Tech/maintenance Yamaha bell key guards and felts

[cappers]

My YTS-25 has the bell keys guard felts glued the the guards.
The YTS-32 has holes in the guards into which the felts are inserted. I assume this makes them 'adjustable'?
Looking at later '32 models and YTS-62s the holes have a screw in holder for the felts.
Is the screw-in type a cosmetic thing or has some purpose? If an improvement can they be fitted to the '32?

Thank you.

YTS-23/25 fixed -------- ----- YTS-32 push-in ----------- ---- YTS-62 screw-in

 

[Pete Thomas]

Assuming YTS 23 is the top one:

Then I’d say any advantage of adjustable is minimal.

It’s unlikely to be something you constantly need to adjust.

My 10m tenor doesn’t have that and it seems to be a great horn.

 

[cappers]

Thanks Pete.
Yes top/first is the '23, next two the '32 and '62. Different view on my Mac to your 'phone.

Just interested in all the little changes 'kaizen' Yamaha make and why. Not going to fiddle with them.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Just interested in all the little changes 'kaizen' Yamaha make and why. Not going to fiddle with them.

I guess it’s all down to little things they can use in marketing to justify different models.

 

[Stephen Howard]

Bumper felt adjusters are really handy for repairers when it comes to setting up and balancing an action - but for the most part it's a one-time job. Set and forget...unless the horn/client has particular needs that require a tweak during play-testing.

 

[JayeNM]

You can adjust felt heights either with the screw variety (literally you use a screwdriver to turn the inserts ) or the variety where you 'screw' in the felts to the guard and you can to a degree adjust the felt heights by 'turning' the felt itself ...the latter of course exposing the felt to full view, thus having that certain aesthetic.

 

[skeller047]

Once you get the felt height set on your 32, glue a little jewel (fake or otherwise) on top for that added bling thing.

The last overhaul I got on my SBA alto, the repair tech put some fake rubies on the bell key guard felt holders. Even on that road-weary horn, it adds a small touch of elegance. Like a once young and beautiful, but now aged woman living the end of her days in a small hotel that has gone slightly to seed. Still strong and proud.

This tech once put real diamonds on one of Sonny Rollins’ horns (at Sonny’s request). Sonny supplied the diamonds… He made the appropriate choice for me.

 

[cappers]

Thanks @skeller047 I'll bear that in mind 😉

The Indian classical alto saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath played a jewelled and talisman bedecked alto. Amazing player, his sax was modified to fit with Carnatic tuning.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tByA8vHEFk4&list=RDtByA8vHEFk4&start_radio=1

 

[cappers]

The only bling I'm thinking of at the moment is replacing the polyester plastic key touches with MoP. Look nicer and apparently are less slippery when wet. I am a moist player and sometimes my finger tips slide a bit.

 

[thomsax]

Felt or cork or "soft plastic"? Here is a adjust screw with a plastic bumper. Felt and cork are over the years going hard (compressed). This key guard to a Jupiter baritone, if I rembember right. Some "plumber tape" on the screw to prevent the screw to come loose.

MOP are nice but they are organic. I would go for brass or glas. I'm just now working on a Keilwerth "New King King". It has very edgy plastic "finger touches". If I have the energy I will replace the "pearls" with brass.

 

[cappers]

I don't really fancy doing a DIY job replacing the plastic touches, so I may ask my tech but not sure if it's worth the hassle and cost.
I was thinking of gently abrading the plastic ones with some sandpaper to give a rougher and grippier finish but I might just mess it up.
Not that important!

 

[Vlad]

I don't really fancy doing a DIY job replacing the plastic touches, so I may ask my tech but not sure if it's worth the hassle and cost.
I was thinking of gently abrading the plastic ones with some sandpaper to give a rougher and grippier finish but I might just mess it up.
Not that important!

I'd forget about that entirely, for the agro involved, the difference between plastic and 'pearl' ones is imho infinitessimal to say the least, if you fancy some bling get a couple of fistf-ulls of Elvis style big costume jewellery rings to sparkle while you're playing ! 😀

 

[thomsax]

I don't really fancy doing a DIY job replacing the plastic touches, so I may ask my tech but not sure if it's worth the hassle and cost.
I was thinking of gently abrading the plastic ones with some sandpaper to give a rougher and grippier finish but I might just mess it up.
Not that important!

If a plastic pearl/finger touch is not falling out, cracked ..... keep them. YTS 25 pearls are better than the pearls of a 1968 "New King". The pearls are bigger on a "New King compared to other saxes. The find real MOP to a sax with bigger finger touches is not easy. MOP on a sax is not so smart.

 

[dexdex]

The only bling I'm thinking of at the moment is replacing the polyester plastic key touches with MoP. Look nicer and apparently are less slippery when wet. I am a moist player and sometimes my finger tips slide a bit.

Did it on my 475 soprano. It changes how the horn feels under your fingers.

 

[cappers]

....... if you fancy some bling get a couple of fistf-ulls of Elvis style big costume jewellery rings to sparkle while you're playing ! 😀

A bit of bling might improve my sound

 

[Vlad]

View attachment 33501
A bit of bling might improve my sound

It'd be an effective 'distraction' technique certainly.. 😉

 

[Jeanette]

@cappers you might find this thread interesting Tech/maintenance - Abalone key pearls

Jx