Dude this is such an awesome video!! I’m definitely going to schedule a repair lesson with Mike at the beginning of the year. I literally know nothing about how a saxophone works and I’ve been wanting to learn more but there are limited resources. Thanks for sharing this behind the scenes!!
6:44 that's a super common problem he's talking about that's really great to know how to adjust (on modern horns) and fix (on vintage; takes a bit of cork usually). Will save you a lot of time. edit: As for current repairs: I have a King Super 20 bari (third generation 1959) and it needs an overhaul with some cosmetic work. I have it in good working order, but I can only do so much. Just needs a pro to go over everything and adjust it. The octave keys are built similar to a Conn 12M Transitional so it has some inherent intonation problems that I really have to work to correct with my embouchure, but plan on getting an aftermarket neck (from Groger probably). It sounds like there is a lot wrong with it, but as I said it's in good playing order. Everything seals, just needs some love from someone who knows how to really fix stuff. Thinking of sending off just the bell to Anderson's Silver-Plating to get it done; quote was pretty cheap. That wasn't a factory option on baris sadly.
The best start to finish video on RU-vid. The only thing left is dent removal and relacquer...Well beyond the casual self-maintainer like me. This has helped me a lot as I rework my 1923 Buescher Silver Trutone Alto. Thanks!
The thing i notice and the thing id look for is the way they hold a sax.. he so quickly moves the sax to certani angles. but like you handle a child.. this mans.. id trust with my sax. which hasnt even arrived for me yet lol. but this mans id trust based of how he holds and speaks
This guy, Mike, reminds me of how Matt Stohrer would work on a horn, attention to detail!...if you don't know him, google him, he's like one of the top repair men in the country!
Hello, I have scoured the internet and have been unable to find an answer. I assume it is simple but how do I remove the key button pearls on my horn safely? I need to replace two of them but do not want to damage my instrument. Please help!
You can't remove them without destroying the pearls. If you want to replace one you can chip away at the pearl with a dremel tool until it crumbles out, but that sort of work is best left to someone who's done this type of job before.
I'm always on the move! I am touring with Frozen the Musical and I set up my repair bench in every city I'm in. You can check my schedule on www.mikelivingston.net , there's a good chance I'm coming to your city.
There are GREAT saxophones at normal prices, and of course the Salmer Mark is totally overrated and over priced. For a reasonable amount you can take a still valid instrument remembering that beauty is created by the skill of the MUSICIAN, not the money he has in his wallet.
@@Norman_Peterson Back in 1974 I paid $680.00 for a new 220 series Mark VI. I still own it and it will be passed on when I’m gone. Back in the day, it was an unbeatable saxophone. No disrespect meant to the King Super 20, the Conn 10m, the Buffet SDA and such. None could touch a killer VI. The prices asked for vintage VI’s are what they are. Many new manufacturers are making great saxes. I bought a Mauriat 76 last year and love it. That said, the constant bashing of Mark VI’s is getting old and is disrespectful to the legacy of that horn. Ask yourself this, if it was such an overrated horn, why are many the new horns just updated copies of the Selmer Mark VI?
Enough money WILL buy you sax happiness. But do your research. There are so many hack sax techs out there, especialli in Manhattan an Miami, that no amount of mo ey will buy you happines. From painful experience, my advice is: NEVER BRING YOUR HORN TO A REPAIR SHOP IF THE WORKBENCH IS OIU OF VIEW OF THE CUSTOMERS. NEVER ALLOW THE TECH TO "bring the saxophone to the back to check it out". Believe me, guys: You want to see what is being done to your horn, (and a true capable confident HONEST tech would never object to this.
I like to plan on 2 weeks in my hands. The work can be done in 3-4 long days if it is done very efficiently, but these materials like to settle and change in time so its nice to allow that to happen and make final adjustments before I hand the sax back. For example - brass has a memory so if you move a tone hole or bend a key, it will slowly move itself back towards where it was. Also, the felt in pads and cork between keys will compress as a saxophone is played.
Yes, this started when my friends kept calling me in a panic! Sometimes we can fix the problem together, sometimes I can show them a good band-aid fix until they can get it into a shop, and sometimes I can give them the knowledge they need so when they go to a shop they know exactly what to ask for. I really love these kinds of calls because it empowers the player and helps them know their instrument better.
Sure is alwais broken. :D The most overrated and over priced sax in the world. The times when he was the best have passed, many many many years ago. today there is much better for MUCH better prices. Try a YANAGISAWA they are Japanese. They have the best sound in the world.
I agree that most of the best saxophones being made right now are Japanese. These old Selmers paved the way for modern saxophone design so they will always the the classics, and I believe that is why they are so valuable.
