Thank you very much for this video. I'm a band teacher living in a place where I have to figure out how to do most of my own repairs, and until I watched this video I had given up on this one. If I can offer a suggestion it would have helped for you to show us HOW you bent the octave thumb key to lower it.
Hi there. Thanks so much for these extremely useful videos. I am a part time student woodwind instrument repairer in the UK doing it by a mix of courses at a repair school as well as study by myself. Your videos have been invaluable. I even managed to repair a long broken trumpet of a friends with the help of your videos even though I didn't think I would do any brass.
Awesomely helpful video. I was so excited when i came upon these videos. Thank you! I wonder if maybe you will be showing us how to replace and seat pads on a Sax in the future???
My new soprano Sax's body octave key is not opening on its own. It's not stuck it's just loose enough it seems. The lever above it moves fine from the g key. I'm really can't figure it out.
So glad you chose a Selmer Bundy as I just bought a used one and upon full inspection I found the tenon for the octave key broken. I fixed it but then noticed that it was not behaving correctly and your video showed me EXACTLY how it should behave! I used your guide to find that the rocker was not functioning correctly because the entire mechanism was bent and not moving freely. I was planning to buy a new rocker but I can't find a source for parts, so I carefully bent it back into shape et Voila! It works exactly as you describe. Thanks so much and I'm glad I found your video. Well done. (So where do I buy parts like keys, rods, etc?)
Right now I'm still puzzling out my particular instrument to make sure it's good enough to continue at this time. It' my first experiment with a sax - chinese soprano (~$340). I play cornet. The high F key operates three pads by virtue of levers and a small piece of cork on the back of the high F key. When the high F key is pressed the B key is pressed (by the cork bumper) at same time as the levers operate a double pad adjacent to just above the B key (this is a double pad - one on the back of the other that has a smaller opening than the fundamental opening). The lower part of that double pad is also operated independently when using the octave key. It's just that the piece of cork(?) looks vulnerable and an ungainly piece of design Is this sort of arrangement common to all saxophones fitted with a high F key? Sorry to seem so dumb but I couldn't find any clear images of the mechanism on other saxophones on the internet.
helpful, thank you. Question - what material do you recommend for the octave key cups? I had a problem when a tech installed a squishy rubber 'pad' in the neck cup. After about a month it no longer sealed. I replaced it with fairly firm automotive gasket. This almost worked but it wasn't sealing completely. Adding a layer of 1/32" cork to the auto gasket is working for now. But I am not hopeful that this is a long term solution. Suggestions? Thanks :)
You can use "Shrink Tubing" or you can sometimes use a section of tubing from the hoses for an oxygen tank. The octave keys are different sizes, so you need to get the correct size to work on your saxophone.
Hi watching this again as I have a sax in with a delay on the octave mechanism as in if you take your thumb off tye speaker key to drop an octave there is a delay. Trying to see if I’m missing something.
There are a few reasons for this problem. My first guess is a sticky pad. Listen for a little "sticky clicky" sound when you let up on the thumb lever. Most likely it is the body octave pad.
I think this is the issue I have. I noticed that the pad on the upper octave key is a bit squished in and hard. Does that mean that replacing it might help? It looks like the mechanism does keep it much lower when G is pushed down, but that the pad doesn't completely reach, and I'm thinking a newer, thicker pad might fix the problem more simply than bending things. Thoughts?
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Yes, it does sound like a good idea to replace the pad first. That may solve the problem. If it does not, then you can try bending it.
Teacher, I have a yamha YAS-28 saxophone for repair and it does not have the Octave key making mechanism part that you show me. Please tell me what to do for it.
you can find the name of the key from this video: "What Are The Saxophone Key Names?" ruclips.net/video/6V7Rv-nFav0/видео.html The keys are made and sold separately. You can buy one from a music store that buys things from Allied Supply. I hope this helps.
@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop Thank you teachers I understand that I need the octave lever, shift lever, lower octave key, screws and cork of the yamha YAS-23 type alto saxophone. But I can't find this on the internet. Is there an institution that can bring me around Sri Lanka?
I had a Tamil speaker to my house once, but I do not know anyone in Sri Lanka who fixes instruments. If you want, I can order the parts for you, but they will be very expensive. If you can find a music store in Sri Lanka, they may be able to order the parts from Allied Supply in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, USA, or they may be able to get them from Yamaha.
