Saliva Flow Through a Holton

[jazzbug1]

It has been pointed out to me by a saliva/metallurgist that the saliva flow and retention in older horns is different from newer horns. This is because the saliva in the general human population has changed over the last 80 years. The differences are caused by changes in our diet, such as more junk food today and various antibodies no longer present in our saliva such as the Spanish Flu of 1917-18, polio, and consumption. Newer horns, especially the Asian designs, have a small pump with a lifetime battery-driven evaporation chamber down deep in the horn in an invisible nook. This eliminates the flow of saliva. However, in "pre-pump" horns, There exists that beautiful gurgling quality we all seek, but only find in the vintage horns, because much of the original players' saliva is still present with its "vintage chemistry" intact, causing the atomic structure of the brass to become salivised.
:D :D :D

[Dr G]

This is one of the successes of modern efforts to replicate vintage characteristics - witness the gurgling Ref 54 altos!

[richardseaman]

Unless you are actually spitting into your sax there is no saliva present in the horn. The moisture found in the instrument is condensation. If you play outdoors in a very low humidity, high temperature setting like we have here in Arizona you can play for hours and the inside of your instrument will remain dry. Last week I played for a graduation ceremony outdoors and aftr playing for an hour the inside of my clarinet was as dry as a bone.

[jazzbug1]

Richard-- That is because your horns are all post-vintage and have the pumps.

[soybean]

I hope my sax can be salivised before it is televised.

[soybean]

It has been pointed out to me by a saliva/metallurgist that… Otherwise known as a salivurgist?

[jazzbug1]

Thanks for joining in the fun. Hope you all have a joyous and thoughtful Memorial Day. Signing off until next week. Bug

[Mick Stuppguy]

. . . Newer horns, especially the Asian designs, have a small pump with a lifetime battery-driven evaporation chamber down deep in the horn in an invisible nook. This eliminates the flow of saliva . . .

Man, sure could have used one of these when I was busking for the sax-o-thon last winter in 20 deg weather. I had a glacier on the inside of my horn.

But enough about electrons and saliva, I want to know about the karma flow of an old tenor vs a new one. Does ligature make a difference? What if it's too tight?

[JayeSF]

....too tight on what....???????

[jazzbug1]

"Car Ma" was an elderly female who ran an auto dealer in Buffalo, N.Y. back in the 40s. Her lot man was an ex-singer who was known as "The Old Tenor". Is this what you are referring to?

[Mick Stuppguy]

Oh, that's very bad . . .

Is she a relative of Yoyo Ma?

[jazzbug1]

Dr. Frankenstein was mis-quoted. He knew his monster was living when he looked in it's mouth and exclaimed, It's saliva!"