[LBAjazz]

I know Yamaha uses synthetic [hot glue] on the student horns, as does Selmer USA. Does Yamaha use shellac to install pads on their pro horns? What about Yani?

 

[griff136]

i've only seen shellac in yamaha saxes - the real dark stuff too.

 

[Steve P]

Shellac. Dark brown.

Steve P

 

[Chris Peryagh]

Shellac is best, and I've never seen a Yamaha sax - student or pro model - where shellac hasn't been used for pads.

Buffet and Selmer use hot glue, but that's no reason to use it, though I've seen Selmer Referrence saxes where pads have been installed with shellac.

Yanagisawa also use shellac.

 

[retread]

Buffet and Selmer use hot glue

Always nice to see pride in craftsmanship and dedication to excellence.

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

I think the only reason that glue-stick glue is used is that it is a lot more straightforward to use in mass production. Unfortunately, those manufacturers who use it often cover only a small part of the back of the pad, hence not providing a solid, accurate foundation for the pad. This in turn causes a whole heap of adjustment problems well into the instrument's life.

It is common for a technician to spend a lot of time trying to get a pad to close reliably, only to eventually replace it and discover that the problem was a tiny blob of glue, providing adhesion but no solid foundation across the entire back of the pad.

IMO adjusting a Yanagisawa sax is bliss after a modern Selmer!

 

[shmuelyosef]

I have only seen rubbery hot-glue on French and Chinese saxes. German and Japanese still seem to use shellac (as do I).

I agree about Yanis being a joy to work on...the new ones generally only need neck fitting and spring lightening.