Alto Sax Help... Again.

jdickinson · Dec 13, 2014

So, my sax got fixed in time, and in 6 hours now I have to leave for the auditions. I'm practicing and then go to wash the mouthpiece/neck out because they've gotten all spitty, I come back, reassemble, and now my top keys are playing an octave down. If I have to, I'll borrow someone else's, but I can't help thinking it was something little like a pin slipping. I can't see anything wrong, I can get most of the upper range, but when it comes to the palm keys, I'm done for. It isn't like a muffled lower octave, it's like plain and simple lower octave, no fuzziness about it. Any help is appreciated.

kevgermany · Dec 13, 2014

Trying...

Check both octave pips work properly. Especially the neck one. Sounds as if the neck mechanism isn't opening properly

MandyH · Dec 13, 2014

Sometimes that curved bit on the alto/ tenor neck that mates with the pin that sticks up from the body becomes a little bent - check that the octave pips switch between fingering top G and top A (thumb + 2 fingers, thumb + 3 fingers). If they don't then take the neck off the sax and very very gently ease the curved loop bit away from the neck. Really carefully!
I find it best to point the mouthpiece cork end at the floor, hold the neck in both hands, support where the loop bends away from the neck with my index fingers and then push the loop away from the neck with your thumbs VERY GENTLY!
Try it, if it works, you've bent it enough. If it doesn't, then repeat VERY GENTLY.

Pauline · Dec 13, 2014

Make sure the neck is positioned properly and not turned to the side as that can prevent the the octave mechanism working. This has happened to me, but I was playing tenor and sitting down.

gladsaxisme · Dec 25, 2014

I hope you managed to get things sorted.How did the audition go? It sounds like the tech didn't do a thorough enough job and didn't address all the problems,or you might have problems with the way you handle your sax perhaps,do you always use the end cap,and place the sax in its case gently, and take care with how you handle the case, the sax is still vulnerable even in its case if you drop it or handle it roughly.

Hope you passed the audition and merry Christmas .....John

jbtsax · Dec 25, 2014

This appears to be an older call for help, but for the record the way to test the neck octave is to go back and forth from G to A while pressing the thumb octave key watching the octave keys. The one on the neck should open on the A and close on the G with the one on the body doing the opposite.

The upper notes can sound an octave lower sometimes even when the octave keys are working properly due to an embouchure that is too loose. To check, take the mouthpiece and neck off the sax and check the pitch. On alto it should sound an Ab concert. On tenor it should be an E concert.

gladsaxisme · Dec 25, 2014

Nice to think you still have time to give advice,even on Christmas day John, a very merry Christmas to you,and I look forward to your expertise in the new year, after reading the opening post I was wondering what had happened ....John

jdickinson · Dec 26, 2014

gladsaxisme said:
I hope you managed to get things sorted.How did the audition go? It sounds like the tech didn't do a thorough enough job and didn't address all the problems,or you might have problems with the way you handle your sax perhaps,do you always use the end cap,and place the sax in its case gently, and take care with how you handle the case, the sax is still vulnerable even in its case if you drop it or handle it roughly.

Hope you passed the audition and merry Christmas .....John

Sadly, I didn't get in. I definitely learned my lesson and will begin preparing my music much earlier next year however... In the morning when I woke my sax was working once more. I'm not sure what exactly was wrong with it... whatever it was, it hasn't been an issue since. Thanks to all that replied! I appreciate the advice!

kevgermany · Dec 26, 2014

Sorry to hear that. Maybe the problem was nerves.

Yes, learn and try again. Some of us need to learn the hard way. I've been doing it all my life, despite good advice from other people.

Colin the Bear · Dec 26, 2014

The only way we know good advice is good is when we don't follow it and things turn out bad. If we follow it and things go well we assume they would have anyway.