C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Repairs and Refurbishing / Taking Apart and Putting Together

Next 20 Messages

FluteRyan
User ID: 9913923 Nov 10th 1:01 AM
Hey everybody, just got an old sax off EBay and I'm wondering if there's a website with a nice step-by-step guide to taking apart and putting together a sax (along with checking springs, rods, pads, etc..). I also have to say fantastic website, tons of info and great people!

-Ryan,
rtalley@iastate.edu

DeanoTheSaxman (UK)
User ID: 1376304 Nov 10th 4:43 AM
Hello & welcome Ryan, firstly some of the other users might know of a site, but as you can appreciate not all sax's are the same and have different key layouts, but it is a common procedure and really not that difficult. I always start at the post tops and then work logically down closer to the sax body. I've done loads of all sax's and it becomes second nature after a while. But one tip, if you can lay the keys out in a logical order of disassembly on the work surface you work on, even when polishing, put the pieces back in the same order on the table, then this will save you endless hours of heart ache when assembling the sax, because you will have a good idea where, on the sax it came from. Hope this helps, Another expert is Captainmuggles or Cmelodysax both Alan by name, what these guy's don't know, isn't worth remembering!!!!

Over to you guy's if your out there.

Good luck with the rebuild Regards Dean'o :-))

Lewis Pelham.
User ID: 9865253 Nov 10th 5:59 AM
FluteRyan.......A child of six could do it...with twenty years experience :-))

Lewis Pelham.
User ID: 9865253 Nov 10th 6:28 AM
FluteRyan....Forgot to mention that you will also need a comprehensive vocabulary of very bad language, some REALLY good small screwdrivers & a lot of patience.
Do not be frightened to try...it is all very logical, nothing really high tech; & as Dean says...be methodical. A trick that I use is to thread all the pieces onto a wire in the order of removal...you think that you will remember, but you won't.
Skill with tools & hand skills are vital...for example, a dental mechanic or a watchmaker would have these skills. If however, you are a Cost Accountant or Solicitor who cannot change a tap (faucet) washer, then take it to a "tech" (America) or "Instrument Repair Technician" (England)

Jim B
User ID: 1913054 Nov 10th 8:31 AM
At the local university library I found a repair book that has a picture of a Selmer Mk 6 in labeled parts and the article goes on to tell about each part such as the pad heights, cork heights etc.

ukebert
User ID: 1446254 Nov 10th 11:46 AM
Try http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk

It's got some basic techniques there.

cmelodysax-uk
User ID: 8200143 Nov 10th 1:34 PM
There are a few US videos around about sax overhaul. It'll probably be based on a different manufacturer, usually Selmer, and certainly not a C-Mel, but it'll give you the idea.

cmelodysax-uk
User ID: 8200143 Nov 10th 1:38 PM
Had a look at my Repair Resources page at -

http://cmelodysax.co.uk/saxophones/repair-resources.htm ?

There's even a link to a full Wind & Brass Maintenance and Repair Manual in Acrobat (.pdf) format. After downloading for the first time you should be able to save a local copy.

FluteRyan
User ID: 9913923 Nov 10th 2:54 PM
Wow you guys are great! I have to say though, what's with all the UKers? I'm not complaining, I'm just confused why there isn't the American enthusiasm for C-mels that there is in the UK? Seems there's more to be had here :) (I'll keep my eyes open for you guys BTW!)

cmelodysax-uk
User ID: 8200143 Nov 10th 4:45 PM
Today the UK, tomorrow the world....
:-))

( sorry, I was doing Tony Blair impressions.. )

Lewis Pelham.
User ID: 9865253 Nov 11th 5:28 AM
FluteRyan....There are only four or five of us in the UK; it's simply that, between us, we make a lot of noise....Oh yes, & we actually play our C Mels, not allowing them to fester under beds for forty years. Very best of luck with your rebuild....but I think it best to start with a real old banger before subjecting a potential pride & joy to the tyro screwdriver wielder. :-))

DeanoTheSaxman (UK)
User ID: 1376304 Nov 11th 6:15 AM
Nice one guy's, you do the UK proud.....

Firstly Ryan, the UK wasn't really lucky enough to get these brill sax's the first time around, because they were very much an import item in the 1920's unless you were lucky enough to get one from one of the European manufacturers. It's only recently with the likes of E-Bay that we have been able to get our hands on these sax's, granted usually in bad conditions but then that's all the fun, wait and see what your sent and if it can be repaired. I'm personally lucky enough to have managed to get my hands on around 12 of these C Mel's, since looking on E-bay, You might see the odd one on E-bay fully refurbished in the UK, that's usually me selling these sax's on in great playable condition. Good luck with your repair work, just be methodical in what you do, remember when you take the top & bottom stacks off, put the rods back in the key-work then it all stays together in sequence on your table, a lot less agro than trying to remember where it all goes, be almost schematic in what you do, this really does save a lot of agro and time, and Like Lewis rightly says, you have to have a lot of patience.... GOOD LUCK..... any probs give us all a "SHOUT" .......

ukebert
User ID: 1446254 Nov 11th 2:48 PM
How many people from the uk are there?

