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Misc Reviews Pad Size Tool From JBTSAX.
Disclaimer - I've known the maker of this product, JBTSAX, for many years through various on-line forums. However I've been as objective as I can. I have no interest in the product.
One of the things I found frustrating when I first started repairing saxes was getting the right sized pads. I'd measure the cups, order the pads and when they arrived, some would fit, others not. Getting the vernier out gave me the answers, of course, but it was time consuming and subject to a lot more error than you'd expect as the pressure on the sides of the pad affected the measurement by as much as half a millimetre.
This tool takes the guess work out - and is much much quicker than a set of calipers.
The Pad Size tool, looked to be simplicity itself, but was it accurate and as easy to use as claimed by the maker?
I was a bit put off by the price, especially as posatage to europe adds a lot, but I decided to take the plunge. And I'm glad I did. It's well made, accurate and very fast and easy to use.
It's well made from a thick piece of ply, with a good substantial folding prop at the back (like a photo frame), which folds up and is snugly held closed by a good sized pieces of velcro. The front has a series of calibrated measuring slots that you just slide the pads into, separate large and small in millimetres, and a single slot in 32nds of an inch. Couldn't be easier.
Instructions are clear and simple, not that they're really needed unless you feel the need to adjust it, which wasn't necessary for me.
I checked it out for accuracy against my lcd calipers, everything matched exactly (as long as I didn't overtighten the calipers). What surprised me was how accurate the little plastic ones were - and these were a freebie from somewhere a while ago.
I tried it on flute pads as well - worked just as well, and I was interested to see that the 2 different makes of 17mm pads I have have slightly different sizes.
The pic shows it in action - I'd bought a mixed bag of cheap chinese pads from ebay for fixing up cheap saxes. It was the work of a couple of minutes to size and mark the pads. Only problem was there isn't enough space on the smaller pads to write the size in.
You can also see in the shot that when a pad is undersize it doesn't line up with the markings. This is really helpful if you're looking for a pad to fit a cup that's not an exact metric size (e.g. on the older US saxes). Mark the undersize ones with a minus sign, and if you need one, sort through those quickly. And there's also a section for measuring pads in 32nds of an inch if you want to work that way.
One other tip on the instructions is to check the pads for roundness. Some of the pads had more than half a millimeter difference depending on which way across the centre you measured them.
The only quibble I've got is that the instructions say to drop the pad in near the top of the V. This works well, but if the pad is softish and drops into the lower half of the groove from this height, it'll be forced in a little too hard, so sliding in from a lower height works better.
So - highly recommended for guys doing a reasonable amount of pad work - it'll soon pay for itself in time and frustration saved.
One of the things I found frustrating when I first started repairing saxes was getting the right sized pads. I'd measure the cups, order the pads and when they arrived, some would fit, others not. Getting the vernier out gave me the answers, of course, but it was time consuming and subject to a lot more error than you'd expect as the pressure on the sides of the pad affected the measurement by as much as half a millimetre.
This tool takes the guess work out - and is much much quicker than a set of calipers.
The Pad Size tool, looked to be simplicity itself, but was it accurate and as easy to use as claimed by the maker?
I was a bit put off by the price, especially as posatage to europe adds a lot, but I decided to take the plunge. And I'm glad I did. It's well made, accurate and very fast and easy to use.
It's well made from a thick piece of ply, with a good substantial folding prop at the back (like a photo frame), which folds up and is snugly held closed by a good sized pieces of velcro. The front has a series of calibrated measuring slots that you just slide the pads into, separate large and small in millimetres, and a single slot in 32nds of an inch. Couldn't be easier.
Instructions are clear and simple, not that they're really needed unless you feel the need to adjust it, which wasn't necessary for me.
I checked it out for accuracy against my lcd calipers, everything matched exactly (as long as I didn't overtighten the calipers). What surprised me was how accurate the little plastic ones were - and these were a freebie from somewhere a while ago.
I tried it on flute pads as well - worked just as well, and I was interested to see that the 2 different makes of 17mm pads I have have slightly different sizes.
The pic shows it in action - I'd bought a mixed bag of cheap chinese pads from ebay for fixing up cheap saxes. It was the work of a couple of minutes to size and mark the pads. Only problem was there isn't enough space on the smaller pads to write the size in.
