Saxophones Buescher True Tone 1926 C melody sax possible to play without repad?

[PenelopeTX]

That looks like a very pretty horn. Of course, my pedantic heart aches when I see a red bumper felt on a Buescher but all in all, and I can't look under the pads in those pictures, I am thinking that with 3-4 hours DIY cleaning you will be totally rejuvenating the horn.

Important. This is a matte silver-plated instrument and any scouring pad or abrasive like Brasso - Noxon will immediately ruin the finish forever. Hagerty or Wrights silver polish are all you need. Also, given that the pads are tan color, it has been repadded at least once and there is a really good chance that those pads just need a little attention.

Edit:

id not see your second post before I posted my reply but I think I mentioned it before that the palm and side keys are the ones that go bad fastest. And replacing those is a matter of minutes but I'd give it a try first using Charcoal Lighter fluid to clean, followed by conditioner/sealer. The best cleaning cloth is those microfiber rags they use to clean glasses. Give it a shot, Lighter fluid on a kitchen towel, let it soak 5 min and drag the glasses cloth through pad/tone hole (while it is closed) and marvel at the crud you see. Then apply conditioner.

Thank you for the detailed instructions.🙏 That’s extremely encouraging to hear it may not be as bad off as I had feared. I do have a haggerty’s polishing cloth I bought for this saxophone. I was afraid at first to use anything stronger like a polish. I’ll grab the haggertys polish. Do you think the polishing cloth is mostly safe? I also see a couple of gold spots where the plating has worn thin, but I believe I can replate those areas eventually with a solution from what I’ve read.

 

[LostCircuits]

Thank you for the detailed instructions.🙏 That’s extremely encouraging to hear it may not be as bad off as I had feared. I do have a haggerty’s polishing cloth I bought for this saxophone. I was afraid at first to use anything stronger like a polish. I’ll grab the haggertys polish. Do you think the polishing cloth is mostly safe? I also see a couple of gold spots where the plating has worn thin, but I believe I can replate those areas eventually with a solution from what I’ve read.

You are doing all the right things and you are cautious and careful, Silver polish is fine, the anti-tarnish rags work but it's way more work and meant more for maintenance than for restoration.

Worn spots are ok, they lend character to the instrument but of course you can do chemical spot plating-after you have it in working condition.

There is no limit to what CAN be done but don't try to bite off more than you can chew when you start. And welcome to the voyage, I feel you got the bug.

 

[Hoosierken]

How about buying an inexpensive leak light and use it to check for leaks?

 

[skeller047]

Everything @LostCircuits has said is spot on. I would only add that you should invest in some good oil. Ideally you would disassemble the horn and clean all the screws and hinge tubes, but just adding a single small drop of oil to every key joint will help until you find someone to do a COA. Be VERY careful not to get silver polish in the mechanism, and if any does stray there, clean with lighter fluid then add oil.

I highly recommend using Ultimax medium viscosity oil from Music Medic, this is synthetic oil and won’t react badly with other oil.

The horn really should be disassembled and cleaned, but I understand that’s scary to do yourself. When you find a good tech have them do that for you.

 

[PenelopeTX]

Everything @LostCircuits has said is spot on. I would only add that you should invest in some good oil. Ideally you would disassemble the horn and clean all the screws and hinge tubes, but just adding a single small drop of oil to every key joint will help until you find someone to do a COA. Be VERY careful not to get silver polish in the mechanism, and if any does stray there, clean with lighter fluid then add oil.

I highly recommend using Ultimax medium viscosity oil from Music Medic, this is synthetic oil and won’t react badly with other oil.

The horn really should be disassembled and cleaned, but I understand that’s scary to do yourself. When you find a good tech have them do that for you.

I will grab that oil. Thank you! I’m not opposed to attempting the clean and disassembly. I had to perform surgery on a chickens eye last night.🥴 After that, this doesn’t seem quite as scary. I will research and study videos on the process first and then decide whether I can realistically accomplish or not.

Really appreciate everyone’s advice on fixing this saxophone and the options available.