Me,
Alan,
Lewis,
Deano,
Guy (UK)
Guwapo,
Sir Ed,

I'm sure I've missed out someone important, who is it?

DeanoTheSaxman (UK)
User ID: 1376304 Nov 11th 3:59 PM
Cheers for the update UKEBERT, I wasn't sure myself? Now I know .......

Ken
User ID: 0171704 Nov 11th 5:53 PM
Well....not very important....there's me and my psuedonym, "Connman", but we are just a 53 year old new boy to sax playing. It has changed life for the better though. Love my '29 Beuscher C Mel.....and my Conn alto and tenors.

Lewis Pelham.
User ID: 9865253 Nov 11th 9:37 PM
Ken....Please do not yourself down. We are a all just bunch of nuts to the mainstream sax world & everyone with an interest in C Melodies, or indeed any saxophones, is more than welcome. Sometimes it takes a relative newcomer to see our ingrained idiosyncracies ( or even spelling mistakes) :-)
It is very late & I have just returned from a gig with the most selfish, conceited, inconsiderate guitarist imaginable.....on stage I could hardly hear myself or even the drummer! So Ken, as a "beginner" you probably had a better evening than mine....something to look forward to.

Lewis Pelham.
User ID: 9865253 Nov 11th 9:41 PM
I meant PUT yourself down...gosh I am tired...*&$%^( guitarists!

DeanoTheSaxman (UK)
User ID: 1265504 Nov 12th 2:52 AM
Lewis..... We all know exactly where your coming from ............

ukebert
User ID: 1446254 Nov 12th 6:23 AM
Ken, that's who it was, sorry!

Ken
User ID: 0171704 Nov 12th 8:18 AM
Thanks chaps.
Gigging tonight at a working men's club and no doubt there will be bingo! It tickles me to see how everywhere goes quiet for the 'holy' bingo. The band will have to leave the room to carry on with our jokes and banter. I'll have a Fender strat 6 string sax, harmonicas and my latest overhauled Conn 10M tenor with new Java T45 mp...a great step up from my plastic Yamaha 5c mp.

