C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Repairs and Refurbishing / Lengthening G# key?

Sam
User ID: 8506593 Oct 26th 12:21 PM
Both of my older Buescher C mels have the "button" style G# key, which, in my case, requires that I curl my little finger back -- much as a person with Dupuytren’s Contracture would do. Can anyone suggest a suitable method to extend the G# key horizontally, to allow for a more natural fingering? Thanks.
Sam

Lewis Pelham.
User ID: 9865253 Oct 26th 2:04 PM
Sam...just to shew that any design is not suitable for everyone, I find that the G# pearl on my Buescher is ideally located for my hands.........far more so than the "skidpan" plate of my Conn. If you have to curl back your little finger to reach the G# then how on earth do you manage low C#?
Should not be too difficult to fabricate a plate of silver, silver plated brass, or whatever, to suit the finish of your horns, & solder on to replace the carefully removed pearl button. Perhaps a local jeweller would do this for you if your expertise lies elsewhere.
I agree that it is vital to feel comfortable with the layout of your horn...I must carry out a similar operation on my Conn....at the moment, because of the skidpan G#, I pick up a Bb tenor for any key in A or sharper....that cannot be the way to go :-))

Lewis Pelham.
User ID: 9865253 Oct 26th 2:08 PM
Sam...just occurred to me...is it not possible to carefully bend the arm, taking the pearl further forward? Looking at mine, there seems plenty of clearance before fouling the low B key.

cmelodysax-uk
User ID: 8200143 Oct 26th 2:41 PM
Lewis - your "skidpan" plate became a nailfile on later versions of the Conn C-Mel, now we know why.

Sam - I have a couple of later Buescher C-Mels where the 'pearl' changed to a crescent shape, more in keeping with the rest of the pinkie keys. If you want a photo of the newer key, to make one, email me thro' www.cmelodysax.co.uk

Sam User ID: 8506593	Oct 26th 12:21 PM Both of my older Buescher C mels have the "button" style G# key, which, in my case, requires that I curl my little finger back -- much as a person with Dupuytren’s Contracture would do. Can anyone suggest a suitable method to extend the G# key horizontally, to allow for a more natural fingering? Thanks. Sam
Lewis Pelham. User ID: 9865253	Oct 26th 2:04 PM Sam...just to shew that any design is not suitable for everyone, I find that the G# pearl on my Buescher is ideally located for my hands.........far more so than the "skidpan" plate of my Conn. If you have to curl back your little finger to reach the G# then how on earth do you manage low C#? Should not be too difficult to fabricate a plate of silver, silver plated brass, or whatever, to suit the finish of your horns, & solder on to replace the carefully removed pearl button. Perhaps a local jeweller would do this for you if your expertise lies elsewhere. I agree that it is vital to feel comfortable with the layout of your horn...I must carry out a similar operation on my Conn....at the moment, because of the skidpan G#, I pick up a Bb tenor for any key in A or sharper....that cannot be the way to go :-))
Lewis Pelham. User ID: 9865253	Oct 26th 2:08 PM Sam...just occurred to me...is it not possible to carefully bend the arm, taking the pearl further forward? Looking at mine, there seems plenty of clearance before fouling the low B key.
cmelodysax-uk User ID: 8200143	Oct 26th 2:41 PM Lewis - your "skidpan" plate became a nailfile on later versions of the Conn C-Mel, now we know why. Sam - I have a couple of later Buescher C-Mels where the 'pearl' changed to a crescent shape, more in keeping with the rest of the pinkie keys. If you want a photo of the newer key, to make one, email me thro' www.cmelodysax.co.uk