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Re: Issues with reedmaking and octave slurs

Author: jhoyla
Date: 2011-06-16 11:30

Sounds like your 2nd octave key is gunged up.

I really don't think it is anything to do with your reeds. I cannot "force" my instrument to play a lower-octave note if the octave key is open.

What sort of swab do you have - a brush or a pull-through? Sometimes a brush can just push any muck up to the octave holes - and leave it there.

Try sighting down the top joint, and then up the top joint. See anything?

Remove the top joint, close all the keys and stop the bottom with a finger of your right hand. Press 2nd octave key and blow. Does air come out of the 2nd octave hole? Does it feel blocked? Can you suck?

Taking out octave inserts to clean them is easy - if-and-only-if you have the right tool. If you don't, there is still some stuff you can try.

1. Remove the 2nd octave key - disengage the spring carefully (without changing its tension) and then unscrew the post. Lift off the key.
2. Find a pin or a needle whose diameter is just less than the octave hole. Poke it into the hole and twist it round. Then swab to get any particles that have come loose.
3. Clean the post, use a pipe-cleaner to clean the barrel of the key, one tiny drop of oil on the post and then reassemble. Re-engage the spring carefully.

If you are electrically minded, you can put a tiny white LED on the end of a pair of stiff wires and insert it high into the top joint while the octave key is off. Sight through the octave hole and see if anything obscures the light.

And try your octave notes again.