Next 20 Messages

FluteRyan User ID: 9913923	Nov 10th 1:01 AM Hey everybody, just got an old sax off EBay and I'm wondering if there's a website with a nice step-by-step guide to taking apart and putting together a sax (along with checking springs, rods, pads, etc..). I also have to say fantastic website, tons of info and great people! -Ryan, rtalley@iastate.edu
DeanoTheSaxman (UK) User ID: 1376304	Nov 10th 4:43 AM Hello & welcome Ryan, firstly some of the other users might know of a site, but as you can appreciate not all sax's are the same and have different key layouts, but it is a common procedure and really not that difficult. I always start at the post tops and then work logically down closer to the sax body. I've done loads of all sax's and it becomes second nature after a while. But one tip, if you can lay the keys out in a logical order of disassembly on the work surface you work on, even when polishing, put the pieces back in the same order on the table, then this will save you endless hours of heart ache when assembling the sax, because you will have a good idea where, on the sax it came from. Hope this helps, Another expert is Captainmuggles or Cmelodysax both Alan by name, what these guy's don't know, isn't worth remembering!!!! Over to you guy's if your out there. Good luck with the rebuild Regards Dean'o :-))
Lewis Pelham. User ID: 9865253	Nov 10th 5:59 AM FluteRyan.......A child of six could do it...with twenty years experience :-))
Lewis Pelham. User ID: 9865253	Nov 10th 6:28 AM FluteRyan....Forgot to mention that you will also need a comprehensive vocabulary of very bad language, some REALLY good small screwdrivers & a lot of patience. Do not be frightened to try...it is all very logical, nothing really high tech; & as Dean says...be methodical. A trick that I use is to thread all the pieces onto a wire in the order of removal...you think that you will remember, but you won't. Skill with tools & hand skills are vital...for example, a dental mechanic or a watchmaker would have these skills. If however, you are a Cost Accountant or Solicitor who cannot change a tap (faucet) washer, then take it to a "tech" (America) or "Instrument Repair Technician" (England)
Jim B User ID: 1913054	Nov 10th 8:31 AM At the local university library I found a repair book that has a picture of a Selmer Mk 6 in labeled parts and the article goes on to tell about each part such as the pad heights, cork heights etc.
ukebert User ID: 1446254	Nov 10th 11:46 AM Try http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk It's got some basic techniques there.
cmelodysax-uk User ID: 8200143	Nov 10th 1:34 PM There are a few US videos around about sax overhaul. It'll probably be based on a different manufacturer, usually Selmer, and certainly not a C-Mel, but it'll give you the idea.
cmelodysax-uk User ID: 8200143	Nov 10th 1:38 PM Had a look at my Repair Resources page at - http://cmelodysax.co.uk/saxophones/repair-resources.htm ? There's even a link to a full Wind & Brass Maintenance and Repair Manual in Acrobat (.pdf) format. After downloading for the first time you should be able to save a local copy.
FluteRyan User ID: 9913923	Nov 10th 2:54 PM Wow you guys are great! I have to say though, what's with all the UKers? I'm not complaining, I'm just confused why there isn't the American enthusiasm for C-mels that there is in the UK? Seems there's more to be had here :) (I'll keep my eyes open for you guys BTW!)
cmelodysax-uk User ID: 8200143	Nov 10th 4:45 PM Today the UK, tomorrow the world.... :-)) ( sorry, I was doing Tony Blair impressions.. )
Lewis Pelham. User ID: 9865253	Nov 11th 5:28 AM FluteRyan....There are only four or five of us in the UK; it's simply that, between us, we make a lot of noise....Oh yes, & we actually play our C Mels, not allowing them to fester under beds for forty years. Very best of luck with your rebuild....but I think it best to start with a real old banger before subjecting a potential pride & joy to the tyro screwdriver wielder. :-))
DeanoTheSaxman (UK) User ID: 1376304	Nov 11th 6:15 AM Nice one guy's, you do the UK proud..... Firstly Ryan, the UK wasn't really lucky enough to get these brill sax's the first time around, because they were very much an import item in the 1920's unless you were lucky enough to get one from one of the European manufacturers. It's only recently with the likes of E-Bay that we have been able to get our hands on these sax's, granted usually in bad conditions but then that's all the fun, wait and see what your sent and if it can be repaired. I'm personally lucky enough to have managed to get my hands on around 12 of these C Mel's, since looking on E-bay, You might see the odd one on E-bay fully refurbished in the UK, that's usually me selling these sax's on in great playable condition. Good luck with your repair work, just be methodical in what you do, remember when you take the top & bottom stacks off, put the rods back in the key-work then it all stays together in sequence on your table, a lot less agro than trying to remember where it all goes, be almost schematic in what you do, this really does save a lot of agro and time, and Like Lewis rightly says, you have to have a lot of patience.... GOOD LUCK..... any probs give us all a "SHOUT" .......
ukebert User ID: 1446254	Nov 11th 2:48 PM How many people from the uk are there? Me, Alan, Lewis, Deano, Guy (UK) Guwapo, Sir Ed, I'm sure I've missed out someone important, who is it?
DeanoTheSaxman (UK) User ID: 1376304	Nov 11th 3:59 PM Cheers for the update UKEBERT, I wasn't sure myself? Now I know .......
Ken User ID: 0171704	Nov 11th 5:53 PM Well....not very important....there's me and my psuedonym, "Connman", but we are just a 53 year old new boy to sax playing. It has changed life for the better though. Love my '29 Beuscher C Mel.....and my Conn alto and tenors.
Lewis Pelham. User ID: 9865253	Nov 11th 9:37 PM Ken....Please do not yourself down. We are a all just bunch of nuts to the mainstream sax world & everyone with an interest in C Melodies, or indeed any saxophones, is more than welcome. Sometimes it takes a relative newcomer to see our ingrained idiosyncracies ( or even spelling mistakes) :-) It is very late & I have just returned from a gig with the most selfish, conceited, inconsiderate guitarist imaginable.....on stage I could hardly hear myself or even the drummer! So Ken, as a "beginner" you probably had a better evening than mine....something to look forward to.
Lewis Pelham. User ID: 9865253	Nov 11th 9:41 PM *I meant PUT yourself down...gosh I am tired...&$%^( guitarists!**
DeanoTheSaxman (UK) User ID: 1265504	Nov 12th 2:52 AM Lewis..... We all know exactly where your coming from ............
ukebert User ID: 1446254	Nov 12th 6:23 AM Ken, that's who it was, sorry!
Ken User ID: 0171704	Nov 12th 8:18 AM Thanks chaps. Gigging tonight at a working men's club and no doubt there will be bingo! It tickles me to see how everywhere goes quiet for the 'holy' bingo. The band will have to leave the room to carry on with our jokes and banter. I'll have a Fender strat 6 string sax, harmonicas and my latest overhauled Conn 10M tenor with new Java T45 mp...a great step up from my plastic Yamaha 5c mp.