I use exclusively the finest hand made pads from Sax Pads Australia, which allows the player a choice of resonator size and type, Plastic, Lacquered Brass, Nickel, Silver or Gold plate, and can also advise on your choice to suit your horn and playing style.
Having trained in Holland with one of Europe's top repair men, Maarten Prins of Maarten Prins Saxofoons, I am more than qualified to carry out repairs to any Saxophone, from vintage to new, student to pro.
Sample Repair
Requirements
Every job is different
and as such is assessed and a price estimate given. Sorry it is impossible
to give a firm quote over the phone, however as an indication, the following
common repair descriptions and cost ranges are given:
- Complete Restoration: Some call it a re-pad; I prefer to overhaul, as just replacing the pads is not even half the job. My overhaul involves removal of minor dings/dents, precision swedging and alignment of all keys, replacement of all pads, corks and felts, adjustment and set-up. Includes follow up adjustment appointment. Guaranteed for 12 months.
- Complete Service: Includes removal of all keys, washing and polishing of sax body. Clean all hinge tubes, and dry polish keys. Re-assemble horn including lubrication and adjustment. Ideal if your horn is getting a bit dirty and rattly and the pads are still fine.
$AUS
500 - $AUS 600, Soprano, alto and tenor. $AUS
600+ Baritone.$AUS
100 - $AUS 150. Extra depending on type of pads or palm keys.
I see a lot of saxes where the neck is loose in the neck yoke, often to the extent that the neck screw is no longer able to keep the neck firmly in place. This is a result of the natural wear process that occurs between the two brass cylinders and can be simply and quickly rectified by a competent well-equipped repairman.
However often players or well meaning teachers decide to effect back yard repairs with often disastrous results. The first solution is to just keep tightening the neck screw until it finally breaks off, requiring often messy extraction of the residue or even worse running a hacksaw blade down the slot in the neck yoke to widen and deepen the slot. This usually results in a leak at the critical point or the neck yoke being tightened to the point of distortion. Replacing your neck yoke, which is often the only alternative, is expensive and with vintage horns it is becoming almost impossible to source the original parts.
An actual leakage of air at the neck/yoke interface can prevent successfully playing the full range of the saxophone, but even if air is not escaping, a snug, even fit is also critical to response, tuning and clear projection of your horn.
Unfortunately a loose neck is not a "do it yourself" job - take it to a repairman!
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