Low notes problem

ArtyLady

Member
982
Essex
I had trouble with my low notes when I first got my tenor and 18 months ago my repair man sorted out low C# downwards which was great.

Last year summer I had it tweaked again as the low D wasn't speaking properly but to be honest it was still never really right and I thought it was just me or the new mpc I was using, so carried on - lots of long tones - you know the drill. Anyway it's gradually got worse again recently and is now playing up from low F downwards :shocked:

I got the chance to blow an identical Sax with my mpc on and it was fine which obviously was a relief to know it's not me! so......I was wondering if anyone has any ideas what it might be that hubby could tweak for me (ooeerr missus!) or is another trip to the menders and more dosh to pay out :confused: it does get rather a lot of use but I am very very careful with it. 🙁
 
I am afraid that you will need to invest in a new check up or possibly buying the book by Stephen Howard which will give you some idea on how to fix some of the possible problems yourself or at least give you enough insight to then conclude you need the work of a proper tech. Good luck!
Check that you are not doing something which causes the leaks by means of deforming your sax when you close the case or that your horn shakes too much in the case hence whacking things out of place when you carry it around.
 
If this sax is played a lot then it will need a service probably every 12 months or so,the low notes are usually the first sign of telling you a service is needed.
It is best to take it to a tech as there is more than likely leaks that are preventing you from voicing the low notes correctly.

Brian
 
Poor maintenance can be the cause of this but , in my experience, a lot of people are not so careful when it comes to the way they transport the sax around in cases that allow the instruments to be rocking around in them and or , for example, at the back of the bicycle (do you have any idea of the combination of these two things on a saxophone?). Another person whom I know had his sax in a case that was too small, every time he closed the case with the saxophone wrapped in some sheet music, this was compressed and some parts went out of shape.........drove the technician crazy before they found out the cause of the problem.
Don't necessarily blame the technician.
 
Agree. I use keyclamps when transport my sax just to prevent the keys to move during transportation. I know that some guys on this forum don't think keyclamps are any good. But I do! And a good (better) case is also important. Walt Johnson or Hiscox are good cases.

Thomas
 
Poor maintenance can be the cause of this but , in my experience, a lot of people are not so careful when it comes to the way they transport the sax around in cases that allow the instruments to be rocking around in them and or , for example, at the back of the bicycle (do you have any idea of the combination of these two things on a saxophone?). Another person whom I know had his sax in a case that was too small, every time he closed the case with the saxophone wrapped in some sheet music, this was compressed and some parts went out of shape.........drove the technician crazy before they found out the cause of the problem.
Don't necessarily blame the technician.

Moi.....granny on a bicycle with Tenor sax on my back?!🙂))🙂)) :thumb:

Seriously though you have a very good point - I dont use the flight case as it is big and bulky and have it in a Gear4music softer shaped case - I've had a look it appears to sit in there quite nicely but as I'm out at least twice a week maybe it's rattling a bit in the boot of my old fiesta :shocked:

Thomsax key clamps sound good might look into them :thumb:
 
well, I you were Dutch, granny or not 🙂 you would be cycling (Most of the ladies playing in the community band where I play are over 40 and quite a few are over 60.......they all cycle even a lot more than I do (I park the car where it is not so expensive and the rest I cycle into central Amsterdam where parking is 5€ per hour!.

Anyway it is not advisable to place a horn in the boot of a car unless it is a very soft and snug fitting case .
 
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well, I you were Dutch, granny or not 🙂 you would be cycling (Most of the ladies playing in the community bad where I play are over 40 and quite a few are over 60.......they all cycle even a lot more than I do (I park the car where is not so expensive and the rest I cycle into central Amsterdam where parking is 5€ per hour!.

Anyway it is not advisable to place a horn in the boot of a car unless it is a very soft and snug fitting case .

I wouldn't be able to cycle (especially with a sax on my back!) because I have health problems 🙁 fortunately my trusty harness enables me to cope with the weight of my tenor. :thumb:

Don't know what else I can regards transportation - the case is very soft, padded and snug without pressing on anything it shouldn't be - could try the key clamps....but they look like a bit of a palava...:shocked:
 
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Sorry about you health problems!

I don't think that keys should be necessarily clamped for ordinary transportation, if that would be the case the majority of the saxophones in the world would be leaking every time they are taken anywhere. The majority of the saxophones that I know of have sufficient resistance to any regular transportation's method.
DV016_Jpg_Large_472737_illustration.jpg
 
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I use both padsavers and keyclamps to avoid the non-excisting problem to become reality!

Artylady: Mybe your bell is "rotated"? I guess your sax i modern one with detachable bell?

Thomas
 
like bandaging your head before you hit it with something that you might never hit.......
bandage-on-wound-head-thumb16405829.jpg


but I agree, some horns with unsoldered bells might, if they have suffered some high velocity motion like in a fall or continuous bumping, have a rotated bell.
 
To find out if there is a leak, have you thought about getting someone to apply some pressure to close the cups, while you work your way slowly down from low 'D.'

John 🙂;}
 
I should imagine that part of the problem could be the semi soft case you keep your sax in. I cannot stress enough that a good quality case can save you money and hassle in the long run.

I have a lady customer - pro player who insisted on taking her Mk6 on the tube in a reunion blues gigbag as it was more convenient- she was always popping in for minor repairs at short notice. I suggested she got a decent shaped case that offered protection yet was convenient to use on the tube - she got one and now she doesn't come in the workshop so often.

I would Get your sax off to a repairer and ask him to show you where the leaks or problems are and what has likely been the cause- if its your case the treat yourself to something that will give you the best protection you can afford.

Problems below low F suggest to me that you have a leak somewhere above the F and it could be anywhere above it.
Without seeing the instrument it is difficult to give a diagnosis but you could start by playing an F and getting someone else to press down on the `closed` key cups to see if you can locate the leak I would start with these first F sharp pad (the one above the low F) the G sharp and the C ( you press C and three keys should all close together the A, Bis and the little bar key above the B which is the C pad).

good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
I can wholeheartedly recommend the use of a case such as the protec which despite its appearance is a hard shell case and not a soft gig bag. I weigh 120Kg and fell once on the case which contained my horn..........no damage to both my person and the horn.
 

Similar threads... or are they? Maybe not but they could be worth reading anyway 😀

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