Tech/maintenance LeBlanc 7133 Vito (Jupiter) Alto Sax Service

[ghostler]

The odd white residue on your pads could be “Pad Magic” from Music Medic.

It very well could be, really don't know for sure.

But, to add insult to injury, I also bought a budget Bundy II alto about the same time. It is reasonably dent free but after looking over the odd "lacquer leprosy spots" all over the hand accessible areas of its body, appears it received the same or similar incompatible chemical wipe down treatment as this Jupiter Vito.

That is for another thread. I've got some leftover medium silver auto urethane paint, will have to look at the label on the can. Doesn't require a clear coat. Maybe I could come up with a custom Bundy? 😀

 

[PigSquealer]

Yes, Glenn, a very practical suggestion. But, in reality, how many do this when they come home after a gig or rehearsal, to include professionals? 🙂

I’ve now worked on enough active pro players instruments to say 100%. Horns that last had a full repad 30+ years ago. Sure many pads are shot. Sure the action is flopping around. Sure they have a gross coating inside & out.
BUT, 99.9% don’t reek ! Why ??? Because they let them air out at the end of the day. Many now insert “Key Leaves” before leaving the gig.
When home the case gets opened. Swab & padsaver removed from case/sax. Case left open, sax removed to open area. Cubby cover left open. Mouthpiece removed. Mouthpiece, lig, cap rinsed out in cold water and either dried or left out to dry.
Otherwise the case & contents are a petri dish in the making.

 

[ghostler]

Otherwise the case & contents are a petri dish in the making.

I remember in high school helping Mr. Tamanaha go through the instruments for inventory and cleaning after school.

There was one brass instrument, a trumpet that had maggots inside its tubing. Talk about being grossed out.

 

[Stephen Howard]

I’ve now worked on enough active pro players instruments to say 100%. Horns that last had a full repad 30+ years ago. Sure many pads are shot. Sure the action is flopping around. Sure they have a gross coating inside & out.
BUT, 99.9% don’t reek ! Why ??? Because they let them air out at the end of the day. Many now insert “Key Leaves” before leaving the gig.
When home the case gets opened. Swab & padsaver removed from case/sax. Case left open, sax removed to open area. Cubby cover left open. Mouthpiece removed. Mouthpiece, lig, cap rinsed out in cold water and either dried or left out to dry.
Otherwise the case & contents are a petri dish in the making.

I'm gonna throw a cat amongst the pigeons - because in my experience pros are least likely to look after their horn. Lord knows I've seen enough of them.
But...the reason they probably get away with not having a stinky horn is that it never really dries out.
Play a gig, come home, grab some kip, get up and practice...or teach - then gig in the evening.

 

[skeller047]

I am one of those pros (well, ex-pros) who do swab and air out when I get home. Primarily because most places I play these days do not have a convenient space to swab and clean after the gig. The “bandstand” is usually just a small corner in a restaurant or bar, and frankly I don’t want to put my case on a table because a) it’s wobbly, b) it’s crowded and c) the floor is somewhat cleaner.

I will admit that when I am home, I sometimes leave my horn assembled on the stand overnight, and the only cleaning I do is pouring out the condensation in the bottom of the bell. Usually that happens when I intend to play again after dinner, and instead fall asleep (read “pass out”) in front of the TV.

But I was taught as a young teenager to swab out my horns after playing, and have done so regularly in the ensuing 6+ decades. My horns don’t stink… too badly…

 

[ghostler]

Lately turning further senior I've been talking more than I have been playing. Stinky horns received were project saxes. One with a musty smell until cleanup was my 1952'ish LeBlanc Beaugnier Vito 37 Low Bb Bari.

This is the one I've mentioned on occasion bought as a project sax for $315 US a decade & half ago.

Plywood case was noticeably very musty smelling, broken and in such a bad state of repair that after I got a decent gig bag, binned it making my wife happy.

My saxes usually go from the case to stand, so I can practice in my spare moments.

So, they do get sufficient airing out. Also occasionally get wiped down, spit splashes removed, dust in keywork removed, keys oiled, etc.

