Martin
Member
- Messages
- 212
I just have to tell someone (everyone) how pleased I am feeling with myself after adjusting the mechanism on my ‘The Martin’ tenor.
Bottom B flat had been a bit hit or miss. Looking closely at the linkages I noticed that one of the pads that should be firmly closed for all low notes, was lifting imperceptibly due to a piece of felt in the linkage being too compressed. No problem I thought, and promptly replaced the offending piece of felt.
Tried the instrument and NONE of the low notes would work AT ALL! I had that sinking feeling in my stomach. What had I done?
Closer inspection identified how my one minor adjustment had upset another interconnected linkage. So I had to replace a little bit of cork and trim it to the appropriate thickness, to make things right.
Tried the instrument and WOW...clear, easily blown low notes...all of them! But wait a minute, what was that new vibration?
I tracked it down to the register key, right up on the neck, which somehow was now picking up a new vibration from the more powerful, clearer low notes.
So I took it off, bent the leaf spring slightly, increasing the holding down pressure a bit, and reassembled.
Now it blows more beautifully than ever and I’m feeling good!
Bottom B flat had been a bit hit or miss. Looking closely at the linkages I noticed that one of the pads that should be firmly closed for all low notes, was lifting imperceptibly due to a piece of felt in the linkage being too compressed. No problem I thought, and promptly replaced the offending piece of felt.
Tried the instrument and NONE of the low notes would work AT ALL! I had that sinking feeling in my stomach. What had I done?
Closer inspection identified how my one minor adjustment had upset another interconnected linkage. So I had to replace a little bit of cork and trim it to the appropriate thickness, to make things right.
Tried the instrument and WOW...clear, easily blown low notes...all of them! But wait a minute, what was that new vibration?
I tracked it down to the register key, right up on the neck, which somehow was now picking up a new vibration from the more powerful, clearer low notes.
So I took it off, bent the leaf spring slightly, increasing the holding down pressure a bit, and reassembled.
Now it blows more beautifully than ever and I’m feeling good!