Sticky Keys: Saxophone Instrument Repair

[@rolling-roadkill]

You, sir, are a hero. I recently dug out my old alto sax that has been stored away for 30 years and it felt completely unplayable. After watching your videos it is once again in working order. Thank you so very much.

[@jeanhodgson8623]

This is a good video. The sticking G# pad can be real pain, because it can hit you without warning. Being closed when the G# key is not pressed, including all the time when the horn is not in use, it can almost glue itself shut. The video advice is right. Also, a new pad is a good idea. I had a saxophone on loan that did that all the time and I wasn't able to fix the problem because I was traveling. An emergency fix is to carry some baby powder and Q-tips in the case. Each time, before playing the horn, I used a Q-tip to put some powder on the pad. That worked until the next time the horn was used. It is nice to have an articulated G#, because it makes trills easy, and the right hand keys close the G# pad. The standard clarinet does not have an articulated G# (C# in the lower register). This avoids the sticking pad problem. When you press the G# key, the pad is forced open. But, an F#/G# trill is awkward. The "full Boehm" clarinet (not common) has an articulated G#, and would then have the same problem as on saxophones. I prefer not to have articulation. I once saw a picture of Jackie McLean, and he had a rubber band on the G# pad, going around the bell, to make sure that the G# pad opened.

[@eanditeam]

Thank You so very much! I have spent almost 100 euro (servicemember in Europe) having technicians look at my brand new sax and buying repair books. The last minute and a half of of your video and 1/4 turn on that screw fixed the issue that had been annoying me for months. Sincerely, thank you.

[@root4343]

Thanks alot! I have always had a hard time with the low tones, and I had exatly the problem with screw, and a small leak. Now it is much easier.

[@paf7008]

Me (and my saxophone) thank you. I was about to throw something but crisis averted thanks to you!

[@michaelhorton1350]

It's true that the g# key sticks. Sandpaper is interesting, but I learned to use cut strips of coffee filter paper put between pad & body, especially when session over and pad is wet. The technique is to put paper in and put some medium pressures on the pad with thumb and usually that gets the wet goo out of the seating area. Once that channel in the pad is cleaned and dried the horn can be put away. Trouble with sticking on other pads does respond to same treatment. Do it and pads won't stick. Ever.

[@barendscholtus1786]

Wow I just did my first sax repair!! G# was sticky and was wiggling when I used low C#, B, Bb ;) I'm gonna be the hero of low Bb again, thanks Major Sergeant Baron!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Glad it helped!

[@charzink865]

I used the q tip method and it worked like a charm thank you

[@philliphill3390]

I spent $125 for low key pad adjustment (and also replace a couple pads), but now I know how to adjust those lower notes. Thanks for the tip.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

You are very welcome.

[@BeautyNinja12]

One thing I find helpful for preventing sticky keys is getting key paper and cleaning the keys that are sticky or start to get sticky everytime you're done playing. You can find key cleaning paper that soaks up the spit under the key pad wherever you get you're reeds, or online

[@barendscholtus1786]

Or put some old reeds under G#, D#, C# so they can dry out like the other pads.

[@dariusjames7858]

all these years I never knew that.. Thanks MSgt!!!

[@000lympia7]

This series is such a great resource.

[@bluscorpion]

Wow! I think you helped me figure out the problem to playing low notes! B and B flat.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

If you must remove the lacquer, it's recommended that you see a qualified repair person. Products used to remove lacquer can damage your instrument if not done correctly.

[@Akiss]

Cleaning the pads with hand sanitizer is a good tip. That said I wouldn't ever use 600 grit sandpaper especially on a pricey vintage saxophone. For example, my horn is from 1949--if people kept sanding down the tone hole for 60 years, it will change the tonehole height. The pad is a wear item and can be replaced. Once you sand off metal--however minute--that metal can never be added back again. Maybe 1000-1500 grit, but 600 is too coarse I think.

[@JakeWerkmeister]

Fantastic information in regards to that G# adjustment screw. I know a lot of guys like using thread-lock on these, if they're loose. I've found that clear coat nail polish works just as well, and is easier to remove. I'll have to try that synthetic leather sheeting for sticky pads. Thank you so much for your service and information Sir.

[@carlwilson4375]

Key Leaves is the Answer. Use Key Leaves Pad Saver. I use Key Leaves for all of my saxophones. It keeps the G# pad and other pads open so they dry out. No sticking.

[@bennetts5331]

Looks like a Selmer Mark VI circa 1971.. like mine :-) Thanks so much for these great videos.

[@dabrickmakers]

hey man thank you so much at school my teacher won`t be back for a bit to ask her about it but i saw this and helped me alot so thank you

[@winapps]

Absolutely amazing. A problem I've had for ages with my sax that can be fixed with the turn of a screw. Thank you!

