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Some might disagree that spending so much on a ligature is necessary to produce a good sound on the horn. Have a look at this interesting video.

It's not a ligature on the Courtney Pine photo. He's playing an EWI (e-wee). The mouthpiece (or "bite piece" - the teeth usually hold both sides of the piece) is slotted into the front of the EWI. It's a hair band, normally used to tie up the dread locks, just there for safe keeping and "show".

That's some apprenticeship. :) I've always said that it's the quality of your experience (and not the length of it) that produces the skill. I would also welcome a "before" shot if you have one.

I've just discovered this thread, so apologies for the tardy post. But the above quote fits closely my own forthcoming situation. I am expecting a UK teacher's pension in precisely 11 months and 2 weeks time (we are able to retire at 60 currently on full pension). I actually gave the...

**Strangely enough I have had 2 experienced sax players/teachers working with me for a year and try as I might (at least 2 hours practice a day, every day) I'm still not able to get a consistent sound. :( Maybe I should put an EWI on my Christmas wish list. Here's a shot I took of Courtney...

Thanks for the cheat tips - I have ordered the book. Much appreciated :)

Thanks to Kymarto and John for both a theoretical and a practical approach to this issue. I'll work on it! :)

No, I'll look it up. Thanks for the top tip on top tones. :)

I've been practicing overtones on the alto sax today. For some fundamentals, I find it easier to get the 2nd harmonic (the 5th above the octave) rather than the octave note (1st harmonic). For example, when I play Bb as the fundametal, I get a 2nd octave F (5th line) and can;t get the first...

Great idea - I've applied (with my full name). :)

Thanks again. I'm fairly sure that was the screw I adjusted, it's on the LH side of a short horizontal post that goes down when the RH keys are depressed. What looks like black rubber is protruding from it, and that is what pushes the G# key down. I tried them all again and they play clearly...

I have stumbled across "Songmaven", and it looks like it could be a very useful resource for those who don't know of it already. This is a link to the home page. Among the tools are a downloadable set of MP3 blues backing tracks (which are also directly playing via an audio widget on the...

In another post, I mentioned that I had mistakenly adjusted the screw on a post directly above the G# key. This, in turn, made the bell notes difficult to play (the low B and Bb became muffled squeaks and the low C and C# were very "choked". I put the screw back to where it was originally and...

I was hoping to hear from you John - thanks for the input. I doubt I'd feel confident to remove the key, without a "walk-through" on video, made really slow and simple! It would make it easier to check the tone hole though, as you mentioned. As for the spring, I wouldn't know where to start...

That's interesting, in a lexicographic kind of way. Was that another make of reed or did Vandoren change the spelling of their name?

Following on from a post in another thread... I have a sticky G# key on a Bauhaus Walstein alto sax, (Phosphor bronze with improved action). the sax is only 1 year old and the pad looks clean and intact. It's started sticking recently and is getting progressively worse. I cleaned the pad, on...

I have Naptha, in my "saxophone tool kit" (mostly "cleaning kit") and I have cleaned the key a few times. I used it again today and it's playing quite well now. How long it was stay that way is anybody;s guess, but it does seem to be sticking quite regularly lately. Is that the same pad as...

Bummer, I was so sure my light-bulb moment would increase my "thanks" quota by 100%. I should really learn to read all the way down a post! :)

Definitely G (3rd line), first 3 fingers of left hand, down. (Sounding more like "Blackhawk Down") when I blow it sometimes. But nice and smooth today, just the slow G#.

RED-FACED CONFESSION TIME: I noticed a small piece of tissue under the octave key pad yesterday, after I had washed out the crook and dried it with tissue. Once removed it played a lot better, but not perfectly. This morning, with a new Vandoren (red) 2 reed on, I haven't heard it motor-boating...