A squeak that is not me nor a mouse.

[What]

So I was testing the action on my tenor when I noticed the lower stack was squeaking a bit. So I stopped and listened to help locate the squeak. It took me a bit because there is a lot going on on this part of the sax. I finally found it. It was on the arm that gets lowered when you press any of the key pears for F-D (the one that is two cup keys above the pearl just above the lower stack). I did a bit of oiling, yet the squeak was still there. It was time for more experimenting.

Finally I found it! This arm also lowers when you press middle C, but this time no squeak. The arm moves freely and quietly on its own. It's only when it is lowered by the other mechanism that it squeaks a bit.

With the squeak located I grabbed my jewelers lenses and got a closer look. There is this little nub of what looks like silicone not cork attached to the little post that makes contact with the arm when the lower keys are played this is what is causing the squeak. Now I am at a loss of what to do about it. Should I replace it with cork or felt or should I just leave it.

Reason why I might just leave it alone is that I can't think of any time where I play the lower notes without pressing C and therefore, hereabouts and so on and so forth, no squeak. Though if its something I can eliminate I would like to. Any advice?

 

[kevgermany]

touch of cork grease should sort it out. I guess it'll squeak when you play Bb using LH1 + RH2/3/4, which will annoy you.

 

[jrintaha]

Can't see why you couldn't replace it with cork. If it doesn't have an adjustment screw, you have to be very diligent in sanding the cork to the right thickness though, as otherwise you will have a leak either in the Bb pad or the D, E and F pads. The LH1 + RH fingering is very useful in some passages, and I use it quite a lot. Play In the Hall of the Mountain King (in E minor) and you'll se what I mean. =)

 

[Targa]

I got a similar occasional squeak from a bit of plastic that pressed on one of the keys and just wiped under it with a bit of cloth and it went away for a while.
It hasn't occurred since I gave the keywork its bi-annual polish.

 

[What]

I got a similar occasional squeak from a bit of plastic that pressed on one of the keys and just wiped under it with a bit of cloth and it went away for a while.
It hasn't occurred since I gave the keywork its bi-annual polish.

The horn is looking like it might need a bit of a polish. Apparently I need to sand off my finger prints or give the horn a good shine. I'm undecided.