Saxophone Maintenance and Repair : How to Clean a Saxophone Without Taking It Apart

[AlainahB]

Wow. I stopped watching after 20 seconds. This is great if you want messed up pads and a scratched sax!

[altrane40]

I heard lemon oil applied with a 3/4'' paint brush works wonders. Oh, wait, it certainly does.

[SonnyREast]

I usually just soak the whole thing in alcohol , then set it on fire for a couple minutes.

100% sterile

[SpiritCyprus]

Still wondering if that saxophone is still in a playing condition. I can notice harsh scratches on it. Wondering also if that woman has been associated with or played a saxophone in her whole life. If you don't treat a saxophone with respect then how the hell can you play it ?????? Sorry guys. I am agree with that bitch, sorryyyy....

[grifflesnaffle]

@ nightowldisco WD40 contains "caustic soda" which will cause pits and scars in the metal body of the horn. I would not advise that it be used for this purpose. Check

the WD40 can's label, and then google the effect of caustic soda on metal surfaces.

[Cabose117711]

no wonder shes that fat, shes so lazy she doesnt even bother to clean it properly

[nightowldisco]

If, as with many horns, you find that your G# key sticks, don't worry. Simply take hold of the key firmly and pull it off the sax. You may have to modify your playing style slightly to allow you to cover the hole with your finger. Alternatively, you could just play tunes that have no G#'s in them.

[nightowldisco]

After each practice session or performance, and after the bleach bath, spray the saxophone thoroughly, inside and out, with a light general purpose oil ( WD40 or similar ). This will ensure it is properly lubricated for when you next come to play it.

[nightowldisco]

Almost all sax players have perfect embouchure and technique. Therefore, if you continually play flat, it will be the horn's fault. To acheive to correct tuning, simply take a hacksaw and chop off about an inch of the saxophone's neck  ( IMPORTANT- keep this piece, as you may want to weld it back on at a later date). After this procedure you will find it very difficult ever to play flat again.

[nightowldisco]

To ensure the pads are seating into the tone holes properly, hit each key sharply, and on a regular basis, with a large hammer. This has the additional benefit of giving the keys a 'looser' feel, making them much easier to play.

[nightowldisco]

Many players insist on carrying their sax around in a protective case. There really is no need for this. Simply obtain a short rubber bungee and hook it onto the top and bottom of the sax ( the saxophone's many posts, keys etc. are ideal for this! ). You can now use the bungee as a handle with which to carry your sax.

[nightowldisco]

Do not get your sax re-padded! Simply paint the old pads with dilute sulphuric or hydrochloric acid. This will make them get gooey and allow them to mold to the shape of the tone holes.

[nightowldisco]

After every practice session or performance, immerse the sax in boiling water and add a litre of bleach. This will ensure the instrument remains germ-free.

[nightowldisco]

To check for leaks, soak a rag in petrol, set it alight and drop it into the sax. Turn off the lights and you will observe light from the flames shining through any leaky spots. Ensure that you wear gloves, as the sax will get very hot indeed.

[Scariestkiller]

@nightowldisco

You're a dick but I'm not complaining cuz that was funny as hell! lmao

[fatwallet08]

this doesn't matter at all. expert village is wrong. you should never spray a base ( windex ) on the outside of your saxophone because it will disintegrate your pads dipshits. and the outside doesn't matter. the inside is what people actually want to know about.

[sancholin99]

i don't get how she DIDN'T dissasemble this because the neck and mouthpiece weren't there it was already dissasembled

[Mr600164]

How do u clean inside of it?????

[sancholin99]

@Mr600164 get a string a tiny piece of metal a little piece of sponge and a rag and atach the string to metal and cut a hole in the rag and in the sponge then then run the string thru the rag and sponge then make a knot at the end of the string run the piece of metal into the bell then turn it upside down and pull on the end that comes out or simply buy it for 20 bucks with the whole set

[cecilteapot]

Instruments are more resilient than you all give them credit for. If your not aware of how cheap it actually is to repair a sax, or any other instrument, you'll be paying $350 at least. How do your street performers afford to repair theirs.. I went to a shop to ask about parts, they sent me on an expensive non-supportive wild goose chase. Almost everyone in the repair industry, computer, auto, instrument, can and will fuck you.