[@renzosax]

I love this man

[@PonchMuniz]

Thanks for your service and tips!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Our pleasure!

[@TheMichguff]

I've found that using a leak light while adjusting the G sharp screw gives me the best results.

[@danieljugo9086]

i like this. It is very educative. Keep on the good job.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

+Daniel Jugo Thanks for checking it out!

[@yoel026]

God bless America !! you save me .thanks :)

[@hansmathiasthjomoe4817]

Great and very useful comments. Excellent presented.

[@edepillim]

Informative, especially about the bell keys. Years ago l was playing a solo at the schools Christmas concert and the g# stuck and it sounded dreadful..... that was over 50 years ago.

[@CaptainKarma1972]

This is great ! Many thanks !

[@willgalison]

Thanks! Just what I needed to know!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Glad to hear it!

[@luisvazquez3192]

Great vídeo thanks your videos are very helpful

[@tomsax1]

Hi - great clip which shows real problems and their solutions. How do you manage to find the right korkthickness of the d,e,f to f# connection bar (behind the shield opposite to d,e,f) in correlation to the f# pad tightness? Thanks for an answer...

[@justinblee]

Great instructional design - on all of your videos. A+ Thank you!!!

[@localmanmark1]

Great tips. Thank you

[@iamoroso3144]

Thanks helped me unstick my bis key

[@BlasJohnny]

Great job

[@JiveDadson]

The G# is prone to stick because the springs are often too lax. The spring that raises the cover must be strong enough to open it positively, and the spring that closes it must be strong enough to overcome the other.

[@spiketaterman5181]

got mine back from the tech, some new pads, etc---entire horn dismantled and now a few weird issues. He is gracious enough to allow me to come back for "tweaks" after a month or two of playing, so maybe be can look at this key? I wonder if I should try myself. But I own a vintage Mark VI...are their consequences to tightening too much, say past the point where the key stays properly closed?

[@Lanzetti]

That was really useful! Thank you very much!

[@zachlacanlale]

thank you so much!

[@tjokomeebelove7748]

i like these and i learning to repair my own saxophone

[@altologist]

yep. back in the eighties i wasted alot of money sending my sax in for G# service. thanks for sharing

[@reesebiswas2097]

Have you tried using Key Leaves to stop sticky key pads? I saw someone mention it down in the comments and I also think that these things are great. If you use key leaves, I don't think you will ever have sticky pad problems!

[@emperorofgaming8146]

Yo! 2 questions: 1. Does Dale play sax? 2. What is a cheap alto that I could get?

[@misslisette2u]

EmperorOfGaming I have a answer to 2. Don't get a sax that is cheap. I know that maybe you might not have the money or it's too expensive what ever the case is but you have to make sure it's good quality Some good brands are Yamaha, selmer, and jupiter are the ones most people recommend. There are others. I recommend doing some research first and make sure you know your gonna play it.

[@xcal123]

EmperorOfGaming dude. Just hunt and buy the cheapest you find. Like dirt cheap and disposable. Play it till you're sure that you want to invest more time and money. Then ask this question again. If you have a bit more $$$ then hire a sax for a minimum of 3 months

[@wesleylewis8237]

Hey man do you have a video regarding advice on bent posts that have dented the actual body of the sax. Whether or not to try bend them back etc. ? Thanks your videos are really good and helpful.

[@mikeslay3294]

That requires a repair tech. Most are soldered on and require a dent rod and a ball that’s slotted to get around the octave tube. You will most likely need to adjust the related keys after dent removal. That’s a very generalized answer as every situation is different.

[@wesleylewis8237]

@@mikeslay3294 Thanks! Yes over the last few years I've learnt to pull or push until its more or less in place and if the solder joint breaks, just solder back on. Its easier to repair the dent that way too if the joint holds. If the dent is really bad, then its better to unsolder, get the dent out and resolder.

[@niceevan9329]

I was about to throw my sax through a wall, but thankfully, this video exists

[@mikeshirk1137]

What brand of precision screwdrivers do you use?

[@nateg1866]

Do you have any videos concerning sax keys that stick up ?

[@lethe70]

Die klebenden Polster stehen meistens in Verbindung mit einer Übersäuerung des Körpers (ph-wert messen) und möglicherweise auch mit einem Candidapilz im Mund des Musikers aufgrund der Übersäuerung! Es sollte auf alle Fälle geprüft werden ob der ph-wert des Musikers 7,0 oder aber im sauren Bereich liegt!! Solange der Musiker seinen Körper übersäuert hat wird das Problem der klebenden Polster nicht behoben werden können! Josef Altsaxplayer from Austria

[@The_Yoshimon_]

Thank you, so much. Fixed the g sharp key in seconds with the q-tips. How about that

[@raefblack7906]

that articulated G# is the key, mine has no cork and is rattling. Can you show us how to or the best way to remove and put in new pads?

[@IWario1]

Post a link of the Ultrasuede plezz

[@ZoomKnight]

THANK YOU

[@miquelcanalgarceran9395]

Awesome! I bought a second hand shitty sax and that specific key was unusable. Thanks a lot!!

[@Jazzcaz15]

Wow! Thank you so much

[@milf_lover7972]

Yea my g sharp key does that. But now I think the same thing is happening to my b natural (first finger left hand) do you know any keys that may be getting stuck for that note. Because it’s happened before I just forgot which pads move when playing a B.

[@MrJico27]

I need an advice. If the D and the C don't play well, only when the octave key is activated, how can i fix that ?

[@Dracstar]

Whats the material called? Ultra sweet?

[@screlchh]

Dracstar - ultaseude

[@sandroflute]

Thanks for the cool tips but be careful, your neckstrap ring seems to be almost completely broken trough!

[@lowelowenherz5169]

I bought my sax online and the lower three keys ( right hand keys) came out stiff keys. Any recommendations besides returning to fix them?

[@johnn1052]

Thank for the vid. be lucky.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Thanks for checking us out!

[@jazzroom]

i got a high joint C pad that is totally new and sticking badly ... cleaning doesnt work as it look clean... cleaning tonewhole doesn;t help either. maybe its the waterproof coating that sticks to much .. i don;t know. what shall i try?

[@xcal123]

jazzroom I got high from a joint in my pad at the C side. It was sharp! ;)

[@NickTorrettaMusic]

I started using Key Leaves and don't need these fixes anymore. It just leaves the keys open to air dry clean and I don't get that sticky buildup growing on the pads. I highly recommend them. KeyLeaves.com

[@reesebiswas2097]

Hey that's awesome! I have been using key leaves for about a month and it completely stopped sticky pads for me! I just ordered a vent vine and am excited to try it out!

[@BrunoNeureiter]

Shill

[@mlgm85]

the dollar bill ruins the pads

[@realmpp1342]

thxxx

[@gissellewashington210]

what should I do if that key wont close naturally? When I go to a g natural it only plays g sharp?!?! Help Please!!!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

The key is staying open? Is the spring working?

[@gissellewashington210]

The United States Army Field Band the key is staying open

[@alvinchen2640]

i have the same problem

[@lucaseric]

wow!! tkxxx

[@noname24894]

Sir, any tip on removing lacquer off saxophone...thanks

[@benjaminmarks8765]

How'd it go?

[@elsilencioessalud]

Genial.

[@Isdale]

HOLY SHIT

[@sleeplessmax]

thank youuuuuuuuuu

[@EatHotLead4Ever]

I used the purrell on my mark vi, ruined it. Thanks man....

[@bluscorpion]

Purrell is not alcohol. He said alcohol.

[@composites0ul]

This dud is a mirical worker!

[@instrumentalheadquarters7062]

I use paper all the time to clean out keys.

[@xcal123]

G#, low note squeek (Eb, D, C). dude! you're like a saxophone Sangoma! you tell me my problems before me I mention them (www.gumtree.co.za/s-sangoma/v1q0p1)

[@xcal123]

Lol. 2 years later, and I came back for a refresher course

[@jaykobjaykob]

Use pad paper

[@carlosrauld]

marines break everything.... im afraid of @#$%^ my alto more .... D= fix it for me... haha

[@xxwianbu3490]

スウェッジプライヤー

[@matheusrocha8345]

Completely unrelated foreigner question: Why is the flag on his arm inverted?

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Matheus Rocha It has to do with the the stars being in the highest position of honor. When moving forward and on the right arm that would be in the front, much like the flag flies when moving into battle.

[@michaellalwani9053]

Mouthpiece screw

[@blueyedboymrdeath]

Why? Do you think it'll play better? A myth.

[@colemanadamson5943]

600 grit sandpaper is too abrasive! Never go more coarse than 1000 grit. And even then be gentle Marines can fight but they don't know everything.

[@donlessnau3983]

This would be a lot more helpful if the guy would slow down and stop fidgeting with the horn. The camera work is lousy. You can't see half of what he's talking about.

[@mohaasaid304]

the camera man vere bad and you vere kwekly

[@joeschmo1332]

Oh man, over 10 minutes to say how to stop sticky pads, he could have done that in a minute flat. I guess it beats him being ordered to clean the toilets :-)