C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Repairs and Refurbishing / Emergency repair kit

Back 20 Messages

Mal-2k8
User ID: 9335603 Mar 9th 5:26 AM
I should have thought of this sooner, I would have had a lot less trouble tonight...

Assuming a box of convenient size -- say an Altoids tin -- what would you stock in an emergency sax repair kit? Here are the items I've thought of:

* Appropriately sized screwdrivers
* A small, cheap folding pocketknife
* Hair rubber bands (the kind with cloth over the rubber)
* Cigarette papers
* A small piece of sandpaper
* Toothpicks (for lost point screws)
* A couple inches of shrink tubing
* Self-sticking felt circles
* Clear mouthpiece pads -- these can be cut into strips and used in place of missing silencing corks in a pinch
* A lighter
* A stick of hot glue
* Plastic wrap -- a pad that is cut can be removed, wrapped in plastic, and re-seated, and this usually survives the night
* A keychain flashlight
* A 1" key ring
* Paper clips!

And stuck to the outside of the tin, pieces of electrical tape and gaffer tape.

If I'd thought to pack one of these, I would never have had to improvise this:

I had a spring on the new soprano go completely AWOL tonight. I don't know where it went, it just disappeared. I asked the people on either side of me if they had a rubber band, and they did not... well the trumpet player had two hair bands but they're attached to his horn, since he uses them to pull the first and third valve slides back in automatically.

I switched back to alto until I had a long enough rest to dig through my supplies, and I found a piece of electrical tape about 10 cm long stuck to my case. I cut it in half lengthwise, then folded it so it stuck to itself, giving me a moderately stretchy ribbon about 4 mm wide. I used this the same way I would have used a rubber band to spring the key for the rest of the night.

If I had made the emergency repair kit, I would have figured out much sooner that the spring was not just unhooked but GONE... because I would have had some light. Also I would have had hair bands and the temporary fix would have been done in seconds.

Why paper clips? Lots of reasons! They can be used to mark the next tune in the book if you don't have a scrap paper lying around (or it's already been turned into a set list), they can keep the pages from flying in the wind, and if bent appropriately they make good spring hooks -- or even temporary springs, if there is time to dismantle the instrument.

Is there anything I've forgotten?

Captain Beeflat 2008
User ID: 1738604 Mar 11th 5:32 AM
I have adjusted the length of the carrying strap for my tenor shaped case to be exactly the length for an "over one shoulder" neck strap.
I have used this type of strap ever since the more usual "around the neck" item was cutting off my blood supply & I developed pins and needles in my hands.
A secondary advantage of my current method means that if I have forgotten to take my neck strap then I have also forgotten to take my saxophone!

jazzbug1 2008
User ID: 0735934 Mar 11th 7:04 AM
I usually work with my own group, solo with accompaniment. my standard set up is: baritone, tenor, alto, soprano, and clarinet. About forty years ago I picked up a Selmer case made in the 1930s. It holds alto, soprano, and clarinet. Very handy, as I only carry three cases. Now the bass sax: that's an extra trip. I admire you players who can handle the flute well. I never had a need for one, but have tried it and failed miserably.

Captain Beeflat 2008
User ID: 1738604 Mar 11th 7:31 AM
Having a vehicle capable of holding all those horns must be a handicap....with a two seater, a tenor and sop is that all I can carry...I am delighted to say!
I could probably manage, at a pinch, to carry a repair kit...a rubber band...if I left my wife at home.

jazzbug1 2008
User ID: 0735934 Mar 12th 6:52 AM
The Studebaker has lots of room, The Honda Civic is ample, although the bass sax rides as a passenger in the front, and even on my old Matchless single, I could nervously strap on a horn. I even rode a bicycle with a tenor strapped on the back a few years ago. Hey-- we have a topic idea.

Captain Beeflat 2008
User ID: 1738604 Mar 12th 8:43 AM
I notice that you have posted this topic on SOTW.
Most of the respondents agree with us...viz.
Either use a reliable horn or carry a spare.