There are many similarities, but there are some differences too. Here is the link to the playlist that I did about flutes: ruclips.net/p/PLtJyi3RgtJ2tW0JCtowIExs-QjT-wTSdn
Can anyone help me? I just bought my first sax, been playing it for a week and now that I'm learning Major scales I noticied the octave mechanism system isn't working, what's weird is that everything seems in it's right place, it's touching and releasing properly, what can be another issue i can't get the octave? Thanks in advance
One time I had this problem and it stumped me for a while. Then I checked for the only possible, though highly unlikely, thing that it could be. I took off the neck octave key and I found buffing compound plugging up the octave vent. It could also occur on the body octave key too. I hope this helps. Art
It is probably very similar, but there are some differences on some soprano saxes. Some have an extra mechanism that goes over the high C key. Either way, look at the mechanism and try to figure out how it works. When the octave lever is pressed, one or the other octave key should open and not both.
Can you help me understand why my G# key won't sound yet it's not sticky, what causes that? I feel like there is a button very close to the F# that is not opening
I do not know for sure but I have a couple guesses. The spring may be on the wrong side of the spring cradle on the G# key, the F# to G# adjustment may be off, the G# hinge rod or key could be bent, or it could be something else. If I could see it, I could probably figure it out. Try pushing down the G# lever and see if the G# key opens. That will narrow it down. I hope this helps, Art
@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop What would you advise, is it better to replace the string with a blue(dark color) one or the silver ones that came with it, it's a students saxophone Selmer Bundy II. On the other note which is a better spring, the dark one or the silver ones,
Both types of springs are fine. I don't think the dark blue springs are made anymore though. The silver colored (steel) springs are a little easier to work with.
Thank you very much for this video. I'm a band teacher living in a place where I have to figure out how to do most of my own repairs, and until I watched this video I had given up on this one. If I can offer a suggestion it would have helped for you to show us HOW you bent the octave thumb key to lower it.
Hi there. Thanks so much for these extremely useful videos. I am a part time student woodwind instrument repairer in the UK doing it by a mix of courses at a repair school as well as study by myself. Your videos have been invaluable. I even managed to repair a long broken trumpet of a friends with the help of your videos even though I didn't think I would do any brass.
You are very welcome,iwish could help more people.
Thank you so much for showing the moving parts in the disassembled sax.
incredibly helpful, I have to confess I was really clueless about alot of this, still have many things to learn! thanks to You! : )
Thank you !!! My octave is working again now ! I love you !!!
Thank you for explaining this as I thought my sax was now working correctly.
The Brass and Woodwind Shop
Baritone Saxophones actually have 3 Octave Key Pads & Vents (Bass Clarinets have 2 Register Key Pads).
Awesomely helpful video. I was so excited when i came upon these videos. Thank you! I wonder if maybe you will be showing us how to replace and seat pads on a Sax in the future???
Nice one
thank you very much very helpful video
Super helpful. Thanks so much!
How about a video on the Fork F and B key .. Adjusting them along with how to best make the mechanism nice and light ?
My new soprano Sax's body octave key is not opening on its own. It's not stuck it's just loose enough it seems. The lever above it moves fine from the g key. I'm really can't figure it out.
So glad you chose a Selmer Bundy as I just bought a used one and upon full inspection I found the tenon for the octave key broken. I fixed it but then noticed that it was not behaving correctly and your video showed me EXACTLY how it should behave! I used your guide to find that the rocker was not functioning correctly because the entire mechanism was bent and not moving freely. I was planning to buy a new rocker but I can't find a source for parts, so I carefully bent it back into shape et Voila! It works exactly as you describe. Thanks so much and I'm glad I found your video. Well done. (So where do I buy parts like keys, rods, etc?)
Allied Supply sells them, but they do not sell to individuals. You can order the parts from most music stores.
@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop Good to know - thanks so much!
I am curious on fixing how much play I have in my octave key and how to adjust it
Right now I'm still puzzling out my particular instrument to make sure it's good enough to continue at this time.
It' my first experiment with a sax - chinese soprano (~$340). I play cornet.
The high F key operates three pads by virtue of levers and a small piece of cork on the back of the high F key. When the high F key is pressed the B key is pressed (by the cork bumper) at same time as the levers operate a double pad adjacent to just above the B key (this is a double pad - one on the back of the other that has a smaller opening than the fundamental opening). The lower part of that double pad is also operated independently when using the octave key.
It's just that the piece of cork(?) looks vulnerable and an ungainly piece of design
Is this sort of arrangement common to all saxophones fitted with a high F key?
