Hard and discoloured pads

[Tommy Ng]

Hi

I recently bought a YTS 32 on ebay. Surprisingly the condition of the sax is next to pristine. Just a few very faint scratches.

I think the sax should be at least 10 years old and i believe the pads have never been changed.

I notice that the colour of 2 pads (A & G) has become dull and they don't feel "soft". Other pads still look very orange-ish in colour. Wonder if i need to repad the two with dull colour?

 

[Nick Cook]

Don't know - but I much prefer your new avatar!!!!

 

[stefank]

If it plays well, why bother? In my experience, the low D#/Eb pad will probably go hard and crunchy and refuse to seal properly first, but if you keep on cleaning the gunk off them they seem to last for a long time.

Stefan

 

[Clivey]

I would playtest the bottom mid and top of the horn looking for inconsistency and problem notes. If the Sax not playing across the whole range at a whisper volume then you should think about replacement pads.


I have been putting off a re-pad on my Old Conn for ages. but it`s working full range at the moment and that's what it`s all about my friend.

 

[Morgan Fry]

Hi

I recently bought a YTS 32 on ebay. Surprisingly the condition of the sax is next to pristine. Just a few very faint scratches.

I think the sax should be at least 10 years old and i believe the pads have never been changed.

I notice that the colour of 2 pads (A & G) has become dull and they don't feel "soft". Other pads still look very orange-ish in colour. Wonder if i need to repad the two with dull colour?

If the pads feel hard they're less likely to be sealing well, but I have seen some pretty ugly pads that work just fine. How does it play? A leak here will show up as problems with response in the lower 5th or so of the horn. If it plays well, the pads are obviously functioning properly. If it has problems playing, let your tech tell you what needs fixing.

 

[kevgermany]

I'm a firm believer in not fixing things that work. That doesn't mean I don't believe in oiling and adjustment/regular checks. But I wouldn't repace a pad unless there was a problem.

 

[O.C.V.]

Congratulations on the YTS32. I bought one 8 years ago and rate it highly. I have tried a number of more expensive horns, both new and vintage, and reckon the 32 can outplay most of them. I believe the 32 was sold in USA with a different number and with an engraved bell. Can't remember the number offhand.
Re the pads, if it plays OK I would leave them alone.
Best wishes
O.C.V.

 

[Tommy Ng]

Thank you so much for all the advice.

As compared to my Jupiter 500, the YTS32 has much higher resistance (could it be due to thicker lacquer?). It sounds different from Jupiter 500 and i need to push harder on YTS32. The low register is also more difficult on the 32, not sure if it is due to leak??

 

[kevgermany]

Are you usingt he same mouthpiece/reed combination?

 

[Tommy Ng]

Everything exactly the same.

:=)

 

[Clivey]

Tommy.

I thought I got a real bargain when I bought my CS Prelude alto off Ebay recently. It was Mint condition but also completely unplayable due to 2 springs being loose and needing re set in pillars. thanks to Stephens book I was able to diagnose this and repair the flaws.
The point is that the seller was prepared to sell a brand new sax costing £400 new to me for £149 simply because it was broken.


If you think the Yam is not playing as well as Jupiter then you are more than experienced enough to make that call Tommy. I think you need to be as honest about the pads as you can and give your self a chance to play a perfect instrument. which I think means seeing to the pads.

I used Voodoo Juice as a temporary Fix on my 10m and some of my Pads probably date back to 1935. I did not want to use this stuff on my horn, but it was that or leave the thing in it`s Case. as I could not afford a re-pad " Still Can`t " .

Tom. You know that you can buy a brand new Chinese horn for way less than the cost of getting a Vintage Conn re padded and the same go`s for your Sax.

I don`t know what I will do when I defo have to see the old Lass a new set of pads or even 3 or 4.

Maybe that's where the Haynes Manual will really earn it`s keep.


Clivey

 

[Morgan Fry]

Thank you so much for all the advice.

As compared to my Jupiter 500, the YTS32 has much higher resistance (could it be due to thicker lacquer?). It sounds different from Jupiter 500 and i need to push harder on YTS32. The low register is also more difficult on the 32, not sure if it is due to leak??

The higher resistance is either a difference in bore size or a very leaky horn. have your tech check it out. Even if it was fine before many horns get knocked a bit during shipping and develop a couple of leaks.

 

[griff136]

I agree with Morgan, take your sax to your tech and ask him/her to take a look at it. A quick look with a decent leak light followed by checking for equal pressure on the pads using a feeler tape/cigarette paper will soon determine whether theres a leak on any of the pads.

 

[Tommy Ng]

Thank you so much for all the advice ...

I can play a quiet Bb on the 32 and that makes me believe that there isn't a problem with leak. Anyway i better take it to a tech to check it out.

Cheers

tom