Okubo GakkiThis store has been located in Shin-Okubo, a mecca for wind instruments, for 35 years.
As one of the largest used musical instrument specialty stores in Tokyo, we have handled countless used musical instruments from all over the world and from all eras.
At our shop, we strive to maintain high quality across all instruments by having specialized technicians handle repairs for each instrument, including flutes, clarinets, saxophones, and brass instruments.
A while ago, there were concerns that used instruments had a short lifespan and were difficult to play because they had absorbed the previous owner's habits. However, in recent years, people have become more aware of the existence of "well-maintained used instruments," and coupled with the effects of rising prices, the demand for used instruments as an option when choosing an instrument has increased.
However, there may still be some people who feel uneasy about buying used instruments.
Therefore, this time,
I'd like to show you step-by-step how saxophones that actually arrive at our store end up on display!
So, without further ado, here is the instrument we'll be using as our subject:
Until a used saxophone appears on the store shelves
~Disassembly edition~
Selmer is a brand that every saxophone player dreams of owning at least once. And among them, this is a well-known, long-selling model.
This particular unit has serial number 395xxx and was manufactured in 1986. It's an early model of the SERIE 2 series, which continues to this day.
It looks like it's been used quite a bit, so I have a feeling it's going to require some maintenance...
To begin with, we'll completely disassemble it.
Since you start from a pre-assembled state, you could say it's the "reverse" DeAgostini.⚪It's like a Teenie situation.
First, to make it easier to remove the key, remove the spring holding it in place.
Both the open and closed keys are moved by the force of this spring.
The needle spring is fixed in a hole drilled in the key post, and the larger the diameter, the stronger the force that moves the key.
Condition before attaching the "needle spring" ↓
However, for the palm keys (and the Low C# key, depending on the model), a plate-shaped spring is screwed to the back of the key itself.
This force is what keeps the key closed.
I hope you now understand that there are two types of springs.
We'll start disassembling it.
Next, let's look at how these countless keys are attached. There are two patterns.
The first method is fastening using "Kenji" screws.
The screws that fasten the post to the key hold it in place by sandwiching it from both ends.
Another method is fixing using a "core metal".
The post has a hole through which the core wire passes, and the core wire itself is secured to the end post with a screw.
The posts have holes through which the core rod passes, and it goes through the key pipe. The end post has a thread to secure the core rod itself.
The core metal used in this single instrument is shown here.
The core wires that pass through multiple keys, such as the right and left hands, are long, while those for the palm, tC, and tA keys are shorter as each key has its own dedicated core wire.
I continued disassembling all the keys in this manner!
Next, you remove the key guards and thumb hooks, and then you remove the bell braces and body rings to further disassemble the instrument...
Oops! It wasn't glued on, and as soon as I removed the bell support, it popped right off.
Selmer bottles almost never have adhesive on them, probably because they have rubber gaskets. In later years, they sometimes have vinyl tape wrapped around them.
And with that, the disassembly is finally complete!
After this, the process involves removing the consumables, cleaning, removing rust, and then reassembling with new consumables.
I wonder what the final result will be!
Since the work involves a wide range of tasks, we will be publishing this in multiple installments.
(We'll be revealing intricate details and expert knowledge about musical instruments that you wouldn't normally see! Especially recommended for mechanics enthusiasts to bookmark this page.)
Stay tuned for the next episode!
Author of this article:Takechi (Okubo Gakki (Saxophone repair specialist)
Baritone saxophone player. His favorite instrument is a Selmer Paris SERIE II.
Biography:
Originally from Kanagawa Prefecture. Graduated from Global Wind Instrument Technology Academy. Currently a member of an amateur wind orchestra.
Qualifications and experience:
Okubo GakkiHe single-handedly handles all saxophone repairs, having completed overhauls on over 500 instruments to date.
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