Captain Beeflat 2008
User ID: 1738604 Mar 12th 8:44 AM
I should have mentioned that my last post was addressed to Mal.

Back 20 Messages

Mal-2k8 User ID: 9335603	Mar 9th 5:26 AM I should have thought of this sooner, I would have had a lot less trouble tonight... Assuming a box of convenient size -- say an Altoids tin -- what would you stock in an emergency sax repair kit? Here are the items I've thought of: * Appropriately sized screwdrivers * A small, cheap folding pocketknife * Hair rubber bands (the kind with cloth over the rubber) * Cigarette papers * A small piece of sandpaper * Toothpicks (for lost point screws) * A couple inches of shrink tubing * Self-sticking felt circles * Clear mouthpiece pads -- these can be cut into strips and used in place of missing silencing corks in a pinch * A lighter * A stick of hot glue * Plastic wrap -- a pad that is cut can be removed, wrapped in plastic, and re-seated, and this usually survives the night * A keychain flashlight * A 1" key ring * Paper clips! And stuck to the outside of the tin, pieces of electrical tape and gaffer tape. If I'd thought to pack one of these, I would never have had to improvise this: I had a spring on the new soprano go completely AWOL tonight. I don't know where it went, it just disappeared. I asked the people on either side of me if they had a rubber band, and they did not... well the trumpet player had two hair bands but they're attached to his horn, since he uses them to pull the first and third valve slides back in automatically. I switched back to alto until I had a long enough rest to dig through my supplies, and I found a piece of electrical tape about 10 cm long stuck to my case. I cut it in half lengthwise, then folded it so it stuck to itself, giving me a moderately stretchy ribbon about 4 mm wide. I used this the same way I would have used a rubber band to spring the key for the rest of the night. If I had made the emergency repair kit, I would have figured out much sooner that the spring was not just unhooked but GONE... because I would have had some light. Also I would have had hair bands and the temporary fix would have been done in seconds. Why paper clips? Lots of reasons! They can be used to mark the next tune in the book if you don't have a scrap paper lying around (or it's already been turned into a set list), they can keep the pages from flying in the wind, and if bent appropriately they make good spring hooks -- or even temporary springs, if there is time to dismantle the instrument. Is there anything I've forgotten?
Captain Beeflat 2008 User ID: 1738604	Mar 11th 5:32 AM I have adjusted the length of the carrying strap for my tenor shaped case to be exactly the length for an "over one shoulder" neck strap. I have used this type of strap ever since the more usual "around the neck" item was cutting off my blood supply & I developed pins and needles in my hands. A secondary advantage of my current method means that if I have forgotten to take my neck strap then I have also forgotten to take my saxophone!
jazzbug1 2008 User ID: 0735934	Mar 11th 7:04 AM I usually work with my own group, solo with accompaniment. my standard set up is: baritone, tenor, alto, soprano, and clarinet. About forty years ago I picked up a Selmer case made in the 1930s. It holds alto, soprano, and clarinet. Very handy, as I only carry three cases. Now the bass sax: that's an extra trip. I admire you players who can handle the flute well. I never had a need for one, but have tried it and failed miserably.
Captain Beeflat 2008 User ID: 1738604	Mar 11th 7:31 AM Having a vehicle capable of holding all those horns must be a handicap....with a two seater, a tenor and sop is that all I can carry...I am delighted to say! I could probably manage, at a pinch, to carry a repair kit...a rubber band...if I left my wife at home.
jazzbug1 2008 User ID: 0735934	Mar 12th 6:52 AM The Studebaker has lots of room, The Honda Civic is ample, although the bass sax rides as a passenger in the front, and even on my old Matchless single, I could nervously strap on a horn. I even rode a bicycle with a tenor strapped on the back a few years ago. Hey-- we have a topic idea.
Captain Beeflat 2008 User ID: 1738604	Mar 12th 8:43 AM I notice that you have posted this topic on SOTW. Most of the respondents agree with us...viz. Either use a reliable horn or carry a spare.
Captain Beeflat 2008 User ID: 1738604	Mar 12th 8:44 AM I should have mentioned that my last post was addressed to Mal.