Dolnet Belair

[mikestefano2001]

Just got a Dolnet Belair (1960 I think) from the bargain section of a music store. It's got a couple of dents and the case is a write-off, but after I straightened out a couple of bent keys, the bent G# pinky key, corrected somebody's experiment with the neck & body octave vents and fluffed a couple of the original red pads, it plays surprisingly well.
The pads are going to have to go and can anyone recommend something to replace them?
I'm also going to need a case. I tried it in the protec/BAM case
my B&S 2001 lives in and it won't fit without major surgery (to the case that is). Any recommendations?
Last, it's missing the guard on the left hand of the lower stack - not a big deal and I can probably find a close match from a junk horn in the closet, or just leave it off, but if anyone had an actual Dolnet guard available, I'd be interested.
What really surprised me was that this was originally a high school horn - still had the PSBGM inventory label on it. Man they didn't have horns like this when I was in high school! :shock:
Thanks all
Mike

[mikestefano2001]

Duh... no coffee yet. It's a Belair Tenor :oops:

[griff136]

mike,

re the guard - you could search for a dolnet stencil goin cheap take the guard off and sell it on. A bit drastic but at least you would have your guard. Or you could get your tech to make one from brass sheeting. I will keep a look out for one for you. :)
Dolnets are a nice instrument - ive got a series 2 alto i love it!

[mikestefano2001]

I've been doing a bit of research, so good idea to see if I could find a stencil cheap... I really like this horn even though I've only had it a day. The original red pads still seem pretty good, but the replacement pads (here and there) look like they're starting to rot. This had been a school horn at one time and there are bits of cork glued on all over the place to "adjust" the horn. Remarkably, after only about an hour of work bending keys, fluffing pads and scraping off bits of cork it plays top to bottom and sounds pretty good.
Until I can find a Dolnet guard, I may just leave it alone - I noticed at saxpics that one of the Belairs pictured was also missing the guard and a couple of other Dolnets appear to not have ever had one, so it's really not a big deal, but at some point it would be nice to have the horn complete.
Thanks for the advice.
Mike :D

[hornimus]

SKB 150 has worked for me, YMMV.

[benliner]

Mine's an SKB also. Don't know the number , it was 2nd hand. It looks a little cramped at top of the projecting link rod, in the sideways direction, (not end on, which is shielded,) but doesn't seem to be putting any stress on it, I can't tell if it has bent it inwards at all. Probably not. I've used it for a year, and it took the same sax at least to New Zealand and back before I had it.