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G notes not sounding

1148 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Gordon (NZ)
Hi!
I just had my alto serviced (Yamaha YAS 275) and it played like a dream. The keywork had been sorted and the sound was the best I've ever had. However, I stupidly left the case unlocked and my dad picked it up and my sax fell the the floor with a loud clang. Fearing the worst I picked up the sax and tried it out. The keys sounded fine but when I blew, the Gs :space5: :line2: sounded muffled compared to the clarity of the other notes. Any help as to why this has happened and how I could fix it is very much appreciated!
Thank you for your help
Joe
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Assuming its your dad who picks up the bill.

First thing to do is take a long slow carefull look at what happens - I see you have two saxes in the sig. line - compare one with the other.

It is possible that something simple has happened like spring popping out of position - and these are often fairly easily put back in place.

If you can't see a simple answer (often the case) - then its back to the technician for sorting.
Does G work OK if you press on the G# key cup?

If so, then the problem is probably one of the following:

(Nomenclature: G# lever is the item you press to play G#. G# KEY is the item with the key cup and pad on it.)

1. The cork is missing between the G# lever and the G# key, so that the low C# &/or B touch pieces are stopping the 'touch' part of the G# lever from rising fully, hence stopping the G# key from closing. Replace cork, and adjust as per below.

2. The G# lever is slightly bent so that the low C# &/or B touch pieces are stopping the 'touch' part of the G# lever from rising fully, hence stopping the G# key from closing.

Hold the G# lever pressed down, and then slightly bend the other end of it (where it connects with the G# key) down just a fraction, until the G# lever no longer quite rises to touch low C# & B.
If it is only the G that has a problem, but notes above and below it are fine, and it feels fine for your fingers when you play, then it is probably something with the G# key (like Gordon said) not closing but closing when you use right hand fingers, or something with the F# key (the smaller one above your right hand fingers keys) not opening enough, maybe because the spring popped out.
My G sharp plays perfectly, I will check out the advice in a mintue.

Thank you for your help so far!
The G sharp lever is a little bent I think causing the key to stay a fraction open for G and then close for all other notes. Any idea on how to fix this?
Ah! Fixed! Thank you so much for all your help! :)
Great diagnostics Gordon and Clarnibass! I would suggest also checking the L.H "pinky" table for keys bent out of adjustment. Oftentimes a blow in this area hard enough to bend the G# lever has caused some other misalignment as well.

John
Mosesy2k24 said:
Ah! Fixed! Thank you so much for all your help! :)
Great! It would be great if other conditions were as easily diagnosed from written info.
(BTW it just happens to be normally the very last adjustment I make on a sax.)
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