how often do YOU repad your horn(s)?
1 - 20 of 43 Posts
Joined
·
43,596 Posts
under normal circumstances I understand that your pads should last several years.....certainly more than 10 is not unusual. If you leave a horn in a closet and don't play it, it is more likely to need a pad job than one that is played, but I have seen and played horns with ancient pads working just fine, if properly used, mantained and adjusted
Joined
·
5,208 Posts
Never! 
Except a couple of instruments I bought that were so old and in bad condition that they needed complete repadding, but they were never repadded again after that.
Except a couple of instruments I bought that were so old and in bad condition that they needed complete repadding, but they were never repadded again after that.
Joined
·
43,596 Posts
well, I am pleased to read that you never change pads, on the other hand some of those pads which are normally closed might show earlier than others sign of wear, hardening or cracking before than the rest and might need occasional replacing. Enviroment conditions play also a big role here, humid and hot places or extremely dry ones might be just too much to keep pads forever. But most of the times, if properly mantained, they will last a very long time.....
Joined
·
796 Posts
True, but I also have only had my Z for 8 months, and the modele 22 for a few days. I shouldn't have to change any pads for quite some time, I hope. But if I felt that they needed the new pads, I would pony up the cash for it.milandro said:
I had my Bundy for six years, and only repadded once because marching destroyed my pads, and I had to use it for everything, including regular symphonic and jazz band playing. I guess it goes without saying that when you have to press ridiculously hard to get a seal, you should get a repad, at the least. That is the stage the Bundy was at when I repadded it.
Joined
·
5,208 Posts
The question was "reapdded". Which I understand as changing all the pads. I guess someone could do a full repad every ? years but if you maintain the instrument good then you shouldn't need a repad. Overall it *might* be cheaper to do a major repair once in a long time instead of smaller repairs more often, but on the other hand your instrument might not be as good as it could be all that time between repairs. So I think only some instruments need repadding, and only rarely an instrument will need re-reapdding.milandro said:
Joined
·
5,208 Posts
Now I'm confused. I thought this is what I said :?SearjeantSax said:
Joined
·
43,596 Posts
I think that most of us do a repad as a part of a major maintanance job to take care of a number of issues (dents', general adjustment and proper oiling, intonation and so forth) which, in my experience, costs almost as much as a repad because the actual dismounting of the whole horn, adjusting ad putting back together is most of the actual cost, so, throw in a repad too....won't cost you all that much more
Yeah, I'm kind of confused about this myself.
my yamaha no doubtly needs maintenence, the only weird thing is that it got knocked out of adjustment after about 7 months.
btw, does anyone know of a surefire way to unstick sticky keys permanently? I've tried all the methods around here and I havne't found one that doesn't wear off after a bit.
my yamaha no doubtly needs maintenence, the only weird thing is that it got knocked out of adjustment after about 7 months.
btw, does anyone know of a surefire way to unstick sticky keys permanently? I've tried all the methods around here and I havne't found one that doesn't wear off after a bit.
Joined
·
13 Posts
I know that when I re-pad, I spray Liquid Wrench Dry Lubricant with 'Cerflon' on them before I install them. This lasts for years with great results! I know, it sounds hokey, but I've been experimenting with different products for years in my shop. I'm not afraid to think outside the box to please my customers. It also keeps them from drying out. If you have a collectable or sentimental horn that you keep stored, treat your pads with this, and put those silica gel packets from new shoe boxes(or other products) in the case with the horn. This will put your horn in a virtual time capsule and keep it from corroding. I have a YTS - 61 from 81' that is like the day I bought it. Plays fantastic, and even smells new.kaplac said:
Joined
·
548 Posts
http://cgi.ebay.com/Runyon-Pad-Form...ryZ47097QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemkaplac said:Ok I will try that.
Any guesses as to whre I may obtain such dope?
www.wwbw.com
www.runyonproducts.com
Joined
·
17,082 Posts
A sax needs repadding when most or all of the pads are wrecked through becoming too hard, or from splitting.
I have been servicing saxes for over 25 years, and done many repads. However I do not recall every repadding the same sax twice.
That is because once the player has got used to playing a sax in good condition, they are most likely to get it serviced periodically, when something is not quite right, if not sooner. At these times a few dying pads may be changed, but never the whole lot.
There are two to downsides to ongoing maintenance of this type.
1. There is never a time when very long-term reliability is re-established.
2. There is never a time when all the keys are off the instrument so that it can get a decent wash.
I have been servicing saxes for over 25 years, and done many repads. However I do not recall every repadding the same sax twice.
That is because once the player has got used to playing a sax in good condition, they are most likely to get it serviced periodically, when something is not quite right, if not sooner. At these times a few dying pads may be changed, but never the whole lot.
There are two to downsides to ongoing maintenance of this type.
1. There is never a time when very long-term reliability is re-established.
2. There is never a time when all the keys are off the instrument so that it can get a decent wash.
Joined
·
5,297 Posts
There are so many variables that a general answer here is impossible. An instrument that is regularly cleaned, cared for and maintained, initially had quality pads correctly installed, and has been kept away from extreme temperatures and humidity and hasn't been played to death (with gorilla grip) can have pads that last for 20 years or more. This does not include the palm keys, high E and F# and the low Eb that must be replaced more often because of their "water catching" positions on the instrument. Any variation(s) of any of the above can shorten the time between repads considerably.
John
BTW my Conn 10M "closet horn" has all original pads in top condition that are going on 67 years and it plays great!
John
BTW my Conn 10M "closet horn" has all original pads in top condition that are going on 67 years and it plays great!
Joined
·
765 Posts
My alto, in particular, gets played a lot! Hours and hours a day. I usually bring her in to my tech every 6 months for routine maintenance, but it's rare that the tech will find anything significant wrong. (I'm always tweaking and adjusting anyways). On a rare occasion, a single pad might get replaced, but overall, my horn is in excellent shape. This is a Selmer Series II.
When I was playing a student Yamaha YAS-23, my horn would go in every 6 months, and require quite a bit of adjusting! I was playing quite a bit less, but I'm certain I didn't take anywhere near as good care of it, and didn't pay any attention to if I drank a soda or something before playing it. At the moment, the horn is barely playable, but I have no immediate use for it so I'm fine with that. I may start tweaking it later.
I'm curious if I'll notice a difference in the repair schedule of the Conn 10M I recently bought, and if the Conn set-screws actually do anything.
When I was playing a student Yamaha YAS-23, my horn would go in every 6 months, and require quite a bit of adjusting! I was playing quite a bit less, but I'm certain I didn't take anywhere near as good care of it, and didn't pay any attention to if I drank a soda or something before playing it. At the moment, the horn is barely playable, but I have no immediate use for it so I'm fine with that. I may start tweaking it later.
I'm curious if I'll notice a difference in the repair schedule of the Conn 10M I recently bought, and if the Conn set-screws actually do anything.
1 - 20 of 43 Posts