You can also see in the shot that when a pad is undersize it doesn't line up with the markings. This is really helpful if you're looking for a pad to fit a cup that's not an exact metric size (e.g. on the older US saxes). Mark the undersize ones with a minus sign, and if you need one, sort through those quickly. And there's also a section for measuring pads in 32nds of an inch if you want to work that way.
One other tip on the instructions is to check the pads for roundness. Some of the pads had more than half a millimeter difference depending on which way across the centre you measured them.
The only quibble I've got is that the instructions say to drop the pad in near the top of the V. This works well, but if the pad is softish and drops into the lower half of the groove from this height, it'll be forced in a little too hard, so sliding in from a lower height works better.
So - highly recommended for guys doing a reasonable amount of pad work - it'll soon pay for itself in time and frustration saved.
0 Replies
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3927 views
Great Players Who sparked your love of Sax music
As an aside to Bobby's "first album' thread... I am curious to know which golden moment made you think "Now there's an instrument I fancy having a go at"
For me it was Tex Beneke. My parents used to play a lot of Glenn Miller when I was growing up. It was the only music I knew as a kid: big band stuff. Then I became a teenager and discovered Dick Parry's voice on Dark Side of the Moon, and thought "ok, this might be fun" After Dick it was Didier Malherbe from Gong and then my mate played me Charlie Parker and I was fully hooked!
For me it was Tex Beneke. My parents used to play a lot of Glenn Miller when I was growing up. It was the only music I knew as a kid: big band stuff. Then I became a teenager and discovered Dick Parry's voice on Dark Side of the Moon, and thought "ok, this might be fun" After Dick it was Didier Malherbe from Gong and then my mate played me Charlie Parker and I was fully hooked!
627 Replies
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114743 views
Saxophones Alto for warm tone
Me again!
I'm curious to know - what alto do you think produces the warmest, most mellow tone?
No particular reason for asking just pure curiosity........
I'm curious to know - what alto do you think produces the warmest, most mellow tone?
No particular reason for asking just pure curiosity........
38 Replies
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657 views
Introduction Introduction
I'm an intermediate 76 year old tenor (1951 Beuscher Aristocrat 156) and alto (1921 Conn New Wonder II) player. I've been playing for my own enjoyment since the 1990s and am self taught. I live in a rural area and have never found others to play with.
I love playing ballads and, crazily enough, etudes. Unfortunately, I've never learned how to improvise and would like to learn one day. My playing has suffered in the last few years from arthritis in my hands but not so much that I can't play daily or stop slowly improving - although I'm slower than before.
I'm interested in vintage equipment and always learning about everything saxophone and jazz.
I'll likely be a lurker but will occasionally jump into a discussion.
I love playing ballads and, crazily enough, etudes. Unfortunately, I've never learned how to improvise and would like to learn one day. My playing has suffered in the last few years from arthritis in my hands but not so much that I can't play daily or stop slowly improving - although I'm slower than before.
I'm interested in vintage equipment and always learning about everything saxophone and jazz.
I'll likely be a lurker but will occasionally jump into a discussion.
1 Replies
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18 views
Introduction Hello!
I would like to introduce myself. My handle is Viljams (IYKYK). I am a trained woodwinds player (clarinet major). The sax became my focus in college (university for all you European folks), but the clarinet paid my bills! I have been a classroom music teacher, a fulltime private instructor, and played in all kind of ensembles/bands. I even had the privilege of joining the Chicago Musicians Union so I could play one gig. But hey that was the '70's in Chicago! I haven't played much in recent years due to my career and a lot of travel. I am hoping to restart things soon. I already did that once in my life and found that the restart resulted in me playing better than ever. Looking forward to following the various threads and journeys that others are on.
2 Replies
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48 views
I'm wondering if anyone's noticed a change in the consistency of Vandoren Java Red reeds recently? My last two boxes have been noticeably substandard, with the last box not having a single, decent reed in it. Resistance has increased noticeably and the sound is much less bright. I swapped in an old Red and it was great.
It feels like they've changed how they gauge the Reds, or changed the design slightly. Is it just me or has anyone had this recently?
It feels like they've changed how they gauge the Reds, or changed the design slightly. Is it just me or has anyone had this recently?
19 Replies
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397 views
Miscellaneous Your Favourite Picture Of You Playing
We spend so much time ripping apart our playing, dissecting all of our flaws and generally not celebrating our successes that I thought a thread where we share our favourites images of ourselves playing would make a nice change.
