Recently got a Zephyr alto 325XXX, (1953) double socket neck, pearls, brass cups, nickle rods. I am using a Beechler M6S. The intonation is good except for low D which is a half step flat and doesn't want to lip up either. Any sugestions?
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I have a similar vintage Zephyr alto (1950) with no such problems. First places to look would be for leaks, key heights, and experimenting with your mouthpiece setup (doubtful). Is it just flat, or also stuffy sounding?
The note is not stuffy. Looking at the Eb next to the C right hand pinky keys the C is somewhat lower than the Eb. Could be the C cup is not open enough. How do I go about opening this or raising the height of the right hand C key? Is it a simple bend it by hand?
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If the C key height is indeed the source of the problem (which it very well could be), you will need to either shave some cork off the key's foot (which regulates the height, no bumpers on this model), or if that isn't enough, you will have to remove the key, and VERY CAREFULLY file or grind down the foot a bit and replace with a cork or ultra suede silencer of suitable thickness. The way it is designed, I wouldn't try bending either the key foot or arm. A tech might unsolder and move the angle of the foot slightly on the hinge rod if this is grossly out of alignment/adjustment.
My Zephyr alto's D is right in tune and speaking well with the C key about 10mm from the edge of the tone hole to the bottom edge of the key cup rim at the middle of the cup (I'm assuming that you don't have a key height measuring gage).
My Zephyr alto's D is right in tune and speaking well with the C key about 10mm from the edge of the tone hole to the bottom edge of the key cup rim at the middle of the cup (I'm assuming that you don't have a key height measuring gage).
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Told ya so! Glad it was as simple a fix as that, and welcome to the King club. 
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