[MultiMundy]

this lady has no idea wht shes talkin about! If you dont want to spend the time disembling it, don't own one! NEVER put any chemicals on your saxophone, it will eat away on it. And dont shove anything into any small spaces, you may break something. I will post PROPER correct videos soon.

[mizaz81]

Do NOT use this method to clean your horn.

Ramming a paint brush into the key rods/posts/pivot points of your horn, is trouble. Also, window cleaner is made for windows, not saxophones.

Taking shortcuts like this, will most likely end in a repair bill.

I've owned, played, repaired and maintained woodwinds for over 17 years. If you want to clean your horn, cloth strips are the way to go. Thread them between the keys/rods/etc. and be gentle. Think gentle shoe shine, NOT seek and destroy.

[eugeneherman]

This is a totally wrong example of saxophone maintenance! NO WATER should ever be used around posts or springs! This young woman is deluded and confused and is quite the fool.

[ohhjaace]

Its not like its a "pain" to take apart your saxophone..

[DaTwilight]

I wish the saxophone comes alive and cleans YOU with a window cleaner >.> Holy Christmas, who the hell cleans it like THAT?!

[ClassicRock1212]

That i not the way to treat a sax. WINDOW CLEANER?

[guci]

ha ha ha. expert village???  if they are experts im albert einstein.

[parab01]

Only a person as fat & lazy as you wouldn't bother to take a saxophone apart to clean properly, not to mention your method being completly retarded!

Do not listen to this woman anyone, and don't use cleaning shortcuts on an instrument as expensive & as delicate as this. Do not use chemicals or a brush!

if you have found this video you are probably wondering how to clean your sax, Look a bit further on youtube as there are lots of other people that can show you properly!

[Estileese]

shes fucked in the head

[DylanSax]

this lady is an idiot

[JFrankie08]

0:59 yea thats a way to handle the sax....way to go, talk about taking care of a saxophone.lol

[LAHFilms]

omg this girl is retarded u never use chemical cleaners on such a delicate instrument and that paint brush is gona scratch the horn expert my ass

[starburst155]

the paint brush would scratch the sax and you should not get any fuzz on your sax that would do any thing if you have a good case, but if you do have a crappy case you really should get a new one for the sake of your sax being protected right.

I never knew any one that had to "take apart" there saxophone to clean it other than just taking off neck and mouthpiece. You have to give her credit for shinny it tho because that is the only thing she got right, unless she used a sliver polishing cloth.

[selmansax]

thats the silliest thing Ive ever seen.

[bionicbill48]

The fuzz that you see on your saxophone keys does not affect how it plays and is barely visible. However poking your saxophone with a paint brush or a cotton swab dripping with window cleaner has much potential for damaging the pads, unhooking the springs, and encouraging corrosion. That oil that you see where the posts are connected to the keys may be unsightly, but it does keep the metal parts from corroding. DO NOT do any of these things to your saxophone if you want it to function!

[thewelford]

You are right on. I've been repairing musical instruments for over 35 years. A sorry lesson like this, will make me money; but I'm already loaded with work. If you want your horn cleaned; you most likely don't have any idea what a horn looks like under stage lights ! It's all about the music. The music makes the horn and you beautiful.

[martinmusicnewark]

You should NEVER use window cleaner on any part of your instrument! Harsh chemicals like that are not safe to use at all, do NOT follow the instructions in this video!

[ninjizz]

Agreed! Are you crazy?!? Windex to clean a saxophone????

[watchmaker2]

If the window cleaner won't do any damage to the leather pads, why is it so important to "stay away as much as I can from that"?

[jjenn59]

That's the way I do it. Just be careful not to knock any cork or springs.

[mokaumadnes]

did you have window cleaner on the brush?? and is it a normal paint brush??

[jazzyjake99]

expert my ass

[Kingbeast321]

never thought of that