Mouthpieces Can a mediocre horn be made into a better horn? 🤔

[teen37]

Horatio Nelson: “kiss me Hardy”

Ah of course 😳🙄😂😂😂
We did go on the hm's Victory actually, I loved it! We didn't manage to see all the boats as there was so much, we couldn't fit it all in one day and we'd been to goodwood revival the day before too.... A lot of walking that weekend 🙄😂🚶

 

[Pete Effamy]

Ah of course 😳🙄😂😂😂
We did go on the hm's Victory actually, I loved it! We didn't manage to see all the boats as there was so much, we couldn't fit it all in one day and we'd been to goodwood revival the day before too.... A lot of walking that weekend 🙄😂🚶

Yeah, the Revival. Fantastic.

 

[teen37]

Yeah, the Revival. Fantastic.

It really was! Those classic sports cars were to die for... Seriously! 😍😍😍🏎️

 

[Pete Effamy]

Yeah, the Revival. Fantastic.

It’s a fair drive to Goodwood from West Meon, but did you know that they have several Spitfires and the two seater goes up pretty much every day, twice a day. Can be seen for free from the nice cafe.

Check if in autumn / winter though.

 

[teen37]

It’s a fair drive to Goodwood from West Meon, but did you know that they have several Spitfires and the two seater goes up pretty much every day, twice a day. Can be seen for free from the nice cafe.

Check if in autumn / winter though.

I'm not far from Halfpenny green airport actually and we get regular visits from the two seater spitfire as they fly from biggins I think, where they live, for private flights that only cost £7000 for an hour 😳😊
We park up the van on the car park and sit in the boot with the cushions with the tailgate up with a drink and snacks and watch it going up and down all afternoon. It's amazing. There's a Dakota with amazing history that lives there too 😊

 

[turf3]

From everything I've seen and read, if you can get Stephen Howard to have a look and a playing-condition service on your horon, you'd be well advised to do it, even if it does involve a lot of driving.

I believe he will tell you honestly if this thing is worth it and can be made serviceable, or if it's truly so sloppily made that it'd be better to take the money and use it on a different horn.

 

[teen37]

From everything I've seen and read, if you can get Stephen Howard to have a look and a playing-condition service on your horon, you'd be well advised to do it, even if it does involve a lot of driving.

I believe he will tell you honestly if this thing is worth it and can be made serviceable, or if it's truly so sloppily made that it'd be better to take the money and use it on a different horn.

That's exactly what I plan to do 😉👌

 

[Pete Effamy]

That's exactly what I plan to do 😉👌

Take him a coffee and a bun and he’ll be quite chipper too 😆

 

[LostCircuits]

Take him a coffee and a bun and he’ll be quite chipper too 😆

Too much coffee turns anything into vibrato.

 

[LostCircuits]

what I said above (double post)

 

[mizmar]

I'll speak to the Mr about a possible day trip,

I can see trouble ahead.
It is traditional, here, necessary often, never to admit to your other half of that you're spending more money - let alone making a day trip - for saxophonery.
You say "let's go to this airshow" or stately home or something. Then when you get there you make an excuse, like saying you just have to visit your great aunt for half an hour. And in the afternoon that you have to take the great aunt a box of souvenir Spitfire caramel creams.
If there are any questions about why the sax is in the car boot you say something like: well a falling meteorite could destroy the house and you didn't want to risk losing anything valuable.
Honestly is important in a relationship; but saxophone takes priority.

 

[JayeNM]

what I said above (double post)

How many coffees did YOU have before loggin' on ?

 

[LostCircuits]

How many coffees did YOU have before loggin' on ?

Just a very shaky internet connection... comes out to about the same net effect.

 

[skeller047]

<<snip>>
Honestly is important in a relationship; but saxophone takes priority.

This is why I had 2 wives. The first didn’t understand that simple equation.

OP, very good that you will visit Stephen Howard. And FYI, you keep mentioning Taiwan. My rating of Taiwan saxophone manufacture is much higher than that of mainland China, especially when going back in years. I recently decided to “improve” my very inexpensive E-Bay special soprano, made in China, which I bought around 2010. The construction is so poor that several screws had to be replaced, a few posts moved and all corks, felts etc. replaced (they were falling off). No tone holes were level. Pads were made from a leather-infused paper. That is cheap construction. My Taiwan tenor of the same time period is fabulous.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I can only dream of a Taiwanese horn.

 

[LostCircuits]

This is why I had 2 wives. The first didn’t understand that simple equation.

OP, very good that you will visit Stephen Howard. And FYI, you keep mentioning Taiwan. My rating of Taiwan saxophone manufacture is much higher than that of mainland China, especially when going back in years. I recently decided to “improve” my very inexpensive E-Bay special soprano, made in China, which I bought around 2010. The construction is so poor that several screws had to be replaced, a few posts moved and all corks, felts etc. replaced (they were falling off). No tone holes were level. Pads were made from a leather-infused paper. That is cheap construction. My Taiwan tenor of the same time period is fabulous.

