What's "Pad Guard?"

[Manny3]

This might seem like a stupid question, but I've seen Pad Guard at sax shops with other accessories. What is it? What's it for? How do you use it?

[John Kasaian]

Its like a big mop (a pipe cleaner on steroids?) that lives in your sax when you aren't playing. Its supposed to preserve the life of your pads. I have one for my alto, my daughter has one for her flute and my son has one for his sax. The guys who work in music shops swear by them and if they do half of what is claimed, then they are OK in my book.

Do they really work? I don't know. Maybe I've been conned (it wouldn't be the first time) but maybe not. I just got new pads in my Buescher and I'd rather not go through that expense again anytime soon so I took the bait.

Perhaps some Tech can tell us the Truth about these new-fangeled things?

[SaxPower]

Here if you are visual ...

http://www.music123.com/Product/Product.aspx?SKU=49779