Help - thick black gunge on E flat pad

[peter_fitton]

My E flat pad has been sticking for a while (low & middle Eb, not the high one). Recently it's got a lot worse and sometimes the E flat key is jammed so hard that the touchpiece won't move at all without A LOT of force being applied to it.

Looking at the pad the other day it seems that there is a kind of thick black gunge coating the leather. Most of this is on the 'inner circle' (can't think how else to describe it) of the pad, but some of it is starting to accumulate around the edge of the tone hole - hence the sticking.

My teacher thinks the pad might have split and this gunge is the adhesive. The pad itself still seems to be air-tight and, once freed up, the note can be played reasonably ok.

Anyone got any ideas about this? And is it going to be expensive to get the pad replaced?

Thanks

Peter

 

[griff136]

if you took it into John Myalls where I work you would have it done within the hour and get change from ?10

you can in the meantime remove the Eb key and clean the tonehole with some mild soapy warm water and a cloth, you cand clean the pad with some lighter fluid(the stuff for filling up zippo lighters) which will make your Eb usable until you get it replaced.

 

[Taz]

Have you tried cleaning it at all? How old is the sax? Have you tried cleaning the pad at all? I think I would be tempted to try cleaning with some dry strips of paper first. Simply cut some normal paper into strips that are a little wider than the pad, then slip it between the hole and the pad, hold the pad shut trapping the paper lightly and then pull the paper out. You should use just enough pressure so as the paper doesn't tear. See if this helps. If it doesn't then try some cotton wool buds (the type you clean your ears with) and some lighter fluid. Drip a little lighter fluid onto the cotton wool and then gently massage the area of the pad to be cleaned.
I think the inner circle you refer to is probably a resonator. It is a hard disc, made from plastic or metal, either domed or flat (or even crinkly ones!)
Failing all that, you could always wait for Pete or Griff to give their well earned two penneth worth. (well worth it IMHO)
I hope this helps

 

[Taz]

Pipped at the post! 😡

 

[peter_fitton]

Thanks Griff and Taz. Unfortunately I live nowhere near John Myalls, Griff 🙁

Will try cleaning it up and then taking it to a local shop to get it replaced. Glad to hear it should cost under a tenner 🙂

Peter

 

[PaulyT]

Taz wrote:
If it doesn't then try some cotton wool buds (the type you clean your ears with)

I hope you don't clean your ears with these, young man!!! Medical advice is quite clear on this. Never stuff foreign objects in your lugholes, cocaine up your hooter or your head through park railings!
:laugh:

 

[Taz]

PaulyT wrote:

Taz wrote:
If it doesn't then try some cotton wool buds (the type you clean your ears with)

I hope you don't clean your ears with these, young man!!! Medical advice is quite clear on this. Never stuff foreign objects in your lugholes, cocaine up your hooter or your head through park railings!
:laugh:

I just cant help myself Paul, it feels soooooo gooood when you get them real deep :laugh: :laugh:

 

[sharon]

Taz wrote:

PaulyT wrote:

Taz wrote:
If it doesn't then try some cotton wool buds (the type you clean your ears with)

I hope you don't clean your ears with these, young man!!! Medical advice is quite clear on this. Never stuff foreign objects in your lugholes, cocaine up your hooter or your head through park railings!
:laugh:

I just cant help myself Paul, it feels soooooo gooood when you get them real deep :laugh: :laugh:

😡 you should never put anything smaller than your elbow in your earhole >.<

 

[peedee]

Peter Fitton wrote:

Looking at the pad the other day it seems that there is a kind of thick black gunge coating the leather. Most of this is on the 'inner circle' (can't think how else to describe it) of the pad, but some of it is starting to accumulate around the edge of the tone hole - hence the sticking

Don't eat chocolate before playing
:laugh:

 

[Pjonah]

PeeDee wrote:

Peter Fitton wrote:

Looking at the pad the other day it seems that there is a kind of thick black gunge coating the leather. Most of this is on the 'inner circle' (can't think how else to describe it) of the pad, but some of it is starting to accumulate around the edge of the tone hole - hence the sticking

Don't eat chocolate before playing
:laugh:

Or bitumen it tastes crap too!

 

[peedee]

Pjonah wrote:

PeeDee wrote:

Peter Fitton wrote:

Looking at the pad the other day it seems that there is a kind of thick black gunge coating the leather. Most of this is on the 'inner circle' (can't think how else to describe it) of the pad, but some of it is starting to accumulate around the edge of the tone hole - hence the sticking

Don't eat chocolate before playing
:laugh:

Or bitumen it tastes crap too!

Creosote's a bit of a bummer too.
You could try drinking some lighter fluid before a blow, might clean your pad. Or at least, you'll be so p....d you don't care anyway
:laugh:

 

[stephen_howard]

Quick tip for a gunged-up low Eb pad - clean it up as best you can with a bit of gob on a cotton bud ( the crud is mostly dried-up spit ), follow it up with lighter fluid, then stretch a bit of clingfilm over the pad and secure it by scrunching it up over the top of the key cup.
It won't last, of course, but it'll get you through a gig or two.

The clingfilm works a treat for split pads too, particularly the palm key pads.

Regards,