Tech/maintenance SHWoodwind Updates

[Ivan]

View attachment 10134

Apparently sax repair is in high demand at Area 51

 

[Stephen Howard]

More luverly updates!

The 'MexiConn' 12M baritone. Often gets a bad press, but is it that bad?

Conn 12M (Mexican) baritone saxophone review

And the Yanagisawa S6 soprano. Or is it? Who knows...

Yanagisawa S6 soprano saxophone review

And on the Benchlife Blog - a nasty dose of Bar Rash....

A rolling blog of everyday life on and around the workbench

 

[rhysonsax]

More luverly updates!

The 'MexiConn' 12M baritone. Often gets a bad press, but is it that bad?

Conn 12M (Mexican) baritone saxophone review

And the Yanagisawa S6 soprano. Or is it? Who knows...

Yanagisawa S6 soprano saxophone review

View attachment 10165


And on the Benchlife Blog - a nasty dose of Bar Rash....

A rolling blog of everyday life on and around the workbench

Yet more interesting reviews. I particularly enjoyed reading the review of the Mexiconn 12M and what you have to say about not scaring oneself by playing into a tuner. I have been traumatised by my Classic (big C in your terms) 12M and how it tunes, but it does sound gorgeous.

Rhys

 

[Nick Wyver]

And the Yanagisawa S6 soprano. Or is it? Who knows...

I know my S6 is actually an S6 because, when I bought it new in 1982, it came with a little tag (which I still have) which said "S6".
Easy, innit?

 

[Stephen Howard]

Same year as the review model then.
Does yours have the same features...including the drawn palm key toneholes?

 

[Nick Wyver]

It's 00108xxx so 1981 I think. Looks pretty much the same, including the drawn toneholes.

 

[Stephen Howard]

Thanks for the info - it's a definite point of reference. I'm building a database of features, and with a bit of luck might one day be able to say "This is what makes for an S6, and this is what makes for an S800".
I've built a little jig for mounting the horns in a set position so that they can be photographed and measured from a standard reference point - and as more examples turn up at the workshop I should be able to see what's been going on.

 

[Nick Wyver]

If you want any others give us a shout.

 

[Stephen Howard]

Great stuff! The product tag is brilliant, it really nails things down.
I've added an addendum to the review mentioning your horn.

If it's not a complete pain in the backside, a large full-length photo of the soprano on a smooth (white?) backround would be very useful - shot from dead centre, about four feet above the horn with the A key pearl horizontal to the floor (just like the opening review shot).
I can then cut it out and overlay it on the review S6 to see whether it all lines up.

 

[Nick Wyver]

I've added one that might do the trick.

 

[Stephen Howard]

Thanks, that's just the ticket.
It's a dead match for the review S6 - give or take a few differences for the angle of the shot, it's a perfect fit.

 

[Nick Wyver]

I don't suppose you noticed whether the G was sharp. It was on mine so I stuck a crescent in about 20 years ago which cured it.

 

[Stephen Howard]

Nope, didn't notice any significant issues (on a Link HR 5). Have you checked the bore for a bend? Even a slight one can really throw a soprano out of tune.

 

[Nick Wyver]

No bends. I've had it from new so I'd know if it had been dropped (like my alto - twice within a month of buying it).

 

[Stephen Howard]

Bear in mind you don't have to drop a horn to put a bend in it - it can happen while the horn is in the case.
You only need catch it on the door into the saloon bar, and the resultant shock can go right through the horn and leave a gentle curve in the body.
That said, it usually results in quite a few leaks too.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Yes indeed. The aforesaid alto also suffered a tad when opening back door of band van one time. Case (Hiscox) with alto shot past shoulder and bounced down the road. Only needed a little tweaking that time.

 

[thomsax]

The "12M" (low Bb) and "11M" (low A) tubes were still running in the late 90's. UMI made Conn 13M (low A) and 14M (low Bb). The were more or less based on the old tubes from the mid 30's/late 60's. But the keys(works) were new/modern. I guess the made some improvements on the tube as well to be able to play a modern mpc on thier baris. Some of these baris had rolled tone holes. I guess it was more a "Hey, look at us and see what we can do" gimmick. The entire UMI saxophone production (Conn, King and Armstrong (not Musica)) was in Nogales, Arizona, USA (former Art Best Manufacturing Company that Conn bought ca 1960). The town Nogales is devided in two parts, Nogales, Arizona, USA and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Most of workers in saxophone manufactoring came from Mexico. And they were skilled. Maybe the parts were made in Mexico and put together in USA (like Selmer MK VI, made in Paris and put together in Elkhart). I don't know?

The letter prefix on Nogales/Eastlake saxes is not clear. I have seen saxes that were sold/made in the late 80's with the prefix "N" which indicate that the horn was made in 1969/1970. I think a "N" sax can be "younger". I have never seen "P" and "R" prefix on a Conn sax (I think the "P" older "Conn" second line and stencils indicated that they were made in the Pan-American plant in Elkhart owned by "Conns" parent company).

Thank you for an interesting review. I don't think "Mexico" saxes are impossible. The prices should be low and seller should stay away of words like "vintage" or "12M" even if the sax is based the tube. But you can do bargains in these segment. I helped a friend to buy a mint "Bundy" baritone based on a "Buescher 400" for nearly no money at all compared to other low priced baris on the market. And it has a big mature bari voice as well. Not the modern "basson-like" baris. But this is my personal opinon!

 

[Stephen Howard]

Another Benchlife Blog update - Turning key pearls.

A rolling blog of everyday life on and around the workbench

 

[Stephen Howard]

New Benchlife Blog update - Lapping it up.

A rolling blog of everyday life on and around the workbench

 

[Melissa]

I love these, my ww teacher made me some a couple of years ago and are incredibly useful, funnily enough the ones i have for dressing clarinet tone holes look very similar to the tool above being used for turning pearls, Thank you for sharing this!