I played a lot of alto 25-30 years ago, but somehow evolved into more of a tenor and bari player. I joined a new big band a couple months ago playing the 3rd alto chair - it seemed like a good opportunity to work on my chops and focus on blending and playing with good intonation.
Things are going well except for one little problem. Every time I go to play a G#1 at anything louder than mf, it wants to squawk, and / or jump the octave.
Some info:
Horn is a '72 Mark VI - in good shape and recently adjusted by Paul Maslin. I stuck a leak light in there, and didn't find anything.
I'm using a Meyer HR 7 small chamber with Fibracell 2.5.
The horn does have a tendency to blow flat on that note, so I am probably compensating a little with my air velocity, but I have been careful not to tighten up my embouchure.
I'm thinking one of several things are happening here.
1. Leak, mal-adjustment, or weak spring in the octave mechanism.
2. Partial blockage of the lower octave pip. I haven't messed with this because I'm not sure I want to muck up the adjustment.
3. G# key is not opening far enough. Again, a touchy adjustment I don't feel qualified to do.
4. SUAP!
Any thoughts?
Things are going well except for one little problem. Every time I go to play a G#1 at anything louder than mf, it wants to squawk, and / or jump the octave.
Some info:
Horn is a '72 Mark VI - in good shape and recently adjusted by Paul Maslin. I stuck a leak light in there, and didn't find anything.
I'm using a Meyer HR 7 small chamber with Fibracell 2.5.
The horn does have a tendency to blow flat on that note, so I am probably compensating a little with my air velocity, but I have been careful not to tighten up my embouchure.
I'm thinking one of several things are happening here.
1. Leak, mal-adjustment, or weak spring in the octave mechanism.
2. Partial blockage of the lower octave pip. I haven't messed with this because I'm not sure I want to muck up the adjustment.
3. G# key is not opening far enough. Again, a touchy adjustment I don't feel qualified to do.
4. SUAP!
Any thoughts?