Get palm key risers on your sax !

Palm key risers on a modern tenor sax

Saxophones are instruments that have changed gradually over time. The older ones may need a little adjustment for today's play. An example of this is in the palm keys. You can buy rubber palm key risers and these do help play the instrument - BUT they also have a problem in that they can come off or move.

We use a silicone putty to mould palm key risers to suit the player exactly. They won't fall off.

Older saxophones may need more silicone to make them fit your hand, but even newer saxophones can benefit from having palm key risers fitted. You may need just two on a newer sax. (As in the top picture.) The lower picture shows three palm key risers fitted to an old Selmer 'Cigar Cutter' alto.

Autumn - service time?

As the weather turns and the leaves start following, it's nice to stay warm inside and play some music. The baritone appears to be sold, pending payment, but we have a few more instruments.

We have a number of beginner-intermediate flutes, mostly made in America. These are built far better than most of the new instruments you see today for the beginner, which are made in China.

There are vintage and nearly new alto saxophones. These are very versatile instruments as you can play blues, rock and jazz on them as well as classical etc. It isn't so easy rocking on a clarinet!

We have just a few clarinets. A couple of beginner instruments and a couple of wooden ones. I'll be looking to get one or two in to keep stocks up.

But if you already have your instrument then perhaps it's time to be thinking of getting it in for a service. Before long we'll be into the festive season where instruments tend to be used a lot with many concerts taking place.

So get your instrument serviced now, so it'll be ready for when you need it.