Haynes Manual success... I think!

[RobatBlueRock]

Having bought SH's clever book, and since I am still waiting for my Tenor... and NOT ALLOWED to play my wife's new BW Alto!
I thought I'd have a go at some remedial repair work on a Bently Sop I bought a few years ago. The black & gold guinea pig.

I initially took it down to Pete at Studiosaxophones (when I bought the Alto) and using his special light, he showed me all the leaks..... crikey! no wonder neither of us could get a thing out of it! However, I didn't really think it was going to be worth the repair costs, so with Pete's initial sugestions and using the Haynes Manual as my Bible, I set about doing the repairs/service myself... which included, re-seating some of the pads, replacing a spring, and generally tweaking the play out of all the linkages etc..
Well I still sound pretty crap, (although I understand the Sop is the hardest to get to sound nice anyway)... but it now plays all the notes and seems to be generally ok.... really chuffed!
Thanks SH for the manual which gave me the confidence to have a go. :welldone
A word of caution though. I am pretty 'handy'... so if you are not... then best leave it to the Pro's).

 

[Screamin Wind]

Hey BRB I'm sure your proud of yourself, well done!...:welldone

 

[kevgermany]

Well done! Am looking for something to practice on myself...

 

[RobatBlueRock]

Replacement spring tip:

I forgot to mention.. but it might be useful....

The needle spring (which I managed to send flying across the room never to be seen again!!!)) ) .. was a bit of a dilema.. what do you replace it with if you haven't got one or need a fix in a hurry?
Where does one find a source of spring steel 'things'?
I know.. the wifes sewing box!

Oh yes, oh yes, eurica!

I found a suitable guage Safety Pin.. you know, the securing nappy types... cut the needle bit off, hamered the securing end flat (like wot it says in the HM), fitted it, and trimed it to length ....SIMPLES!
It may not be exactly the same strength as the original etc, but it worked a treat. ;}

 

[Taz]

I found a suitable guage Safety Pin.. you know, the securing nappy types... cut the needle bit off, hamered the securing end flat (like wot it says in the HM), fitted it, and trimed it to length ....SIMPLES!
It may not be exactly the same strength as the original etc, but it worked a treat. ;}

Well done, sounds like a succsesful service :welldone

I wish I'd had your sop when I played in Birmingham this weakend, I could have used it to repair my trousers! ))

 

[Stephen Howard]

It's very gratifying to see an example of a 'real world' repair, especially one done with the aid of my manual!

When word got out that I was writing a sax manual I had a few emails from people warning me of 'the consequences' and predicting huge numbers of botched horns turning up on techs' workbenches.
That's why I wanted to take the time to explain the theory of the mechanism, so that players had a better understanding of how things work rather than just why.
It's that sort of knowledge that allows some people to be creative, while cautioning others who are less 'handy' about the risks of fiddling around with their horns.

I think the safety pin spring fix is a brilliant solution, and shows precisely what can be done in an emergency once you understand how the horn works.
I hereby award you the very first HSMGSP ( Haynes Sax Manual Golden Safety Pin ) award for outstanding tweakery!

Regards,

 

[RobatBlueRock]

I hereby award you the very first HSMGSP ( Haynes Sax Manual Golden Safety Pin ) award for outstanding tweakery!

Regards,

WOW! , thanks SH.. I'm honoured!....

I'd just like to thank all my family who have been incredibly supportive... sorry uncle Dave about the chainsaw incident, it won't happen again I promise...
I'd like to pay tribute to all my producers and the great team of people who have believed in my handiness and tweakability over the years...

I'll cherish this Golden Pin Award and place it on my mantle piece to remind me that somewhere in the house... on the floor ... is a very sharp object which I fear will turn up at some very inconvenient point!.....or should that be ... a very sharp point which I fear will turn up in some very inconvenient object!

:thankyou:

 

[kevgermany]

))))))

WOW! , thanks SH.. I'm honoured!....

I'd just like to thank all my family who have been incredibly supportive... sorry uncle Dave about the chainsaw incident, it won't happen again I promise...
I'd like to pay tribute to all my producers and the great team of people who have believed in my handiness and tweakability over the years...

I'll cherish this Golden Pin Award and place it on my mantle piece to remind me that somewhere in the house... on the floor ... is a very sharp object which I fear will turn up at some very inconvenient point!.....or should that be ... a very sharp point which I fear will turn up in some very inconvenient object!

:thankyou:

 

[Screamin Wind]

WOW! , thanks SH.. I'm honoured!....

I'd just like to thank all my family who have been incredibly supportive... sorry uncle Dave about the chainsaw incident, it won't happen again I promise...
I'd like to pay tribute to all my producers and the great team of people who have believed in my handiness and tweakability over the years...

I'll cherish this Golden Pin Award and place it on my mantle piece to remind me that somewhere in the house... on the floor ... is a very sharp object which I fear will turn up at some very inconvenient point!.....or should that be ... a very sharp point which I fear will turn up in some very inconvenient object!

:thankyou:

Stephen Fry won GONG last night, but you truly came close to it yourself with those chosen words!...))