The anwer is yes. Sort of. Somewhere on the web, can't remember where, is a long article about this. Haven't done it myself or seen/heard the effects.
The pitch of a tone hole is determined by the distance of the centre of the hole fom the reed.
Basic approach is to cut cork crescents and stick them inside the tone holes, either on the neck side to flatten the note, or the bell side to raise the note. Net effect is that the tone holes move from being round to out of round.
As you adjust the position of a tone hole like this, you need to be aware that a tone hole has an effect on the next note or two higher than it, so adjusting one can affect the tuning of others.
Problem's going to be that if the crescent drops out, then the tuning will revert - and may be worse than before you started.
Found it:
http://www.musicmedic.com/info/articles/num_24.html
I can't remember when I heard it or who it was, probably Ronnie Scott, but they were tuning up and said "that's close enough for jazz". A sentiment that I've applied many times to things other than music.
jonf said:It was said by Alvin Lee of Ten Years After at the beginning of 'I'm Going Home' performed at Woodstock in 1969. It's on the film, and is the best song in the entire film.
It was said by Alvin Lee of Ten Years After at the beginning of 'I'm Going Home' performed at Woodstock in 1969. It's on the film, and is the best song in the entire film.
He must have picked it up from someone else as well because I remember it a few years before that.
If the truth was known it's probably as old as jazz itself.
Hi
Can a sax be tuned for better intonation other than moving the mps in and out? All the tone holes are in fixed position![]()
Tone, action and intonation are greatly affected by deck height< height of pad above tone hole> . It is trade off. You get fast action with low height but sacrifice tonal qualities and intonation.
I once overhauled a 6M Conn 1923 that was a wreck. I started with low deck heights and slowly raised the height while using a tuner.
To make things more complicated...snce the sax is conical then the height increases on the way down the horn.
Easy to raise the keys...harder to lower.
You take a narrow strip of 200 or so grit sandpaper and put the smooth side against the horn and gently pull it under the cork on the foot. You need to be very careful and proceed slowly watching the combination for correct regulation.
Hi
Can a sax be tuned for better intonation other than moving the mps in and out? All the tone holes are in fixed position![]()