[knightofsteppe]

I got a rope light, 8ft red, whats the best method of using it to detect leaks? Put it inside the body in a dark room and close all the keys?

 

[griff136]

thats the general idea.

Realy though you need a better light source, more localised - i use one 4V 12w car indicator bulb attached to a transformer via a long 2m cable.

 

[Dave Dolson]

Basically, yes. However, don't press the keys too hard - press them like you'd play it. Pressing too hard will often close off the leaks that ordinarily exist when you are playing and pressing just hard enough to close the tone hole. Also, look at each tone hole from all sides. DAVE

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

I suggest pressing LIGHTER than when you play. Press just enough for the first area of contact with the tone hole. This check is for simultaneous contact of parts of pad(s) with tone hole. Then with a little more pressure - normal playing pressure - you have more chance of getting close to that all-important but mutually exclusive goal, equal closing pressure of all pad parts against tone holes.

Also, be aware that a rope light may not provide enough LOCALISED light under a pad to identify all small leaks.

 

[Rowka]

The Musicmedic kit comes with a rope light. White, though. Not red.

 

[knightofsteppe]

Used the light just now and was barely closing my fingers over the pads... I discovered the F key may be leaking slightly! How can I reseat this pad?

 

[jbtsax]

I got a rope light, 8ft red, whats the best method of using it to detect leaks? Put it inside the body in a dark room and close all the keys?

An 8 foot red rope light is not very practical since such a large portion of it will be illuminating outside of the sax.

Pads are reseated either by heating the key cup and floating or nudging the high areas down (or the low areas up) thinking upside down of course or by bending the key. Of course keys that are articulated and operate other keys must first be made independent of the keys they touch before trying to seat the pads they contain.

The leak check routine I like to use is to start with the plam keys and check all of the independent keys first, including the low B and Bb. Then I start over and check the upper stack and then the lower stack. I tend to forget where I am if I am constantly going back and forth between the stack keys and their independent neighbors.

John

 

[JerryJamz2]

Used the light just now and was barely closing my fingers over the pads... I discovered the F key may be leaking slightly! How can I reseat this pad?

Is it leaking due to an adjustment problem or are you sure it is the pad itself which is leaking? For a truly humbling experience take all the springs off of their keys and left gravity close them. :shock:

 

[knightofsteppe]

well I'm not really sure what's up with it and I'm not ready to start trying to bending keys/taking a flame to my sax just yet. There is a shortage of sax techs in this area, but I suppose I will have to drive to the one I like because I'm eager to subtone and play delicate which I can't do with these leaks on this Yani. I just want to play!! Oh well.. I'm sure my patience will be worth it.

edit: I tried heating one key (mid F) and just holding it close afterwards to see if it might help the seal... it seems to have helped! I'm going to keep working on it slowly and see what I can do.

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

"I tried heating one key (mid F) and just holding it close afterwards to see if it might help the seal... it seems to have helped!"

That method can be used very gently if the leak is at the back of the pad.
However for other leaks, if that method is used, it is likely to be a temporary bandaid, with a leak soon developing in the FRONT of the pad.

That is one method factories use to unsuccessfully adjust pad seating.