problem with G and below

[neil]

hi all, this is hard ro explain but here goes
I just picked up my tenor and when i play a B its fine, A its fine, G its seems ok but when i get to F and below it jumps up an octave, i can `force` it to play low by adjusting my embrouchure but something is wrong, for info i played it last night with no issues, it hasnt been dropped and i have checked the keys for G and above for leaks ( visually but they seem ok)
any ideas anyone...please

regards
yours
tearing what little hair he has out
Neil

[kevgermany]

Have you checked both octave key pads? Sounds as if the one on the body may be sticking open.

[Pete Thomas]

Sounds like a leak. You can't always tell visually.

[neil]

i thought it might be a leak...just how does a sax develop a leak from being ok one day and not the next?

[rudjarl]

It could also be a 'spring pin' (was that right?) you know, the grey bluish metal rod thingies... On rare occasions they can 'unhook' themselves.... (wow.... my vocabulary is almost infinite today... sigh)

[thomsax]

Check the closed keys G#, Eb, and C# so they are sealing properly.

[neil]

everything looks ok...wheres griff when you need him

[kevgermany]

It could also be a 'spring pin' (was that right?) you know, the grey bluish metal rod thingies...

Needle spring, but you're doing really well!

[griff136]

It also sounds to me like you could have a leak.

Check first that you havent got your mouthpiece cap or anything els for that matter stuck up the body of the sax.
I would check that your octave mechanism is working as it should. (The crook octave key opening when you play A to C# and the body octave key remaining closed and vice versa from D to G#)

Check that the sprung shut keys ( palm keys and side keys) are closed and sealing. you can do this by playing the sax and getting someone else to press down on each key in turn to see if improves or stops the instrument from bumping up an octave.

let us know how you get on.

...just how does a sax develop a leak from being ok one day and not the next?

I get this question often and most times the instrument has been put away in its case with the sling still attached or a wad of sheet music including books have been placed in the case and then the lid forced shut!

Other possibilities could include glue failing and a cork coming off, lint from a sax mop stopping a pad from closing.

[neil]

ok i have had a better look at the sax.
through i process of elimination i think it might be the side top F# key/pad, would this cause thes symptoms ???? . i have tried the fag paper test for a leak and it seems ok ish ( not that i`m very experiance in this) but when i leave the fag paper in place, helping to seal the hole a bit i presume, the problem seems to dissapear. i have tried bending the spring a little to increase the pressure but i dont really know how much `bend` to apply. The daft thing is i`m a self employed engineer and would happily work on someone elses equipment with no worries at all but when it comes to this i feel very nervy.

any more idea?