 

[PigSquealer]

Don't frighten Texas-Penny 😉
Q-tips and leather conditioner is all she will need to get started

And some oil !
@PenelopeTX with a little patience, some tools and knowledge. There’s a good chance you could do a DIY service. All it takes is knowledge and some basic mechanical skills to avoid mistakes.
Start with post #14, screwdriver's.

Tech/maintenance - Repair threads and links by PigSquealer

Links to repair threads I’ve done. Repair information links to study and learn from. Every project you attempt will take different skills. Study everything you can get your hands on before you attempt a repair. It’s a craft. 10 techs, 10 different techniques. Use what works successfully for...

cafesaxophone.com

 

[PigSquealer]

Please don’t use paste or liquid silver polish on a assembled sax.
The product will get into all the nook and crannies and destroy otherwise good parts.
Hagerty‘s is an excellent product if used properly. It’s what I use.

Tarn-X is terrible also on a assembled sax. It needs adequate rinsing in water to neutralize the product. Shy of submerging this is not possible.

Contact of Darn-X on pads is pad death !

STUDY And learn from everyone’s mistakes or what works.

Be patient or it gets expensive and disappointing.
Your sax is a candidate for a very successful DIY project. Don’t blow it being too eager.
My best suggestion.
Don’t touch it for a month.
Study repair sources offered. There’s a boatload of bad ones outside the list.

If you helped the chicken you can build a sax. I once had a 5 acre parcel with chickens, turkey, a goose, ducks, goats, horses, pig and two dogs. Built a door for pig to come and go in and out of the house.
Sometimes I felt like Dr. Dolittle….

 

[PigSquealer]

Here’s the big thread with everything.
There’s more than a month’s worth of reading materials.

https://www.saxontheweb.net/threads/repair-information-links-from-pigsquealer.402916/#post-4636458

 

[PenelopeTX]

Please don’t use paste or liquid silver polish on a assembled sax.
The product will get into all the nook and crannies and destroy otherwise good parts.
Hagerty‘s is an excellent product if used properly. It’s what I use.

Tarn-X is terrible also on a assembled sax. It needs adequate rinsing in water to neutralize the product. Shy of submerging this is not possible.

Contact of Darn-X on pads is pad death !

STUDY And learn from everyone’s mistakes or what works.

Be patient or it gets expensive and disappointing.
Your sax is a candidate for a very successful DIY project. Don’t blow it being too eager.
My best suggestion.
Don’t touch it for a month.
Study repair sources offered. There’s a boatload of bad ones outside the list.

If you helped the chicken you can build a sax. I once had a 5 acre parcel with chickens, turkey, a goose, ducks, goats, horses, pig and two dogs. Built a door for pig to come and go in and out of the house.
Sometimes I felt like Dr. Dolittle….

Will do! I’ll leave the sax alone until I study up for at least a month, probably longer. Looking forward to reading through all the info and learning more. I’ll stick to the recommended repair sources. 🙏

How wonderful to have lived on acreage with all those animals. Sounds magical. Love that the pig had its own door! Someday I hope to escape the city, but for now I just have a garden and chickens in the city. The neighbors don’t mind thankfully. They appreciate the eggs. 😅

 

[Hoosierken]

Will do! I’ll leave the sax alone until I study up for at least a month, probably longer. Looking forward to reading through all the info and learning more. I’ll stick to the recommended repair sources. 🙏

How wonderful to have lived on acreage with all those animals. Sounds magical. Love that the pig had its own door! Someday I hope to escape the city, but for now I just have a garden and chickens in the city. The neighbors don’t mind thankfully. They appreciate the eggs. 😅

Listen to what Pigsquealer says. You won't find anyone more knowledgeable or accomplished with sax maintenance or repair. There is a lot that you can do yourself, with guidance and perseverance. Your two biggest impediments are over confidence / getting in a hurry and breaking things or self doubt / not trying at / quitting. From what I have seen over the past few years, is that there are accomplished or long term players, accomplished technicians, hobbyist players, and a very few hobbyist player technicians. You sound like you will be in that last category. PS is willing to help us that find ourselves in that last category.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I'm in central Texas near the Austin area. Wow, I had no idea it was a 25+ hour job.

