Melissa
Well-Known Member
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- 1,003
- Locality
- Northamptonshire UK
As you know I am learning woodwind repair, I have been to see Matt this week to collect 5 saxes, really because of his amazing reputation for repairs and I do not have the sufficient mandrels as of yet, though luckily my teacher shall turn some on his lathe for me when I buy the steel ..how cool is that! What a wonderful man.
Anyway, 5 saxes in to Matt's and four of them were bananas! Three which are my own tenors. Two of these were supposedly "overhauled" and new pads installed recently and yes, they are new pads...Again we find out about those techs that really should be getting a new job! One tenor was sent in a berkely sax shaped case which are supposed to keep them safe... Bananas!
One arrived with the entire upper stack feeling like it had an invisible balloon underneath, really awful.. This was the worst banana of all and due to the placement of pads and regulation- or lack of, then this it is unlikely it occured in transit, no front F should need stitting on to close. IMHO.
Another I purchased privately and had some very vintage pads on it, but had the same issues, upper stack, and so what I learned was that they can all bend relatively easily just through sending via the post if they are not well padded within the case- and even then, some of the older cases have too much side movement in them, resulting in more bananas!
However, some seasoned techs have said to me they have got half way through a repad before they noticed it was bent, I only spotted one, the others I just could not see it until Matt pointed it out, I was in a void of self harm for not seeing them.. for a while anyhow.
Supposedly even by simply knocking, falling over or having a sharp jolt can result in a painful experience for your sax, yes many can still be set up to play with the banana left in, but it would not be anywhere near as nice as one without. I just thought I would share this and hear others thoughts on it and if there are other ways of identifying a very bend on a sax tube in a matter of seconds?!
I must add that the dent and banana removal by Matt is seriously +++ good work, now I realise why so many here have taken instruments to him in the past, he now has my utmost respect.
Anyway, 5 saxes in to Matt's and four of them were bananas! Three which are my own tenors. Two of these were supposedly "overhauled" and new pads installed recently and yes, they are new pads...Again we find out about those techs that really should be getting a new job! One tenor was sent in a berkely sax shaped case which are supposed to keep them safe... Bananas!
One arrived with the entire upper stack feeling like it had an invisible balloon underneath, really awful.. This was the worst banana of all and due to the placement of pads and regulation- or lack of, then this it is unlikely it occured in transit, no front F should need stitting on to close. IMHO.
Another I purchased privately and had some very vintage pads on it, but had the same issues, upper stack, and so what I learned was that they can all bend relatively easily just through sending via the post if they are not well padded within the case- and even then, some of the older cases have too much side movement in them, resulting in more bananas!
However, some seasoned techs have said to me they have got half way through a repad before they noticed it was bent, I only spotted one, the others I just could not see it until Matt pointed it out, I was in a void of self harm for not seeing them.. for a while anyhow.
Supposedly even by simply knocking, falling over or having a sharp jolt can result in a painful experience for your sax, yes many can still be set up to play with the banana left in, but it would not be anywhere near as nice as one without. I just thought I would share this and hear others thoughts on it and if there are other ways of identifying a very bend on a sax tube in a matter of seconds?!
I must add that the dent and banana removal by Matt is seriously +++ good work, now I realise why so many here have taken instruments to him in the past, he now has my utmost respect.