This crooked saxophone from 1952 gets an Extreme Makeover

I got finally a Desmond sax but it was totally crooked and wasted... So I went to my personal sax-yoda, Daniel Daemen, and filmed the whole process of him overhauling my newly acquired Selmer Super Balanced Action from 1952. That's the same saxophone Paul Desmond played and presumably around the same serial number.
Thanks so much to Daniel Daemen from Safe Sax saxophone repair for his dedication and craft. He is a terrific saxophonist himself and you can hear him play towards the end, but surely check out his playing here on KZbin. @safesax2067 @danieldaemen
www.danieldaemen.com
safesax.nl
This vintage sax was purchased in Germany, Krefeld, a store with incredible amounts of vintage saxes (dozen of Mark VIs, or BA/SBA's etc.) : www.saxophonic.de/en/home-en/
0:00 Acquiring a Desmond type sax
0:38 Once Upon a Time in Maasbracht
1:29 The diagnosis
2:29 Possible modifications
3:15 Disassembly & Cleaning
6:27 Straightening out the body
9:50 Fitting the neck
12:03 Assembling again
14:23 Does it work?
15:04 Outro and Play Testing
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Website: sharpelevenmusic.com
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[@SharpElevenMusic]

A big thank you to Daniel Daemen, who did a stunning job of getting this old, crooked saxophone into such an elegant state again. Sorry for the noob filming, it was my first time using two new lenses, sometimes it could have been a bit less shaky or better in focus, but everything was happening in real time of course, so I really had just on shot at it. I hope this was as interesting for you to see as it was to me. The store where I got this saxophone has some of the largest collection of vintage horns, it's incredible! It has visitors from all over the world on their location in Germany: www.saxophonic.de/en/home-en/ After searching with mouthpieces etc, which you might have seen some video's on, now my setup for the Desmond sound is as good as it gets imho. I'll make soon a video with actual proper mic recordings playing myself and comparing it to my Mark VI which I have used until now for the Desmond Legacy band. Most things were not planned, which you can clearly see in the last part where Daniel play tests the sax on "All Of Me", I just couldn't think of a good position for the camera's, that's why 1 camera has Daniel in the dark and the other one I was using manually has him slightly out of focus (but the saxes hanging in backgoround in focus instead...). But still glad I was able to capture that, even with just the camera audio. Daniel sounds amazing, don't you think? If you live in the area of Daniel, who has his sax shop in The Netherlands right at the border with Belgium and not to far from West-Germany.

[@Thomas-gg3yy]

That’s someone who really cares about the instrument! You can see his commitment to detail and perfection. How lucky you all are to have a repairman like him 👏

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Yeah exactly! And I would drive hours to get my sax to Daniel. In fact, I did for many years when he had his sax shop at 1,5 driving.

[@kalebskaggs8784]

As someone who is learning to be a repair tech, it was awesome to see how someone else approaches an overhaul. This video is amazing and I love everything you do!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Thanks! Just needed to share my fantastic repairman with you all, glad you dig it and good luck on your journey to a repair tech!

[@williammorson1535]

Only those who play saxophones can really appreciate the amazing and intricate work that you do. I remove my hat to you. Awesome. Live long and prosper in your endeavours.

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Thanks William!

[@patrickmarino8601]

Very professional work. About the best i've ever seen if not the best. Great work!

[@DavidDemuynck]

Cool to see Daniel in his role as sax repair guy, truly amazing craftsmanship!

[@rayrayray4116]

Love this. Great background music. Love how the video was put together . All 100% A true craftsman Top work from all!!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Thanks man!

[@justinjohansen5992]

The overhaul video was interesting, but the discovery of Daniel’s music will live on forever. Thanks for sharing, Jorre!

[@mariannevangemert1845]

He's a true gem!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Great to hear Justin! His playing been such an influence on me, perhaps even more than all the legends I've transcribed on here. If he had a bit of a promotor and wasn't that humble, he certainly should have gotten more attention in saxophone/jazz world imho.

[@davidyeates8894]

Daniel is a real craftsman. I’m really happy with the job he did on my Mark VI

[@onl4180]

A very interesting and good video seeing repair an alto. He sat next to me in the band he played in some time. The best teacher ever.

[@fg87fgd]

The coolest part is that out there there is a master like Daniel, and he is just a good 90 minutes drive away.

[@SharpElevenMusic]

He used to have his sax repairshop in 'S Hertogenbosch and for years that was the amount of driving I did to get him do all my repair stuff. Now he is in Maasbracht it's only a fair 40min for me.

[@MathieuPilote]

This is a terrific video. It's the best showcase, on KZbin and maybe the whole web, of what a saxophone overhaul/mechanical restauration should be. Everything is well explained, presented in a digestible way and the many, many steps are super well illustrated. In my opinion as a fellow repair technician, Daniel is obviously a master. Coupled with his great playing, this makes him a true expert. Great job to the both of you!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Thanks a lot Matthieu, really appreciated. Daniel is a fellow Belgian, a true sax hero and we've played together in sections or subbed for each other on gigs. I've always trusted him with my saxophones and he has such a in depth philosophy on saxophone repair, it's been a joy to see. This SBA needing an big overhaul was the perfect time to capture it in a full story. This was for both of us a passion project which took tons of hours for both of us, but so happy with the result. Just to contextualize: your beautiful comment means a lot, thank you again Mathieu!