I would have that is a very worst case scenario. Judging from your pictures I doubt a full repad is necessary. But then, nobody can really tell one way or the other from pictures

 

[Woodpad]

Last warning. You have an almost 100 year old precious marvel made with technology that is around 200 yeaers old. Some people see the true tone as the final version of the holy Grail and want Monty Peyton to correct their movie.
Playing saxophone can cause people to have strong beliefs that are not necessarily true. When in doubt close your eyes and just listen to the sound and make your one decisions.

 

[PigSquealer]

Here’s 10 hours of cleaning & polishing. Pads out no cork on anything. Completely disassembled.
I don’t use power tools or chemical dips.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten something.

:?? on disassembly IF nothing is stuck
:?? to Degrease & wash body
:?? to remove pads
:?? to Degrease & clean keywork
:?? to level & round cups
:?? to clean & straighten rods
:?? to clean pivot screws
:?? to final clean all hinge tubes
:?? Key fitting
:?? Key alignment
:?? Straighten body
:?? Post fitting
:?? Post alignment
:?? Level tone holes
:?? Size & select pads
:?? Dry fit check pads
:?? Install pads to sealing fit
:?? Install regulation cork
:?? Install felts
:?? Regulate
:?? Neck fit check
:?? recork neck
:?? Tune / set key heights

No more than :37 minutes per step.

Remember this doesn’t include, replacing broken springs, dent repair, solder repairs, stripped thread repair that the OPs horn doesn’t need.

 

[PigSquealer]

I would have that is a very worst case scenario. Judging from your pictures I doubt a full repad is necessary. But then, nobody can really tell one way or the other from pictures

Yes , very true.

 

[PigSquealer]

Listen to what Pigsquealer says. You won't find anyone more knowledgeable or accomplished with sax maintenance or repair. There is a lot that you can do yourself, with guidance and perseverance. Your two biggest impediments are over confidence / getting in a hurry and breaking things or self doubt / not trying at / quitting. From what I have seen over the past few years, is that there are accomplished or long term players, accomplished technicians, hobbyist players, and a very few hobbyist player technicians. You sound like you will be in that last category. PS is willing to help us that find ourselves in that last category.

Thanks for the compliment but I’m not that good. I’m more a big ham of a student. Mr Howard has probably forgotten more than I’ll ever know.

 

[PigSquealer]

Last warning. You have an almost 100 year old precious marvel made with technology that is around 200 yeaers old. Some people see the true tone as the final version of the holy Grail and want Monty Peyton to correct their movie.
Playing saxophone can cause people to have strong beliefs that are not necessarily true. When in doubt close your eyes and just listen to the sound and make your one decisions.

Yes some people should play bagpipes.

 

[Woodpad]

Last century I was on holiday in Ireland with my young family. The park we trandomly entered was suddely swamped with (bag)pipers and drummers for a contest with 8 different bands. We walked along when the groups formed and did there last preparations. We could hear the strengths of the different groups. The average level was so high that we spend the rest of the afternoon attending the contest in a drizzle. Afterwards we drank thea made not according to the English bureau of standardization, I closed my eyes and thought:

Yes some people should play bagpipes.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

PenelopeTX, are you a
Veterinary Opthalmologist? 🧐

 

[turf3]

I suggest that instead of wasting a lot of time polishing a horn that (from your photos) isn't really all that tarnished, you spend that time getting the thing playing.

Personally I haven't polished one of my silver plate saxophones since about 1998 and they still look fine.

 

[turf3]

Last century I was on holiday in Ireland with my young family. The park we trandomly entered was suddely swamped with (bag)pipers and drummers for a contest with 8 different bands. We walked along when the groups formed and did there last preparations. We could hear the strengths of the different groups. The average level was so high that we spend the rest of the afternoon attending the contest in a drizzle. Afterwards we drank thea made not according to the English bureau of standardization, I closed my eyes and thought:

Yes some people should play bagpipes.

That would probably have been Uilleann pipes not Highland pipes. Softer and more sweet sounding.

And actual English tea - like the lorry drivers drink - c'est formidable! not like the weak slightly colored water we have over here in the US. Extra points if you can identify my TV reference here.