Plastic end plugs work as well. You might also try posting this question in the tech discussion area to get details on the acoustic principles of how and why this works from the techno-geeks who tend to visit that area of SOTW.

 

A curve (like the one in the bottom bow of a sax) in the bore of a wind instrument, acts like a "bulge" in the bore. This "bulge" can affect the response of notes near or just past the bulge, such as low B.

Putting a cork or other object into the bottom bow reduces the bore of the bow, eliminating the acoustical "bulge". Often it solves the problem of a "gurgle" (motorboating) on low B and other notes.

Swing era saxophonists sometimes put the mouthpiece cap into the bell of the saxophone when they played to achieve the same result. Selmer soldered a piece of metal into the bottom bow of late 1960s Mark VI alto saxes (around serial number 200,000) to solve the same problem.

 

The wine bottle cork trick works pretty well. The best corks come from bottles of Pinot Noir. Cabernet Sauvignon corks are good too. Avoid cork from white wines such as Chablis.

 

The wine bottle cork trick works pretty well. The best corks come from bottles of Pinot Noir. Cabernet Sauvignon corks are good too. Avoid cork from white wines such as Chablis.

After you have drunk the entire bottle just to get the cork, do you really care how the low notes sound? :drunken:

 

Okay, I'll take the bait - and the risk.

The cork-down-the-bell act is real, the results are myth, at least in my opinion.

I did that a few times when I was a kid after hearing about it. But in the past 40 or so years I have not done it nor had any reason to do it. My curved saxophones play from top to bottom without gurgles (and that includes a Ref 54 alto).

The ONLY reasons for gurgles is a leaking saxophone, a poor mouthpiece/reed combo, or poor embouchure. DAVE

 

Surely Pinot Noir should give a dark tone, and Chablis brighter, whilst for sweetness... well, my teacher suggests frosting the horn with that stuff they use for ice creams.

 

Dave, You have been fortunate if you have not owned or played one of these saxes in which the volume of the tubing around the bell bow is off enough to produce the "warble" on some of the low tones. This effect does exist for skilled players on technically flawless saxophones on many if not all mouthpiece and reed combinations they try. Some techs are experimenting to find out how much the volume needs to be reduced to eliminate this effect by putting objects in the bell, and then gluing a permanent patch having the same volume into the bow. Just because you haven't experienced this effect on your instrument does not mean it does not exist. My original Mark VI alto was the worst warbling sax I have ever owned.

 

Okay, I'll take the bait - and the risk.

The cork-down-the-bell act is real, the results are myth, at least in my opinion.

I did that a few times when I was a kid after hearing about it. But in the past 40 or so years I have not done it nor had any reason to do it. My curved saxophones play from top to bottom without gurgles (and that includes a Ref 54 alto).

The ONLY reasons for gurgles is a leaking saxophone, a poor mouthpiece/reed combo, or poor embouchure. DAVE

I can attest to this as well.

Had a student who got one of those gulf altos for 250 uk pounds.
I was pretty gobsmacked by how good it was.
Only had two problems. A little flat on middle F (nothing I couldn't have adjusted to) and a genuine low B warble. I went back and forth, cork, no cork. The cork cured it everytime
I used her ESM student mouthpiece so maybe a better mouthpiece would have cured it.

 

Why not just lend it to a school kid.
After they have bounced it on the bottom of the bow a few times the volume should be suitably reduced:twisted:

 

Tha chablis I drink comes with a screw-on lid. Does that work?

 

on the last horn i had, it started off with a slight warble. i put a cork in, the warble went away. i played for a while with the cork in then for the remaining time i had that horn it was cork free warble free. i think quite a bit of it can be corrected by the player but a cork certainly helps things get going in the right direction

 

[...]The ONLY reasons for gurgles is a leaking saxophone, a poor mouthpiece/reed combo, or poor embouchure. DAVE

...and putting something in the bow to cause a minor obstruction in the air can compensate for minor pad leaks.

 

on the last horn i had, it started off with a slight warble. i put a cork in, the warble went away. i played for a while with the cork in then for the remaining time i had that horn it was cork free warble free. i think quite a bit of it can be corrected by the player but a cork certainly helps things get going in the right direction

Yeah. I could correct the warble with my embouchure, but it was hard work.
The student defo needed the cork.

 

This sounds a bit like that thread where they put the panty liner
inside the sax...

I find a can of luke warm spaghetti inside the bell cures most tonal issues..

 

jbtsax: Call me fortunate then . . . and it is instrumentS (like in many), not singular. If I had one that gurgled, it would be gone. DAVE

 

I started a practice session with my wonderful,reliable and perfect playing B&S tenor. The low notes were all screwed up and after several attempts I began to reach for my leak light. I was sort of upset wondering how my horn suddenly had gone to crap. Then I remembered I left some sheet music in the bell after the last gig. So maybe corks are good but don't put sheet music in there.

 

Sometimes my vi and Ref 54 both gurgle on low B and Bb when I first pick them up. The cork thing never helped. I do find, however, that getting a good reed, getting it good and wet, and warming up properly make the problem go away—in other words, what you are supposed to do before playing anyway.

 

Oh is that where I'm meant to put the cork - this explains why I've been getting funny looks from the band when I get ready for a performance...

 

What about if you hate wine, like me? You'd never get a cork!

 

The ONLY reasons for gurgles is a leaking saxophone, a poor mouthpiece/reed combo, or poor embouchure.

Dave, that's like stepping out for a sunny day in Florida and assuming it's just as nice in Antarctica. Incredibly shortsighted statement considering the wealth of experiences and technical discussions on the subject.

 

The wine bottle cork trick works pretty well. The best corks come from bottles of Pinot Noir. Cabernet Sauvignon corks are good too. Avoid cork from white wines such as Chablis.

I prefer the corks from a good Scotch, single malt from the highlands or islands, at least 12 years old.

 

Could a well placed cork help this preacher's gurgling problem?

 

Grumps: Call my comment incredibily short-sighted, but after 50+ years of playing MANY curved saxophones, it is more than limited personal experience. DAVE

 

Al:
A two-fisted drinker like you should get 2 screw-tops, and mate them together, thusly forming a barrel shaped insert. Should also work well as a clarinet mute.

 

Why not just throw in a mouthpiece cap?
(PS I know the answer).