Tech/maintenance How do I make Octave Mechanism less sensitive?

[Digger2054]

I'm getting a little 'bounce' on the octave pip on the neck of my NW tenor, when the octave key transitions to the body octave (pressing G key).

I don't have the same issue on my alto.

It takes very little pressure on the octave key to open the neck pip.

I've removed some of the felt on the arm, that touched the ring on the neck, to give it a bit more space before it actually engages the octave, which has helped but it's still a bit too sensitive for my liking.

Beyond doing that, not sure how to make it less sensitive, and I don't fancy trying to alter the ring on the neck myself.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Targa]

Is there anything over the pin key like a plastic tube?
You could remove that or replace it with something thinner if you don't want to try bending the ring.
For your bedtime reading:

The SHWoodwind F.O. Guide To Octave Key Mech Problems

Troubleshooting the octave key mechanism

www.shwoodwind.co.uk

 

[Digger2054]

Is there anything over the pin key like a plastic tube?
You could remove that or replace it with something thinner if you don't want to try bending the ring.
For your bedtime reading:

The SHWoodwind F.O. Guide To Octave Key Mech Problems

Troubleshooting the octave key mechanism

www.shwoodwind.co.uk

There was a dense felt, which I have shaved down, but it's not giving much more.

Will read the link see if I am missing something

 

[turf3]

Maybe try a different pad at the vent? You may have an old pad that's gotten hard.

 

[Colin the Bear]

He who dares wins. Sometimes adjusting the neck octave arm is the only way to make things work cleanly.

 

[Digger2054]

He who dares wins. Sometimes adjusting the neck octave arm is the only way to make things work cleanly.

I'll get it to a tech at some point, usually go to Bob at Curly, but Liverpool is going to be rammed this weekend.

I can be a little heavy handed 😐

 

[Digger2054]

Had a lesson tonight, so during it asked how sensitive the octave should be, and with some guidance over teams adjusted it... Most likely it's in my mind but I'm sure it plays better.

 

[turf3]

Maybe you just need a bit more spring tension on the neck key to keep it from bouncing when it closes.

 

[Digger2054]

Maybe you just need a bit more spring tension on the neck key to keep it from bouncing when it closes.

Needed the arm on the neck adjusting, a little persuasion and we're good, put a bit more space between the arm and the loop.

Simple fix, I was just over thinking it 😂 more suited to my sausage fingers now

 

[skeller047]

Yesterday Jack Tyler at Boston Sax Shop hosted a Zoom call, there were 50 or so people on there. One of the questions involved setting the front F key, and he started off by saying that there are two places on a saxophone where he thinks lost motion is desired. One of them was the front F key, and the other is the distance between the neck octave key loop and the little actuator that sticks up above the neck receiver.

There were two reasons for this: 1. it allows one to swivel the neck position for comfort, and 2. it helps prevent a quick bounce if someone’s left ring finger is a bit lazy. Like when slurring up from C2 to G2, if the G key lags a bit, you can get a bounce of the top octave key - which leads to a squeak.

 

[Digger2054]

Yesterday Jack Tyler at Boston Sax Shop hosted a Zoom call, there were 50 or so people on there. One of the questions involved setting the front F key, and he started off by saying that there are two places on a saxophone where he thinks lost motion is desired. One of them was the front F key, and the other is the distance between the neck octave key loop and the little actuator that sticks up above the neck receiver.

There were two reasons for this: 1. it allows one to swivel the neck position for comfort, and 2. it helps prevent a quick bounce if someone’s left ring finger is a bit lazy. Like when slurring up from C2 to G2, if the G key lags a bit, you can get a bounce of the top octave key - which leads to a squeak.

I haven't seen that but it confirms what my teacher said 👍

Quick crude photo to clarify.

Grip the neck between the green lines, holding the pip down.

Apply pressure to the arm, in the direction of the red arrow. It didn't take much.