C problem - flat and squeaky

[ken]

Need some advice please?

All of a sudden I'm finding 'mid C' (LH-mid-pinky) playing flat and without projection. 'High C' (+ octave key) is sharp and squeaky !!!. If I use alt fingering (LH-1st-pinky + mid side key) then all is fine.

I've gone over with a leak light, even tried the cig papers and can't find an obvious leak.

Is this indicative of a particular fault/pad/cork/spring so that I can narrow down my investigations.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[griff136]

Hi ken,

It could be one of a few things or a combination.

Are all the springs on the upper stack (L hand B,Bis Bb,A,G) on their latches and are they operating correctly.

Have you tightened any of the pivot screws/screw rods on the top stack? even if you havent, try slackening them off one at a time - one might be too tight and binding.

Check your bar key pad in conjunction with your C_
the bar key pad is the small pad above the B pad (this should close with equal pressure when playing (Aux F, B, Bis Bb,A)

is your octave mechanism working properly. ie the vent on the crook fully closed when it should be.

There should be a very slight gap between your octave arm on the neck and the linkage arm on the top of the body?

The neck arm should open when the G key is not operated and the octave body pad should be fully shut

when the G key is operated the neck octave pad should fully shut
and the octave body pad should open fully .

Let me know how you get on.

 

[ken]

Hi Griff,

Thanks for the suggestions, I've gone through them (carefully) one at a time.

Are all the springs on the upper stack (L hand B,Bis Bb,A,G) on their latches and are they operating correctly.

Yep, some took a bit of finding, getting em stuck into flesh helped!!, but they all seem ok.

Have you tightened any of the pivot screws/screw rods on the top stack? even if you havent, try slackening them off one at a time - one might be too tight and binding.

No, I haven't been adjusting this one yet (it's the Alto). I couldn't find any tight/binding rods, but I loosened them up and tried, still no success.

Check your bar key pad in conjunction with your C_
the bar key pad is the small pad above the B pad (this should close with equal pressure when playing (Aux F, B, Bis Bb,A)

I'm not sure about this, Aux-F is that the 'high-F' above the 'B'?, if so that is ok, so is B and A. the Bis key isn't closing the small pad though... is that the problem?

is your octave mechanism working properly. ie the vent on the crook fully closed when it should be.

There should be a very slight gap between your octave arm on the neck and the linkage arm on the top of the body?

Yes that seems exactly as you describe... I always careful of that arm... seems like the first thing I am likely to bend/damage, but it's ok.

The neck arm should open when the G key is not operated and the octave body pad should be fully shut
when the G key is operated the neck octave pad should fully shut
and the octave body pad should open fully .

Yes, with the octave key pressed the neck pad opens. If I hold the octave key and press G the the neck pad closes and the body pad opens.

It is really strange, apart from C being flat, that note seems to have no 'projection'/'power'/'presence' compared to adjacent notes.

 

[griff136]

I'm not sure about this, Aux-F is that the 'high-F' above the 'B'?, if so that is ok, so is B and A. the Bis key isn't closing the small pad though... is that the problem?

Yes Ken the Aux F is the High F button above the B. Doh! (a Homer simpson moment on my part there) the bis key is independent of the bar key so this shouldnt close the bar key.