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Unstable tone, unusual reason

4K views 24 replies 14 participants last post by  Gordon (NZ) 
#1 ·
My YAS-875Ex has been a paragon of stability since I bought it, but yesterday it suddenly started acting up. Almost all tones in the lower octave started up in the upper octave, and only sounded right when concentrating very hard. Tried all the usual things, and several seemed to work, but after two or three tones the "squeak" was back. A leak light just showed that everything was in order, no visible leak anywhere. A close inspection showed that the felt between the body octave key and the "G" lever was worn, so I exchanged it for a piece of cork. No luck.

Then, by chance, as I put the neck back on the sax body for the umpteenth time, I noticed that the neck octave key seemed a bit wobbly. A closer inspection showed that the screw holding the key had worked loose and was close to falling out. After tightening the screw (many, many turns), the neck octave key felt sturdy again. And - the problem had disappeared.
 
#3 ·
On my old student tenor that screw would used to fall out entirely every few weeks. When it's all the way out it's a hassle to put back in; good job finding it.
 
#5 ·
The higher up the instrument, the more an opening will impact most of its notes. After 10 years playing my soprano followed by about 5 in storage, when I took it back to play more regularly again last year it’d be playing well for about 20 minutes then suddenly become really stuffy. I took it to my fav repairman and he sent me back home with no finding. Finally after much looking I noticed the octave hole had a thin layer of verdigris build up causing and uneven surface of contact with the pad. After some vinaigrette on a Qtip soaking the octave hole and gently scrubbing I’ve got it cleaned up and it’s back in normal playing condition.
 
#6 ·
Time for a new tech. You should be able to tell a instrument is not playing it's full range, with a play test. There is no excuse for sending a instrument out, saying it's in playing condition, and having it not be. As a tech my first impression of this post was that something was with the octave mechanism. But I thought it was most likely just a bent neck or neck octave key. A screw is even easier to fix. Nice job catching that before it was lost. It's crazy how much small parts like that can cost.
 
#7 ·
To my tech's credit, my issue was more subtle then SveinJo's, a stuffiness that would build up after passed 20 minutes of playing. For some reason once the octave key pad would become moist the leak would increase. Hard to demonstrate to the tech on the spot. I was even questioning myself whether it had been my imagination as I was talking to him and the horn was playing fine on the spot. He later apologized to me for not having thought of that. My main point is that sometimes a minor leak around the octave key or neck joint can completely change how a horn responds in its entirety. Once addressed, that can transform a full horn from average to an exceptional player.

Another similar experience I once had: I bought a Ref 36 neck while on a vacation trip in Paris right when those horns had just come out, by curiosity, only to be disappointed when I got back home in the US and compared it against my original Mark VI neck. Over the years I'd try it again, on and off, always feeling it was really resistant, non responding, stuffy. Until one time after playing it for a few minutes and disassembling I noticed a droplet of water build-up at the neck cork, but very unusually on the inner end of it, facing the octave key. That lead me to find out that the cork seam was not cut and glued properly, living an open channel of air leak along its length. While playing air/moisture was being pushed from inside the mouthpiece, along the cork seam, leaking to the exposed cork end outside the mouthpiece. A clear manufacturing quality slip. With same effect as a neck joint leak.
 
#10 ·
Another similar experience I once had: I bought a Ref 36 neck while on a vacation trip in Paris right when those horns had just come out, by curiosity, only to be disappointed when I got back home in the US and compared it against my original Mark VI neck. Over the years I'd try it again, on and off, always feeling it was really resistant, non responding, stuffy. Until one time after playing it for a few minutes and disassembling I noticed a droplet of water build-up at the neck cork, but very unusually on the inner end of it, facing the octave key. That lead me to find out that the cork seam was not cut and glued properly, living an open channel of air leak along its length. While playing air/moisture was being pushed from inside the mouthpiece, along the cork seam, leaking to the exposed cork end outside the mouthpiece. A clear manufacturing quality slip. With same effect as a neck joint leak.
I had the same experience with a sax on my bench. I chased my tail for a long time trying to find the cause of the unresponsiveness. A similar experience was a poorly soldered brace on the underside of a neck and a neck seam that had come apart that had a microscopic leak. If I hadn't hooked up my magnehelic to the neck to demonstrate to my apprentice how it worked, I would have never discovered the leak. I won't mention which brand of saxophone it was.
 
#12 ·
There should never be a need for Loctite (not Locktight) on a pivot rod. Screw it all the way home - tight, and it will not come loose.
And if the sax is so poorly made that that makes the pivot bind, deal with it!

I would not use Loctite on a pivot rod. The chance is high that it seeps through to the bearing surface and binds the pivot.
Loctite ("222", which is purple, not blue) is for regulating screws and pivot point screws that do not have a head, nor any other means of creating a firm fit.
 
#14 ·
Going thru threads and correcting misspelling must be very rewarding. I am sure you hold yourself to the same standard you hold everyone else too.

One way of using "Locktite" on a rod is you would put a small amount on the outer thread end of the post so it is drawn up into the threads only.

I am just trying to make a positive contribution to the thread.
 
#16 ·
I corrected the spelling only so that anybody reading this thread who had not heard of Loctite would be more likely to have success if they were googling the product.

Perhaps explain the saluting. Is it sarcasm, a put down, or a polite acknowledgement? I find it quite ambiguous.
 
#22 ·
It means "I salute you" for providing such a clear and accurate answer. :) Perhaps the "ambiguity" is a cultural difference. A salute in the U.S. is meant to show respect.
(I tried to send you a pm, but your inbox is full. :) )
 
#21 ·
You could put Loctite only on the threads in the posts, but that would mean the key would get oil there, making it less secure. Some types of Loctite are specifically made to resist oil (and are very good at it) but the usual types work better with a clean surface.

222 is weak and it's purple, 242 is medium and it's blue. I use both and for screws on instruments I use 95% purple 222.

I only use Loctite on a neck screw (or any similar rod screw) on very cheap instrument to make them work on a very tight budget or some emergencies. I wouldn't use it on rod screws in general for the reasons others mentioned.

BTW checking the neck key (with the neck on and off the sax) is actually the first things most repairers check with this issue :)
 
#23 ·
Instead of loctite, you can use clear nail polish. Make sure the screw is fully tightened and then put one drop of clear nail polish on the top of the screw (not the threads). seems to work very well and will have no negative impact on your saxophone.
 
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