An absolutely incredible series of understanding a tone hole. You wouldn't think there is so much involved, but you've brought light to a lot of things for a lot of people by taking the time out to explain the importance of a level tone hole. Thank you very much!
Not sure how anyone can dislike this or any other of these tutorial vids, earlier comment on direction of leveling.... Its a few thou, not massive amount! Simply stunning, work, artistry, detail, knowledge and metal work..... I just wish you were in the UK.... Great stuff👍👍🎷
Thanks Matt! Again I keep coming back to your wonderful videos, and I'm leveling my first time hole at this moment- a student Jupiter alto right hand d#
Excellent series on tone holes. I was at least "conceptually" familiar with this topic before, but actually seeing the process done to a horn really enhances my understanding. Great work. Thanks!
Hi Matt, interesting videos. What is the process for rolled toneholes? I know they are more complicated but wonder how techs get them right. Cheers Greg
There is a video by Saxworks where the tech will lightly mallet down the high spots of the rolled part and uses a dent rod to incrementally push the metal up from inside the body so as to not actually remove any material. I also wonder how Matt does it. I love hearing his explanations and methodical process.
yes indeed, takes a little more time because the toneholes are thicker/wider and as such the files work even more slowly. but gives a fantastic end result.
These are wonderful videos and I have learned so much from them. Thanks so much for posting them. One subject I can't find anywhere is what do you do when a tone hole is bent or dented. How can you fix that? Once again, thanks for posting these great videos!
Start out by oscillating the file along the high axis. Once there are flat spots on the highs, it prevents the file from rocking into the lows. Works for me.
it can only be done when changing the pads, so its not a service i can charge for a la carte. you do make up a lot of the time it takes though on the padwork end, since padwork is now easier to do well.
I made a set using aluminum discs; drilled a hole through the center and cut threads for a bolt with a hex head to go through. You can buy diamond skins or use adhesive sandpaper. I got the disks slightly over-sized and then cut back the excess on a lathe to true the center hole up. They work really well, just like what is available on the market - it's just a bit of a time consuming process.
Hi Matt!! I am repairman with 20+ years working on just about everything, from brass to guitars, sheet metal carpentry.... With that said I have little experience with Saxophones. I have a 1931 Buescher True Tone... it is in excellent condition (other than being stored out of case, on a wall for 50yrs!!) I quickly found that every henge rod and screw are frozen up. Is there any hope? I have time patience and experience, but I just would like your opinion, can I disassemble this without ruining the horn? Any tips or links? Or just cautionary advice would be appreciated. Thanks Jay
Assuming the body tube is straight and there is no dent pushing the tonehole in, I think it can be useful if done well and done sparingly. There is a simple but well done tool sold by JL Smith for this purpose, in addition to methods involving dent balls etc. Really though, when it comes to toneholes, whether you are filing or raising, you simply need to know very well what you are doing. If you aren't at least a little bit afraid, you probably don't have the proper respect. Leveling toneholes should need done exactly once in a horn's lifetime, barring damage (including refinishing).
Matt - Out of curiosity, what would you charge for this service? It's obviously very time consuming,with having to take everything off the horn and then check each tone hole? Since things are all apart, there's be other work that could be more easily done. But I can't imagine this is really worth doing for a "student" horn. These three videos were really fascinating and informative. I'd heard the terms you described before, but never understood the actual issues. Thanks for making these!
How are you able to tell the tone hole is both level and now leveled in the right direction? (meaning you didn't accidentaly rock of plane and level it, although only very slightly, facing in a poor direction?
Not very much. The only downside of pressure that is too light is that it takes too long- the downsides of too much pressure is that you can take off too much material, or deform the body tube causing it to spring back up and be unlevel after you finish, or not hold it steady and let the file rock and thus take off material without making it level. So it is best to be cautious and use a fairly light pressure.
An absolutely incredible series of understanding a tone hole. You wouldn't think there is so much involved, but you've brought light to a lot of things for a lot of people by taking the time out to explain the importance of a level tone hole. Thank you very much!
thank you so much, Marco!
You have shown great care on this job, unlike some others I have seen.
So easy to remove too much material.
JC
Not sure how anyone can dislike this or any other of these tutorial vids, earlier comment on direction of leveling.... