Saxophone Care: The Do's and The Don'ts

[@TheSaxForge]

Hey, Ethan! Great videos! I love the way you communicate with us/your audience and the intend of helping the younger generation of saxophonists. I can tell that you have put a LOT of thought into your process for caring your horns and the production of your videos! I have a few things that I want to bring up to you to think about: In the section where you talk about sandpaper, I would note very clearly that the player needs to use an extremely fine grit (800+) and it still should still be a last resort. We do not want to encourage anything that can damage a tone hole. You wouldn't want to be indirectly responsible for an good-intentioned and eager middle school kid getting some 80-grit sandpaper our of dad's hardware drawer and absolutely ending the career of a G# tone hole. Also, I don't recommend the use of a dollar bill or any type of banknote to clean pads/prevent sticking. A banknote is one of the dirtiest things that we regularly interact with and by using that, we end up rubbing dirt and other particulates onto your pads. Instead, try using a product such as "Pad-Juice" (Check out Peak Performance Winds) and use that (or Lemon Pledge) with the same procedure that you mentioned to help remove any residue that could be causing the sticking. Also, the The Key Leaves Spit Sponge is another great way to clean pads. I suppose an argument could be made for a "fresh off the press" $100 bill that hasn't been touched, but send that over to me so I can inspect it first. ;) Finally, avoid silk swabs. Silk is not as absorbent as some of the other material options and tends to displaces the moisture inside the instrument instead of removing it. The lint-free microfiber swabs are the way to go. I would rather use a mircro-fiber cloth to clean/dry off a table than a silk cloth. Hope this helps! Alex, your friendly neighborhood player AND repair technician. :)

[@ethanashley_sax]

Thank you for the insight! I’ll pin this comment to the top!

[@ethanashley_sax]

I’ve gone ahead and trimmed that section out of the video about sticky pads. I appreciate you calling me out for that mistake, of course I would never mean to cause anybody’s saxophone harm. The goal of these videos is to provide information that I was lacking when I was younger, however I’m no professional 😅 so again thank you for providing us all helpful information in regards to saxophone care!

[@TheSaxForge]

​@@ethanashley_sax You're most welcome and no trouble at all! And seriously, I wasn't trying to attack or "call you out" for anything! I think this is a great video! There are so many things that we do just because someone we respect does them and we don't understand why or the whole picture. I just wanted to offer up some things to think about.

[@georgesmith8774]

This was really helpful, informative and well made. Thank you. I am rediscovering my love of the saxophone after 40 years of neglect.

[@ethanashley_sax]

That’s awesome! Good luck!

[@kalenderquantentunnel9411]

I noticed droplets are collecting in the D#-hole when you swab without letting the horn drain a few seconds first with the bell pointing downwards. I also put the horn on a stand after long sessions and instead of using key-leaves put a strip of filter-paper into every hole which stays closed and gently close all pads to collect any droplets. This includes the palmkeys which you will also find to be wet almost always when doing this. Only takes a minute but completely eliminated any problems with sticking pads for me.

[@johnmcneill1066]

Great advice, thank you

[@thomasbejstam425]

Swab from top to bottom of the body. Most condensation accumulate in the bow, and there is no point making it pour through most of the horn. Old wine corks can easily be repurposed for keeping Eb and low C# open. This also keeps G# open.

[@ethanashley_sax]

Thanks for the advice

[@beckyn9338]

Excellent.

[@ethanashley_sax]

Thank you!

[@glennthomas4462]

I teach clarinet and saxophone and have always put the reed on the way you showed and teach it this way. It is certainly controversial. I do it this way especially on the saxophone as you can see where the reed is seated on the mouthpiece before attaching it to the body. I also assemble and disassemble the saxophone in exactly the same way 👍

[@ethanashley_sax]

Good stuff 💪

[@highlow8875]

Hello, what music is playing in the background - great piece! Thanks and best regards

[@ethanashley_sax]

Check the description!

[@hawks1ish]

I highkey never swab, and I put my ligature on my mouthpiece with the reed first before putting it on the neck then putting it in the saxophone. I leave my mouthpiece set up for weeks at a time cos I play a d’addario #3 synthetic reed. I’ve found also a cigarette rolling paper works excellent for helping stuck pads

[@ethanashley_sax]

I highly suggest swabbing!

[@Maehlice]

"You're gonna wanna check your wallet for a dollar bill." Casually pulls out a $2 bill. 💀

[@ethanashley_sax]

Hey at least it wasn’t a $100 haha

[@JohnDias-p1d]

Thank it helps a lot.

[@ethanashley_sax]

Glad it helped

[@oreodog]

Oh how I miss Butler haha

[@raseshgandhi6702]

Thank you so much

[@ethanashley_sax]

You’re welcome!

[@infiniteRat]

havent taken mine to a workshop since ive had this one (like 4ish years) do you think i should

[@ethanashley_sax]

If you have the money, it’s totally worth it!

[@infiniteRat]

@@ethanashley_sax thank you

[@excru3506]

what’s your palm key riser setup? they look unique to me

[@ethanashley_sax]

I use a conn selmer rubber palm key riser for my High-D key, and a plastic cosmos industrial riser for my High-F key.

[@excru3506]

@@ethanashley_sax thanks-what size&texture cosmos riser did you get? and have you ever had issues with the conn-selmer riser slipping?

[@ethanashley_sax]

Yes the conn selmer one does slip after I’ve been using it for months. I think I have the medium textured cosmos riser, but not 100% certain

[@keithcampbell6806]

When you have finished practising and or playing you should always wash your mouthpiece before storing it.

[@ethanashley_sax]

Some people like to swab their mouthpiece after playing, but I don’t advise washing it.

[@joshvee]

no just dry it. wash it twice a month

[@christopherfischer6998]

Whatever you do, DO NOT wash a hard rubber mouthpiece with hot water. Use lukewarm. Hot water will cause discoloration

[@kalenderquantentunnel9411]

Just act considerate: Clean it dry or wet. If it's clean, it's clean. If it starts to accumulate nasty deposits and starts to smell, it wasn't clean.

[@Kronosthesword]

me playing bari sax and not knowing how to swab a bari sax 😭

[@ethanashley_sax]

Haha

[@MrGuto]

Good advices but those gimmicky glamboken and weights you have there are the biggest money throw away you can ever buy for a saxophone.

[@ethanashley_sax]

I’ve been using them for a while now, and I definitely feel a difference. (Note that I said feel, not sound) although I’m not sure the price reflects the difference, I can say there is one. Have you tried them before?

[@benkaplan2179]

Glamboken