Please excuse the long post but I need some advice. I've been playing a hired tenor for about 6 months and having made good progress I decided to buy a sax which i've had for 5 days now .
On the new sax I'm having real problems playing low E, F, F sharp and to a lesser extent D. (Strangely low C, B flat are not problematic). I'm getting a sort of warble like its oscillating between the low and next register. If I really slacken of my jaw and push a lot harder I can get the notes but compared to the sax I was hiring (which I still have) it is really hit and miss particularly when coming down the scale. It's driving me mad.
I thought this is an embouchure problem and I've spent a number of hours playing long notes trying not to push with my lower jaw too hard or bite down too much But even dropping from F to E and maintaining an even pressure the E just dies.
The the middle register sounds good and the intonation even, and the upper register compared to the hired sax sound a lot rounder ( part of the reason I bought it). As I said I haven't been playing long but I have played one other sax recently besides the hired sax and did not have this sort of problem.
I've checked the sax for obvious leaks shining a small LED torch down from the top and then up from the bell.
Here;s what I've noticed;
This sax is a well regarded student model which from a brand which has had positive reviews, including on this site.
Are these a likely cause the problem or this an embouchure /breathing issue?
Should the join be a rough as it appears to be?
Help appreciated.
Tono
On the new sax I'm having real problems playing low E, F, F sharp and to a lesser extent D. (Strangely low C, B flat are not problematic). I'm getting a sort of warble like its oscillating between the low and next register. If I really slacken of my jaw and push a lot harder I can get the notes but compared to the sax I was hiring (which I still have) it is really hit and miss particularly when coming down the scale. It's driving me mad.
I thought this is an embouchure problem and I've spent a number of hours playing long notes trying not to push with my lower jaw too hard or bite down too much But even dropping from F to E and maintaining an even pressure the E just dies.
The the middle register sounds good and the intonation even, and the upper register compared to the hired sax sound a lot rounder ( part of the reason I bought it). As I said I haven't been playing long but I have played one other sax recently besides the hired sax and did not have this sort of problem.
I've checked the sax for obvious leaks shining a small LED torch down from the top and then up from the bell.
Here;s what I've noticed;
-The join between the body/ tube of the sax and the U -bend (sorry don't Know the technical terms) is very obvious and uneven ie not completely circular. When I shine the torch down it is possible to see a whitish glue or sealant in the join. By comparison the join between the bell and the u-bend is barley visible.
-When I examined the collar on the external join between the body/and u-bend just above the low C pad there is a visible gap and some of this glue or sealant is visible having leaked out. Elsewhere the collar seems to fit snugly.
-When I examined the collar on the external join between the body/and u-bend just above the low C pad there is a visible gap and some of this glue or sealant is visible having leaked out. Elsewhere the collar seems to fit snugly.
This sax is a well regarded student model which from a brand which has had positive reviews, including on this site.
Are these a likely cause the problem or this an embouchure /breathing issue?
Should the join be a rough as it appears to be?
Help appreciated.
Tono
