Tech/maintenance Dutch wooden saxophone pads

[LostCircuits]

Not a real problem, but an unexpected correction. When testing the C-mel side C I heard a small hiss, but the saxophone could play easy to the lowest note. With a leak light I found the culprit. A small leak at the top of the pad. corrected in a few seconds with a drop of silicone paste brought on with a needle. Just close it without excessive force. Such a leak can occur when you close a solidifying pad to far. Not a big problem in itself.

With my usual saxophones I could not play effortless to the lowest notes with a similar leak. Possibly because they are in the large bore area and this C-mel is in comparison a much smaller bore.

Does anybody have an opinion on bore size and the sensitivity to leaks?

Strictly an opinion but with the exception of the low end warble of some Conn saxes I don't see any real difference in leak sensitivity relative to bore. Again, just an opinion.

 

[Woodpad]

One of the strange advantages of my padding technique is that you win every game of mikado.

When the silicone paste on the pad is still liquid you have to bring it on the saxophone without the paste touching anything except the rim of the tone hole. On new saxophone designs this requires more dexterity than on the classic and antique instruments. Today a King Zephyr bari was the exception.

5 pads on the right hand mounted on two rods. 1,2 and 5 on the first rod 3 and 4 on the second rod.
The second pad could only be brought in position if the second rod was out. the third pad could only be placed on the second rod when the first rod was out. Pad 4 had a problem if pad 2 was on the rod.

The sequence was now:

O=dismounted key
P=placed without rod and fastened with scotch tape
R=rod in key
C=spring attached and pad closed with elastic band

1O - 2O - 3O - 4O -5O
1O - 2P - 3O - 4O -5O
1O - 2P - 3R - 4R -5O
1R - 2R - 3R - 4R -5R
1C - 2C - 3C - 4C -5C

The dexterity helps not only with mikado, the puzzle helps also to invent new curses.

 

[Woodpad]

Finally found some stickiness involving the silicone pads. During maintenance on a tenor with ringed tone holes some of the tone holes felt sticky. It could be cleaned with water. The pads where not sticky,. only found some specs of dust.

 

[Woodpad]

Strictly an opinion but with the exception of the low end warble of some Conn saxes I don't see any real difference in leak sensitivity relative to bore. Again, just an opinion.

Found a saxophone with a comparable warble as the "Conn warble". A Gebruder Monnig Diamont alt saxophone from 1950. They are known more for other instruments as they stopped making saxophones while they could make more money on oboes, clarinets, bassoons and low brass.