[reedyjohnson]

Hello. I have a Jupiter alto saxophone, and in the middle of practicing I suddenly heard something fall into the bell. It turned out to be a small screw. I scoured the sax trying to find an empty hole but was unsuccessful. I'm still a beginner and don't know all of the keys, so it's also been hard for me to test where the screw might have come from. I was hoping someone might have some suggestions for me to figure out where it goes.

It's got a circular head with a flathead line in it. The diameter of the head is about 6mm, and the length of the screw is around 7mm. After doing a little research, I'm guessing it may be a flower bar screw?

Thank you so much, any suggestions or resources would be very much appreciated!

 

[datsaxman]

Hey Johnson

Lots of similar screws on a saxophone.
It does sound like a screw that holds in one of the key guards. Since it has a head. Those always do (there are other screws with heads on them too)
Sheet metal covers over the larger keys down near the bell. Best bet it to keep looking for the place it is missing from.

There are lots of places to look on a sax, so if it is not one of the key guards, it is holding one of the key rods on one of the posts.
You might try gently tugging on the longer key rods, sideways. Don't bend anything, but see if one is loose.



dat
sax
man

 

[LostConn]

Take the neck off the sax; put in the end plug. Sit down on a couch or soft chair in a well-lighted area, with the sax on your lap. Examine every single piece of keywork on the horn up close, from every angle. Turn the sax upside down and sideways as needed. Be systematic. You'll find the spot eventually.

 

[saxoclese]

If the screw has a pointed end check all of the posts for an empty hole. If the screw has a flat end check each of the "feet" that hold the key guards or the clothes guard in place. On most saxes the keyguards for the low Eb and C have 3 screws each as does the keyguard for the low B and Bb. The clothes guard has 2.

 

[nvilletele]

I have a screw loose . . . but so far I’ve only lost my marbles.