Sorry to seem so dumb but I couldn't find any clear images of the mechanism on other saxophones on the internet.
helpful, thank you. Question - what material do you recommend for the octave key cups? I had a problem when a tech installed a squishy rubber 'pad' in the neck cup. After about a month it no longer sealed. I replaced it with fairly firm automotive gasket. This almost worked but it wasn't sealing completely. Adding a layer of 1/32" cork to the auto gasket is working for now. But I am not hopeful that this is a long term solution. Suggestions? Thanks :)
The octave pads usually get the same leather pads as the other keys. These keys usually take 9 or 9.5 mm.
What's the proper name of the rubber tip that fits on top of the octave key? I just bought a new instrument, so, I need to order a new one. Thanks.
You can use "Shrink Tubing" or you can sometimes use a section of tubing from the hoses for an oxygen tank. The octave keys are different sizes, so you need to get the correct size to work on your saxophone.
Hi watching this again as I have a sax in with a delay on the octave mechanism as in if you take your thumb off tye speaker key to drop an octave there is a delay. Trying to see if I’m missing something.
There are a few reasons for this problem. My first guess is a sticky pad. Listen for a little "sticky clicky" sound when you let up on the thumb lever. Most likely it is the body octave pad.
quisiera saber cuándo las llaves se doblan que hacer y cómo se hace gracias
I think this is the issue I have. I noticed that the pad on the upper octave key is a bit squished in and hard. Does that mean that replacing it might help? It looks like the mechanism does keep it much lower when G is pushed down, but that the pad doesn't completely reach, and I'm thinking a newer, thicker pad might fix the problem more simply than bending things. Thoughts?
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.
Yes, it does sound like a good idea to replace the pad first. That may solve the problem. If it does not, then you can try bending it.
when the key bends how do you fix it?
Teacher, I have a yamha YAS-28 saxophone for repair and it does not have the Octave key making mechanism part that you show me. Please tell me what to do for it.
you can find the name of the key from this video:
"What Are The Saxophone Key Names?"
ruclips.net/video/6V7Rv-nFav0/видео.html
The keys are made and sold separately. You can buy one from a music store that buys things from Allied Supply.
I hope this helps.
@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop Thank you teachers I understand that I need the octave lever, shift lever, lower octave key, screws and cork of the yamha YAS-23 type alto saxophone. But I can't find this on the internet. Is there an institution that can bring me around Sri Lanka?
I had a Tamil speaker to my house once, but I do not know anyone in Sri Lanka who fixes instruments. If you want, I can order the parts for you, but they will be very expensive. If you can find a music store in Sri Lanka, they may be able to order the parts from Allied Supply in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, USA, or they may be able to get them from Yamaha.
@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
The regulation and adjusting of saxophone is quite the same as flute?
There are many similarities, but there are some differences too.
Here is the link to the playlist that I did about flutes:
ruclips.net/p/PLtJyi3RgtJ2tW0JCtowIExs-QjT-wTSdn
Can anyone help me? I just bought my first sax, been playing it for a week and now that I'm learning Major scales I noticied the octave mechanism system isn't working, what's weird is that everything seems in it's right place, it's touching and releasing properly, what can be another issue i can't get the octave? Thanks in advance
One time I had this problem and it stumped me for a while. Then I checked for the only possible, though highly unlikely, thing that it could be. I took off the neck octave key and I found buffing compound plugging up the octave vent. It could also occur on the body octave key too.
I hope this helps.
Art
Is the adjustment the same on a Soprano Saxophone? I currently am unable to play any high notes when the octave key is engaged....
It is probably very similar, but there are some differences on some soprano saxes. Some have an extra mechanism that goes over the high C key. Either way, look at the mechanism and try to figure out how it works. When the octave lever is pressed, one or the other octave key should open and not both.
@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop .... Thank you... My problem is solved...
Can you help me understand why my G# key won't sound yet it's not sticky, what causes that? I feel like there is a button very close to the F# that is not opening
I do not know for sure but I have a couple guesses. The spring may be on the wrong side of the spring cradle on the G# key, the F# to G# adjustment may be off, the G# hinge rod or key could be bent, or it could be something else. If I could see it, I could probably figure it out. Try pushing down the G# lever and see if the G# key opens. That will narrow it down.
I hope this helps,
Art
When I press the G# lever the G# key opens, but when I hold the fingering of G# , the G# key doesn't open or it opens a little not fully.
That sounds like a weak spring or a bent hinge rod. Most likely a weak spring that might be ready to break.
@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop What would you advise, is it better to replace the string with a blue(dark color) one or the silver ones that came with it, it's a students saxophone Selmer Bundy II.
On the other note which is a better spring, the dark one or the silver ones,
Both types of springs are fine. I don't think the dark blue springs are made anymore though. The silver colored (steel) springs are a little easier to work with.
ok
good