Reccommend me a tech for my vintage alto

[scott.p]

Hi I'm pretty new around here, I'm based round the Oxfordshire/Northants area.
Basically I'm looking for a Good tech to take a look over My 1941 King zephyr unsure if its a special or not.
Overall it plays lovely, keywork feels better than on my old yas-23. However I do think it can be improved on further, I also seem to be having some slight intonation problems so wanted to see if it was anything that can be improved on.
I have Heritage music in brackley and allegro in oxford but have heard so-so things about both, so was looking for somebody reccommended by you guys.

Many thanks

Scott

 

[Nick Wyver]

If you don't mind travelling to Hove there's Rupert Noble.

 

[ProfJames]

In Maidenhead you have Dawkes.and if you wait long enough for other forum members to respond that will recommend other good guys close to you. Although Rupert Noble has an excellent reputation so great advice already.

 

[Melissa]

Griff off the forum, or Ray Colomb in Corsham 🙂

 

[Jeanette]

Griff off the forum,

That's Griff136 if you're searching for him

Jx

 

[Melissa]

That's Griff136 if you're searching for him

Jx

Thanks Jx

 

[alto andy]

Rupert noble I would say would be your best bet as he is very much into vintage overhaul and repair I would have used him if I was closer to him but I think if I ever change or service my alto then I will go on a road trip or holiday to put it in his capable hands . As you know I also play a zephyr

 

[griff136]

Hi I'm pretty new around here, I'm based round the Oxfordshire/Northants area.
Basically I'm looking for a Good tech to take a look over My 1941 King zephyr unsure if its a special or not.
Overall it plays lovely, keywork feels better than on my old yas-23. However I do think it can be improved on further, I also seem to be having some slight intonation problems so wanted to see if it was anything that can be improved on.
I have Heritage music in brackley and allegro in oxford but have heard so-so things about both, so was looking for somebody reccommended by you guys.

Many thanks

Scott

Hi Scott,
Zephyr Specials have a 3 ring strap hook, the word special engraved on the front of the bell, and full pearls i.e. pearls on the side keys , the alt F# and both the left and right pinky keys.

Re the intonation problems you are having - can you expand? and what mouthpiece are you using?

 

[scott.p]

Hi thanks, I've managed to determine using saxpics that it is not a special. It does have the 3 ring strap hook that I like though.
It just doesn't play in tune from bottom to top if I get it so the lower notes are in tune it pushes the top register sharp and likewise if I get the top in tune it puts the bottom flat.
I've tried using a Meyer hr 8
Runyon custom 7
Jody jazz classic 5
Selmer s80 c
Selmer metal jazz c**

Intonation was by far the worst with the meyer and best with the runyon and the jj
Um popping over to see ray colomb on Friday as he is pretty local to me.
I know it's not me as my tank 901 plays pretty much perfectly in tune from bottom to top.

 

[griff136]

Scott, you could try using a mouthpiece with a larger chamber or a longer shanked Selmer alto mouthpiece ( older scroll type)

 

[scott.p]

Thanks for that I had considerd trying a ling shank selmer, it's just finding one. What mp's would be classed as large chamber? I need to get down to sax.co.uk really it's just finding the time as it's quite a drive

 

[griff136]

Caravan (american) Zinner (germany) Meyer ( must have large written in the diamond on the lower end of the table) most companies sell medium. theo wanne kali ( pricey) usually have them in sax.co.uk ( i used to work there as a repairer ( when they could afford me!) Aizen ( japanese) (sax.co) lebayle HR LR.
also generally older mouthpieces (50s/60s era) had larger chambers. I have a caravan alto piece (out on loan at present) but I can post it to you if you want to try it. (no charge)

 

[scott.p]

Thankyou very much for that list, if you wouldn't mind posting me that caravan to try that would be amazing of you, just had a look at there website and they seem to be pretty well priced too which is nice to know.

 

[griff136]

Once it comes back I'll Pm you.

 

[kevgermany]

One I like a lot is the Morgan, with an L after it. And I've said it before - the Brillhart Personalines work really well with these saxes

 

[griff136]

One I like a lot is the Morgan, with an L after it. And I've said it before - the Brillhart Personalines work really well with these saxes

+1 for the Morgan L and the Personaline.