is not identifiable with the leak light. Use a cigarette paper as a feeler under the B, Bis key and the key immediately above the B key. Check all around the pad. The leak will probably due to an out of adjustment felt. If in doubt get it fixed by a good repairman. If the horn is playing properly you should be able to play sub ton eat this point. If it is leaking, then you will also have problems playing subtone D and lower.
Hey User ID: 9259363	Jan 21st 4:42 PM I doubt its the mouthpiece. i use a morgan7L. those are supposed to be pretty good mouthpieces, and i really like it, but ill try the paper thing.
Marc User ID: 0805074	Jan 22nd 3:26 PM Hey, I bought a ref 54 in December last year. It was simply "not playable" (low C and B, Bb) at all when I got it, bacause of a lack of tuning. I sent it back to Selmer Paris (I am in France) and now it is the best sax in the world. Don't waste time, sent it to a specialist and don't try to fix it yourself. Marc.
Hey User ID: 9259363	Jan 22nd 3:41 PM I would send it to some tech, but i don't know any in my area, i live around williamsburg, norfolk,va. Does anybody know any good any technitions within 60 miles of here?
Patrick User ID: 8722703	Jan 23rd 3:23 AM Did you buy it from somewhere that can provide service? With a horn that new I would have to guess any decent dealer would try to help. Good Luck! I feel for you.
Hey User ID: 9259363	Jan 23rd 6:48 AM I got it at chuck levins music in maryland. That could be my last resort to go there again, (its a fairly long trip).So id like to know a good tech in my area.