Fix it properly or bodge it?

[jonf]

I’ve acquired for very little money a Yanagisawa A6 stencil, branded as Astro. It’s very definitely a Yanagisawa, with clear markings on it. It is a very solid sax, and has new pads. However, it’s been in the wars a bit. It has a non-original crook, with a pretty crappy repair to the octave key. The spring is bust, and the screw is stuck in. It has also lost its low Eb guard, which has been replaced by a semi-circular one with nowhere to hold a bumper. It does blow, using either the knackered crook and a rubber band or a Yamaha crook from another sax. It actually sounds great. So, my options.

1 Bodge it. Use the Yamaha crook, replacing that one with a new Yamaha one from Windcraft. Fit a pillar with a cork bumper to the body of the sax to stop the Eb key opening too wide, the same way early Bueschers work. Total cost, about £40.Then just play the thing.

2 Get it fixed properly. Get Griff to mount a new Eb guard. Buy a replacement Yanagisawa crook (say £100? This is more than the whole horn cost!). Get him to clean up the sax a bit and adjust the action while he’s on. Total cost, a guess, but about £200?

Option 1 would give me a playable Yanagisawa for very little total expenditure, but it would be an ugly horn. Its value would be more than I paid for it, but always limited. Option 2 would give a very nice sax, and still be economic given how little I paid for it. It would still, though, in the final analysis be a scruffy stencil, and never worth all that much. Value perhaps equal to my total expenditure including buying the thing.

So, quite an interesting dilemma. What do you all think I should do?

 

[half diminished]

Can't stand bodging at all however you have to look at the value of this exercise. If it is worth it to you, get Griff to do a proper job but if not, bodge away!

Can't see much point in spending loads if it will be worth less unless it has some historic, intrinsic or other value to you.

Just MHO 🙂

 

[Taz]

I'd take it to Griff for his opinion, like HD, I don't like bodging (unless temporary) so give it a go, you've got nothing to lose.

 

[Saxlicker]

Tough one that!
Everyone loves to make the best of a situation but in this case, throwing money at it as in option 2 may not be it if you can get it to play just as well with option 1.

Tazz is right though because if you take it to your Tech he may do better than option 1 for much less money than you have budgeted mentally for option 2.
Strange things laying around in repair shops that the Tech thought about throwing away a few times I'll bet.

So if you can't get the cost of option 2 down significantly go with option 1 and be proud of her personality with out forever worrying.

 

[jonf]

Well, in the end I decided to get it done properly. Obtained a new Yani neck in a sale at a bargain price, and Griff has done the repairs including properly seating a load of leaky pads. I'm picking it up on Friday. Can't wait to play with a new toy. Has to be worth it in the end, as the total cost including the purchase, repairs and new neck is a smidge over £200

 

[kevgermany]

Sounds like excellent value. Griff must be running a charity!

 

[jonf]

Griff's rates were very reasonable but what really kept the cost down was the purchase price. Scruffy sax, a few issues, basically sound. It's a Yanagisawa. Eighty quid. Oh, and that was the price delivered, as well. Wahey!😀

 

[jonf]

Thanks Griff

Picked up the sax from Griff yesterday. Gave it a quick toot in the shop and a good blast at home. Fantastic. Really glad I decided to do it properly. As well as sorting everything out, Griff has also cleaned up the cosmetics a bit, so it now not only plays a storm, but it even looks OK as well. Bargain.

 

[old git]

You did the correct thing Jon, after all, a good looking guy like you needs a good looking sax.

Don't forget to drop the cheque in, please.

 

[Taz]

Sounds like a good result all round Jon. Nice one and enjoy your new horn! ;}