So @PigSquealer , if I were ever to drop my sax or clarinet to you (distance excepting), you can set aside the OSHA paperwork, untape the cracks in your environmental cleanup room, turn off your HEPA exhauster, remove your OSHA rated tevak protective body suit, bunny shoes and respirator to work on mine.

 

[PigSquealer]

So @PigSquealer , if I were ever to drop my sax or clarinet to you (distance excepting), you can set aside the OSHA paperwork, untape the cracks in your environmental cleanup room, turn off your HEPA exhauster, remove your OSHA rated tevak protective body suit, bunny shoes and respirator to work on mine.

Yes can, but I’ll keep the N95 mask on and use barrier lotion on hands until cleaned.

 

[ghostler]

I will admit that when I am home, I sometimes leave my horn assembled on the stand overnight, and the only cleaning I do is pouring out the condensation in the bottom of the bell. Usually that happens when I intend to play again after dinner, and instead fall asleep (read “pass out”) in front of the TV.

Under those conditions, on a stand exposes the sax to air dry, which is good.

Speaking of condensation, when I was playing a Capella traditional Christmas carols by a Salvation Army donation kettle on stand at a store entrance 4 hours a day during the season, with temperatures at or below dewpoint, in the sax's bell, I could easily collect a couple tablespoons of condensed breath into water every 20 to 30 minutes of play.

I'd step aside into the street pavement away from the store entrance to pour it out and not gross out people. It was like clear water.

That was the most extreme condensation in a sax. Those who busk or play an outdoor job or in an enclosed nonheated building environment like a sports arena may encounter the same.

Then busking in front of "the kettle", I was doing it 20 hours a week plus Monday night community band rehearsal plus maybe 8-10 hours a week practicing, so sax spent its fair share drying out on its stand.

 

[ghostler]

Yes can, but I’ll keep the N95 mask on and use barrier lotion on hands until cleaned.

And the nitrill gloves. I haven't explained to you what my next brainchild cleanup chemical is.😉

 

[skeller047]

Speaking of condensation, when I was playing a Capella traditional Christmas carols by a Salvation Army donation kettle on stand at a store entrance 4 hours a day during the season, with temperatures at or below dewpoint, in the sax's bell, I could easily collect a couple tablespoons of condensed breath into water every 20 to 30 minutes of play.

Practicing indoors, I drain out a teaspoon every 10-15 minutes. Playing a gig I get a little less because of rests…

 

[PigSquealer]

And the nitrill gloves. I haven't explained to you what my next brainchild cleanup chemical is.😉

https://procheminc.com/products/hand-guard/

 

[ghostler]

Practicing indoors, I drain out a teaspoon every 10-15 minutes. Playing a gig I get a little less because of rests…

When I was busking outside, I was very active, couple minutes per song with a couple minute break before starting another.

After 2 hours playing, take a 10 minute break then another 2 hours. Hence this is why I was collecting a lot of condensate during play.

I was their highest earner. A good ringer could earn $25 per hour into the kettle from donors. I was earning them over $100 per hour on the sax.

Donations are used to fund the Salvation Army's social services to the poor during the year.

 

[skeller047]

I applaud you, @ghostler. I always hit those kettles every season, for the same reason I always tip bartenders and waitpersons. In cash when possible. I’ve been on the other end of that business enough to know it matters.

 

[ghostler]

https://procheminc.com/products/hand-guard/

Thanks for the lead. Didn't know such stuff exists.

 

[PigSquealer]

Thanks for the lead. Didn't know such stuff exists.

Welcome, it’s been available since the ‘80s or longer. I’ve been using the stuff since’85.

 

[ghostler]

Since 1985, I was pushing paperwork from a desk in a cube farm. Except for doing my own oil changes, didn't have much dealing with mechanical stuff. Build an occasional model airplane. Paint latex on the house. 1980's, social media was dial up bulletin boards on 300 Baud modems (30 characters a second).

Workplace injury was a paper cut. Started working on project saxes 2010, so Rip Van Winkle finally woke up.