I'll get the ball rolling with this image taken by my other half at a ska gig. It was my first ever experience of stepping in at the last moment (48 hours earlier I'd never even heard most of the 30 or 40 songs, never mind played them). Actually, thinking about it, it was the first time I'd ever played ska music. It was also my first gig with my Keilwerth. Musically it was a bit of a disaster - the band wasn't well rehearsed (to say the least) and the singer kept changing the arrangements as he sang. The first 45-50 minute set was over in under 30! But other than my G# sticking on one song, that I couldn't hear because I was stood next to the PA speaker with no monitoring at all, I think I pulled off my parts without embarrassing myself. At least not too badly. 😉
It was definitely a fun gig but I'd be lying if I said I'm not also glad that there are no recordings from the night or that my name was never mentioned. 😉 Normally I prefer action shots but there's just something atmospheric about this picture that I really like.
I'll get the ball rolling with this image taken by my other half at a ska gig. It was my first ever experience of stepping in at the last moment (48 hours earlier I'd never even heard most of the 30 or 40 songs, never mind played them). Actually, thinking about it, it was the first time I'd ever played ska music. It was also my first gig with my Keilwerth. Musically it was a bit of a disaster - the band wasn't well rehearsed (to say the least) and the singer kept changing the arrangements as he sang. The first 45-50 minute set was over in under 30! But other than my G# sticking on one song, that I couldn't hear because I was stood next to the PA speaker with no monitoring at all, I think I pulled off my parts without embarrassing myself. At least not too badly. 😉
It was definitely a fun gig but I'd be lying if I said I'm not also glad that there are no recordings from the night or that my name was never mentioned. 😉 Normally I prefer action shots but there's just something atmospheric about this picture that I really like.
479 Replies
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35434 views
Cafe Moderator
Theory & Impro Using patterns in jazz impro
There are many approaches you can take to improvising from just playing what comes into your head to assessing chord tone and associated scales or melodic phrases based on "vocabulary." The great thing about using patterns though is that so often you needn't bother too much about wrong notes because the mere fact that a short motif may be moving in a pseudo mathematically patterned way, often it (the pattern) let's you "get away" with notes that in a more melodic or random setting might sound wrong. The more cynical among us might say if you play anything fast enough you get away with wrong notes.
You could find for example the first two bars of this could work well on a C7 or D7, it doesn't need to be an augmented or any other kind of alteration. Likewise it be OK on A minor. What I'm saying is the brain is taken somewhere else by the patternistic nature and provided you come out of it with some kind of neat resolution then you are fine.
You could find for example the first two bars of this could work well on a C7 or D7, it doesn't need to be an augmented or any other kind of alteration. Likewise it be OK on A minor. What I'm saying is the brain is taken somewhere else by the patternistic nature and provided you come out of it with some kind of neat resolution then you are fine.
0 Replies
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35 views
Tech/maintenance Super glued pads - a cry for help
Hello, folks. Many of you may know me from that other site.
A while back, I bought a nice, shiny purple logo Yts-32 from a guy in Japan. It arrived unplayable due to leaks. No prob, I think. I'll fix 'er right up. Wrong again.
The pads are glued in with ca glue. Lots of it, filling the cups. It is very hard and thick. I have scraped out a couple of pad cups. It was a long, tedious drudge. Acetone barely softens the surface.
Is there a better way?
A while back, I bought a nice, shiny purple logo Yts-32 from a guy in Japan. It arrived unplayable due to leaks. No prob, I think. I'll fix 'er right up. Wrong again.
The pads are glued in with ca glue. Lots of it, filling the cups. It is very hard and thick. I have scraped out a couple of pad cups. It was a long, tedious drudge. Acetone barely softens the surface.
Is there a better way?
37 Replies
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601 views
Miscellaneous Old Saxophone Advertisements or Case Emblems ?
Anyone have vintage catalogs, advertising or case emblem pictures / copies to share ?
Store emblems make for some fascinating historical research.
This sax below came from Smarts Music Shop. Could it be the one in display case ?
Store emblems make for some fascinating historical research.
This sax below came from Smarts Music Shop. Could it be the one in display case ?
71 Replies
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1824 views
Hello everyone
my turn to be SOTM host again, I've chosen 'Footprints' by Wayne Shorter.