I often thought they were using the dumpsters from the restaurants to find pad materials.

 

[PigSquealer]

FWIW I have a few clients with 2003-2010 Unknown Taiwan and “Taishan” brand from ? All are decent solid horns. Both in alto and tenor and purchased new as adult players. One consistency, the care given. All are cleaned and oiled well. ZERO loose action ! Pad leather in great visible condition but hard as rocks.
I’ve only done needed play condition work. A regulation cork (many age related fails) a felt (moth eaten) a pad replaced(couldn’t float / adjust, beyond service life).
A full COA or repad could have challenges. From my observations these have the potential of being a huge can of worms or going reasonably well…. Uncharted waters.
Understanding this is imperative.

 

[SuperAction80]

Taishan is a mainland China brand, as far as I know. It seems to be one of the better brands at its price point. Most reviews seem positive. The less than steller reviews seem to focus on pads floated incorrectly with little adhesive behind the pad. Usual stuff for small Chinese outfits, and Selmer. 😆

I was trying to look up information on Arbiter horns. Seems like they were on the market about 12 to 15 years ago. The thought of the time was that they were coming out of Mainland China. Which, if that's the case, the construction can be anywhere from respectable to not worth repairing. Since the OP brought up Taiwan several times, I'm going to assume that it has a "Made in Taiwan" stamp somewhere on the horn. If that's the case, I can't recall a bad horn coming out of Taiwan since the 1990's. They're usually pretty competently made SA80 copies with some being quite exceptional.

I'm glad that the OP is close enough to Stephen in order to get a better idea as to what this horn is and if it's worth fixing. Just remember that he charges double for every pseudo point screw he finds. 😆

 

[PigSquealer]

Taishan is a mainland China brand, as far as I know.

Thanks for this comment. I agree. Still COO of this maker to years produced is a grey area. The maker states a company presents of 1987 in China. The Company does not state where products were made. So ??

Musical Instrument Manufacturer & Supplier | Taishan Musical Instruments – Taishan Musical Instruments is a professional manufacturer and supplier of musical instruments, offering OEM and private label services to customers worldwide.

taishaninstruments.com

The less than steller reviews seem to focus on pads floated incorrectly with little adhesive behind the pads.

Yes. I and other local techs have complained about the lack of glue (HMG or Shellac) behind pads for years. The lack of adhesive is big PIA !
Absolutely no factory engineered range / give for in field minuscule normal adjustments 🤨

I was trying to look up information on Arbiter horns. Seems like they were on the market about 12 to 15 years ago. The thought of the time was that they were coming out of Mainland China. Which, if that's the case, the construction can be anywhere from respectable to not worth repairing. Since the OP brought up Taiwan several times, I'm going to assume that it has a "Made in Taiwan" stamp somewhere on the horn. If that's the case, I can't recall a bad horn coming out of Taiwan since the 1990's. They're usually pretty competently made SA80 copies with some being quite exceptional.

Usually Taiwan builds are stamped “Taiwan” IIRC. Made in China or ? are R.O.C. Republic of China.

Just remember that he charges double for every pseudo point screw he finds. 😆

Really ? That’s news to me.
Still double ten Quid sniff or £85+ for an hour is worth the man’s review & tweeks. Cuppa & bun included.
Your results may vary depending on bun type offered…. Ask in advance !!! It’s Fall and persimmon could be a favorite over Apple ?? 🤷‍♂️ Dunno !

 

[SuperAction80]

Thanks for this comment. I agree. Still COO of this maker to years produced is a grey area. The maker states a company presents of 1987 in China. The Company does not state where products were made. So ??

Musical Instrument Manufacturer & Supplier | Taishan Musical Instruments – Taishan Musical Instruments is a professional manufacturer and supplier of musical instruments, offering OEM and private label services to customers worldwide.

taishaninstruments.com

Yes. I and other local techs have complained about the lack of glue (HMG or Shellac) behind pads for years. The lack of adhesive is big PIA !
Absolutely no factory engineered range / give for in field minuscule normal adjustments 🤨

Usually Taiwan builds are stamped “Taiwan” IIRC. Made in China or ? are R.O.C. Republic of China.

Really ? That’s news to me.
Still double ten Quid sniff or £85+ for an hour is worth the man’s review & tweeks. Cuppa & bun included.
Your results may vary depending on bun type offered…. Ask in advance !!! It’s Fall and persimmon could be a favorite over Apple ?? 🤷‍♂️ Dunno !

Naw, Stephen does nothing of the sort. I spent a long time reading his reviews throughout the years, and I picked up on his utter disdain of the screw type. He's mentioned it... once or twice. The Selmer self adjusting action mechanism comes in at a distant second place. 😆