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Does this happen to other 20s?

1650 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  bruce bailey, 
Yellowhorn
I have noticed that the middle D on my 20 is less resonant than the E. What is more, sometimes when I don't play attention to it, it can make a funny note. This funny note is similar to the one you make by playing the middle D and then lift the index finger on your right hand.

I asked a friend in Nam who plays a silversonic 20 and he says the same problem happens on his.

Does this happen to any of you?

If it happens to more than two persons, then it must be a systematic problem then. If not, then it is just me and my friend.
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milandro
No, it is not just you and your friend :cry: ! The stuff-y(ier) D is a fairly normal thing. You will read it on any comments made of a horn (that it has it or it isn't so stuffy as one would expect) I have had it more or less on every single tenor which I've had.

The funny D is, in all likelyhood, an overtone. I actually have it every now and then on tenor and alt if my enbouchure gets sloppy or tired (maybe if I keep on trying I'll have it on Baritone too :cry: ) I play a D2 and it comes out a G (I think). I suppose it comes down to weak embouchure and lack of breath support, really. Perhaps too soft a reed too.

Nothing to worry about it! If I understand this correctly (but I am sure that more knowledgeble members will correct me if I have got this wrong....:D ;) ) a stuffy D can be cured by one (or both) two things : a different mouthpiece (or its position on the cork) or very slight tweaking of the height of B and Bb.......and long tones, very many long tones!:D :D :D ;) What else?
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Yellowhorn
Milandro -

I have just read the issue of the stuffy D in another thread. But, you are right, lots of practice of long tones will prevent the D from jumping to a G (or higher a note) and allow you to do many other things and build your tone.
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martysax
When my Super 20's D2 is stuffy, sometimes even has a buzzing quality, it usually means that one of my left-hand palm keys might have a leak.

When it gets more unbearable than Dexter-like I take it in to Emilio, and it's clear again!
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M
In my experience, just clean the pads on the palm keys and any other upper stack keys in the same area. Sometimes a crud buildup in this area will cause a small leak and give a stuffy d and or e.
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Yellowhorn
Mike and Marty,

Thanks for the tips. I will try them.
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Budget Explosion
Also, my Super 20's were very sensitive to: 1) placement of neck on body - (centered, vs. moved to the right or left) there was a specific sweet spot; 2) on the non-double socket necks: they needed the neck screw TIGHT.
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B
On most horns, when the D is stuffy or muted, raising the opening of the bow C pad can help. First try putting a wad of paper or cork under the arm to hold the key more open and see if that helps.
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