Dolnet Belair - warble

[mikestefano2001]

I've had this dolly tenor since April and I've taken the dents out (high school horn) and I've changed a few pads, but I'm trying to save most since they're the original red ones. The horn sounds great and I really like playing it, but I have a hard time getting the low D to sound clearly. Maybe I'm a wind-challenged alto player? I can run down to the D and it's O.K. until I start to run out of air and then it lets out this ungodly warble. If I start off on the D, and I drop my jaw and blow quite forcefully, it sounds fine, but as I run out of air, the warble starts again. I've gone over it several times looking for leaks and I've found a couple, but I really think I've got them all now. I also tried putting a wine cork in the bow and it still warbles. Does anyone have any ideas?

I've got a B&S 2001 tenor and I don't get the warble on the D. On both horns I'm using a LeBayle #7 Metal piece and I've tried 2, 2.5 and 3 reeds and the Dolly warbles no matter what. :oops:

thanks.

Mike

[spiderjames]

Check for leaks above the D particularly the upper stack. Also check the key heights of the low C,B & Bb keys. If they are too closed it can make the sax warble.

[mikestefano2001]

Thanks for the hint - I've made sure (can I ever be sure?) that there are no leaks in the upper stack, but I'll take a look to see how closed the lower note pads are... my impression without the horn in front of me is that they were O.K. (perhaps a bit too open rather than closed) but I'll play with it a bit and see.

Mike

[Sax Hut]

You might also want to check whether you have any air leaking through the neck receiver (say, between socket slit and neck tenon) or any of the soldered body joints (like the bow/body joint).

[spiderjames]

My universal tenor (bel air stencil) had a loose octave pip on the body that gave me some trouble. In had been popped loose presumably when someone was removing some dents. I had to pull it out straighten it up and then resolder it.

[mikestefano2001]

Well, I found the cause of my warble! :D . While it wouldn't show up with a leak light, the D pad was leaking somehow and somewhere. I wedged down all the keys and the D played well, with no warble. The first wedge I removed was the D. The E sounded fine and when I pressed the D key down manually, the warble was back (even I could figure this one out!). I tried reseating the pad, but no go, so I reluctantly replaced the beautiful original red pad with one of Curt's precision pads and it now plays beautifully.

Looks like this is going to be a keeper. Great tone for ballads and a good compliment to my Superdynaction alto.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Mike

[spiderjames]

Anybody ever tried dyeing a pad to match?

[mikestefano2001]

maybe I will now! NOt sure how it would permeate a semi-waterproof patch, but I think I'll give it a try.

Mike

[newsax]

Mike ,I am interested in how the red pad is,i have never seen one ,does it have foil underneath the leather or not?
do you have a pic of front and back side if possible ,or if you still have the pad and no longer need it i would like to take a look at it if possible.
Thanks much
chris

[mikestefano2001]

The pad has a felt and has a cardboard backing - the same as anything else I've seen in my admittedly limited experience. Resonator is riveted on. Doesn't have any foil that I could see.. only difference seems to be that the pad is dyed red. I ripped the thing and it's gone, I'm afraid.

Mike

[Bill Mecca]

I've seen some pads done red and green, usually a tint added to whatever waterproofing/sealent being used. I think saxgourmet offered red pads in one of his overhauls...

[Mark R]

Bill,
I at one time had a King Bari that I got from Goodson that had purple pads. Those New Orleans cats have a big fetish for purple, especially during Mardi Gras. In fact the exterior (last time I went there) of Goodson's home is purple.