[@stevekeller4814]

What a great horn. I’ve had a slightly earlier one for over 50 years (44K). These are, IMO, the best altos that Selmer ever made. You are so lucky to have this horn, and to have access to a great technician. Just beautiful!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Ah great, so you know exactly the feeling of playing it. It feels sooo light and smooth. Incredible. Although that is not in this video, Daniel is also delighted with SBA's in general from a technical stanpoint. But of course, he has a twin brother himself :)

[@francois9144]

Very nice video and what a great job on this beautiful piece of sax history. 👍 Daniel seems to love saxophones as if they were living persons. Thanks for this video 🙏

[@francois9144]

Do you have pictures if the final result ?

[@francois9144]

And last question, how much do such an overhaul cost ? Thanks

[@sgsax]

Outstanding technician and musician, great combination. Always fun to see skilled people at work. And that's a gorgeous sounding horn. Thanks for sharing!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Thanks! And indeed, it is just fun to watch him do all that, that's why I really wanted to make this video with him now my newly acquired sax needed this type of repair. Not all heroes wear capes

[@mikemaas5399]

There's. movie out there somewhere that shows the dedicated repair crew in the Los Angeles school district facility whose job it is to repair and restore the inventory that is constantly being tested by students in the district from elementary to high school level. I think it was on PBS.

[@cyschmidtslc]

Wowza, Daniel! ❤️🎷Jorre has been bragging you up for years to me and now I see why from your repair caring and technique plus your intricate musicianship. And cute Family 😊 Thanks to both of you for sharing this. Love and much respect. Cy in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. 🇺🇸🇧🇪

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Haha, thanks Cy! Finally you could see better what I meant all that time :)

[@cyschmidtslc]

For sure Jorre. You nailed it!!! And All of Me!!! ❤️😎🎷

[@alexeyalizo]

What a beautiful job, a true artist!

[@JorisPosthumus]

Best repair man in the Netherlands, imo

[@SharpElevenMusic]

And Belgium as well if you'd ask me. Tried a couple of others before Daniel and they weren't half as dedicated and precise

[@rikvandermade]

Agreed!

[@mpcguy]

Sounds fabulous! I can hardly wait to hear you play it jorre! 😊

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Oh I have been playing only on the SBA since it got back from Daniel's. It's a pure joy playing the Desmond stuff. I'll soon record something for sure

[@meesfase9452]

I will remember the repairman for my saxophone, it turns out it is close to me!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Great! Where do you live? Even just go for a coffee, he has such a beautiful workshop as well

[@meesfase9452]

@@SharpElevenMusic i live about 30 minutes away from the workshop

[@SharpElevenMusic]

By the way, the first tune you hear underneath the repairing part played by Daniel and Lucas Leidinger (piano) is from his upcoming album, and you can watch that recorded live performance here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3SZpp2VfZeNnMksi=u4I7S3MmbkWGR91n

[@mhaas17]

Brilliant, what a magic!

[@doctorpatient519]

amazing craftsmanship, attention to detail and obvious love of his work ... extra style points for flashing that image of Bird in there at 12:39 -- for inspiration, maybe? thnx for sharing this well-done video

[@colindowell6427]

Amazing restoration.

[@jimmyjazz78]

Dang man I have that Desmond album on vinyl. I have actually never heard it so clean, I actually transferred it to MiniDisc and listened to that for years with the crackle but without wearing it out. Had to stop the video and comment on the great soundtrack choice. On with the video now, lol.

[@jimmyjazz78]

Loved everything about this video. I'm a sucker for watching a true craftsman work, but also loved Daniel's music and your storytelling. Enjoy the horn!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Thanks! By the way, that music underneath the beginning from Desmond (Mrs. Robinson) is not the original recording but my Desmond tribute band named The Desmond Legacy. That is why it's so clean :)

[@jimmyjazz78]

@@SharpElevenMusic oh wow, you fooled me! It has been so long since I listened to it. Sounds great!

[@EricTorreborre]

Superb video and background music ❤

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Daniel has such a velvety great sound, hasn't he? Loved when we played together in a big band back in the day, sooo nice to blend yoru sound with. Inviting and warm

[@EricTorreborre]

@@SharpElevenMusic I agree, I was trying to transcribe him earlier today 😊

[@bobpremecz5429]

Thanks for sharing a different aspect of saxophone life from Daniel Daemen, a truly talented craftsman. Can't wait for you to feature it in upcoming videos! Was he using a Selmer Soloist mouthpiece?

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Hi Bob, yes exactly, Daniel plays a Selmer Soloist

[@bjames1137]

Een echte baasje

[@avonriver2891]

You're having so much fun doing hard work, it's beautiful to see. I also have SBA #45xxx, born in 1951. How much will it cost to completely repair it?

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Hi there, just double checked with Daniel about it. It's 1700€, which comes down to 1843,64$ at the moment. You can contact Daniel straight about at this emailadress: [e-mail]

[@SaxPracticemanJazz]

素晴らしい仕事👍

[@normalizedaudio2481]

My Mark VI was curved. Never really recovered from that.

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Ow, that's a pity. Did you get a repairman to straighten it out properly? I assume from the context you did but it did't get properly in place, is that right?

[@ninjalightning2631]

Very very interesting video can you please tell me if this guy will except international repair work My Mark6 alto is really needs a professional touch

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Best to send him directly at [e-mail] about that