I've added lead sheets and backing tracks HERE
Lead sheets - there is one for Eb instruments, and Bb has a high version, for people with leaky low notes, and a low version for people who don't like palm keys. There are some adventurous looking tuplets, but if you're struggling with them have a listen along to the original (below) and it makes a lot more sense. Structurally, think of it as a Cm (concert pitch) blues, with a more harmonically exciting turnaround at the end.
Backing tracks - I had a look on ireal pro but none of the backing tracks really captured the feel/rhythm correctly, so the backing track uploaded is me bashing away at a piano and a drum module in Reaper. It's more natural sounding than the iReal stuff, but still not great so if you've got a better one feel free to use that! There are two versions of my homemade one, both with a four bar intro - one that repeats 6x, and one that's just 3x, although you could argue both versions are....SHORTER 😉
Here's the original:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgaIUqH0w6c&list=RDLgaIUqH0w6c&start_radio=1
Looking forward to hearing your recordings.
my turn to be SOTM host again, I've chosen 'Footprints' by Wayne Shorter.
I've added lead sheets and backing tracks HERE
Lead sheets - there is one for Eb instruments, and Bb has a high version, for people with leaky low notes, and a low version for people who don't like palm keys. There are some adventurous looking tuplets, but if you're struggling with them have a listen along to the original (below) and it makes a lot more sense. Structurally, think of it as a Cm (concert pitch) blues, with a more harmonically exciting turnaround at the end.
Backing tracks - I had a look on ireal pro but none of the backing tracks really captured the feel/rhythm correctly, so the backing track uploaded is me bashing away at a piano and a drum module in Reaper. It's more natural sounding than the iReal stuff, but still not great so if you've got a better one feel free to use that! There are two versions of my homemade one, both with a four bar intro - one that repeats 6x, and one that's just 3x, although you could argue both versions are....SHORTER 😉
Here's the original:
Looking forward to hearing your recordings.
9 Replies
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519 views
Saxophones The Alphabet of Tone
The Alphabet of Tone
words often encountered when one discusses or expresses an instruments tone....
Bright
Warm
Rich
Dark
Lush
Centered / Focused
Spread
what else have YOU heard?
words often encountered when one discusses or expresses an instruments tone....
Bright
Warm
Rich
Dark
Lush
Centered / Focused
Spread
what else have YOU heard?
8 Replies
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139 views
Saxophones Trying to date my Amati Kraslice Tenor
Hi everyone!
A coworker's grandma passed away and her family passed her Amati Kraslice Tenor on to me.
It looks quite old (for example: the whole thing is silber, but the inside of the bell is gold), but me and my friends didn't have any luck finding something with the serial number.
The serial number is: 43826
I've added some photos, maybe this will help 🙂
Thanks already!!
A coworker's grandma passed away and her family passed her Amati Kraslice Tenor on to me.
It looks quite old (for example: the whole thing is silber, but the inside of the bell is gold), but me and my friends didn't have any luck finding something with the serial number.
The serial number is: 43826
I've added some photos, maybe this will help 🙂
Thanks already!!
17 Replies
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9979 views
I found this ancient Otto Langey Saxophone Fingering Chart, circa 1890, inside the case of a 1921 C Melody sax. The condition is poor, but it's still a cool find. I gather it's a fingering chart for those transitioning from the "older" 12-key saxophone to the "newer" 15-key layout. I don't see a date on this anywhere, so the 1890 guess came from the PC.
14 Replies
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314 views
Miscellaneous Photography - all aspects
Following various recent posts, I thought I would create a thread specifically for photography. Somewhere to talk about equipment, experiences, processing...
To start off, I was a Nikon user for over 40 years, but had to 'down size' as handling full-frame cameras and lenses was getting to be too much like hard work and giving me shoulder issues. My current digital camera is a mirrorless Fuji X-T5.
For film cameras, I have a Pentax MX, Mamiya RB67, and a Sinar F2.
To start off, I was a Nikon user for over 40 years, but had to 'down size' as handling full-frame cameras and lenses was getting to be too much like hard work and giving me shoulder issues. My current digital camera is a mirrorless Fuji X-T5.
For film cameras, I have a Pentax MX, Mamiya RB67, and a Sinar F2.
426 Replies
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16538 views
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