Gold Medal key heights

[WhisprnJohn]

My recently acquired Gold Medal tenor is a great horn, but in sorting out the intonation differences between it and my MarkIV it seems the upper stack notes are flat ( middle A and B especially) I recall reading somewhere that these horns are especially sensitive to key height changes. My tech has never seen one of these horns before, and before we start experimenting I was hoping to get some input from the SML experts on this forum. Key height specs, anyone, or is this just a characteristic of this horn, like the sharp D and E on my SBA alto?

[ynotsaurus]

I think you should check your horn against a tuner or piano instead of with another horn. (first thing I learn from the Art of Saxophone Playing by Larry Teal).

My experience is, I thought I was playing too flat on the third octive from D to F but it turned out to be OK according to the tuner. So after checking all the notes, I found that second octive D and E are a little bit sharp.

Problem with slight intonation problem (due to horn) can be adjusted by either alternative fingering or embrocher. (again from the book)

my 2 cents

[francobolognese]

The middle A on my GM Alto is a little flat too with a C* selmer mp. When i use a soloist F mouthpiece its gone and as clear as it can be.
When i have my mp further on the neck the problem is also gone.
Boy i really love those sml GM saxes.


Greetings
Frank

[WhisprnJohn]

Thanks for the insights guys. As I get used to the horn the intonation is getting better. Choice of mouthpieces makes a difference, with my JJ ESP being better than a high baffle Dukoff, for instance.