Intonation problems with Zephyr Alto

[heinz]

Hi, I have a problem with my Zephyr Alto 324... I bought it out of ebay US a couple of months ago. I had it sent to Germany (where I live) and handed it over to my saxtech for complete restauration. The instrument had been stored away for many years so it needed a lot of work, new pads, cork. It is a dark honeyish lacquered model.
I finally got it back last week and my first playing experience was ... mixed to put it nice. I like the dark, rich tone. But intonation is a nightmare!!! Bottom c1 and d1 are nearly a semi tone too low whereas low Bb is ok again. The octaves d2, e2 are too high as usual, then it becomes funny. f2 is much too low, g2 is ok, a2 is somewhat low again, h2 and c2 and above are too high as expected. To me this is a weird mixture of ups and downs and nearly impossible to regulate.
I have tried different mouthpieces, Meyers, Link, Vandoren and an old Brilhart that came with the instrument but the results were more or less the same.
Can anybody help? Is there some exotic MP you recommend? Or is there some "secret knowledge" in restoring these instruments maybe unknown to my Selmer-experienced Saxtech, eg in regulating the opening of the keys? Or do I have to face cruel reality that these instruments may have poor intonation?
I had a look at earlier postings but they were mostly zephyr special related.

Thanks for your help!

[Sigmund451]

Im no expert by far but Ive been haveing a few problems with intonation myself and there is a lot to be said regarding keyheight. If the key heights are off it can make quite a mess. I have chosen to find a tech that knows something about tuning...too many just line them up and never fine tune for the specifics of your specific horn. If its a zephyr, from my understanding, it should be at least resonable or better.

[shmuelyosef]

I have several King Zephyrs, and lots of experience with alto, tenor and bari. I have overhauled a number of them. With all of them, I use relatively thin pads (.160 - .175), float them real close, and then set the key heights to the maximum in both stacks (use 1/32" cork under the stops) to start. I also tend to set the bell keys (doesn't seem that important on these horns, but gives a much better D2 tone) and palm keys (I have found these horns to tend flat in the palm keys) quite high as well. I then adjust the stops down a bit after I play test. I start with the lower stack and usually this is all that is required. I have found the Zephyr II (SN >~290XXX) to require more adjustment than the older ones. Flat resos (I think they came original with flat, but I have gotten mixed opinions) require a little more closing than domed, but subtle.

This works pretty well on most older horns...modern horns need thicker corks (~1/16" in my experience) to get to the 'nominal' opening. As always rule of thumb is about 30-40% of largest pad size in each stack or set.

[heinz]

Thanks, I will contact my saxtech again using your information!

[heinz]

I have had some of the key heights changed (which does not make it easier to play I am afraid) and I have found a mouthpiece that works ok, a good old Vandoren A27. Now intonation is better; still, a2/b2/2 tend to be very sharp, I need to correct constantly while playing. Maybe I am ruined for these Instruments having played Selmer/Yanagisawa for many years.

Oddly enough all Meyers I tried (5,6,8 medium chamber) were absolutely no-no-no intonationwise - that's weird because I think Cannonball Adderley used to play a Meyer on his King :?: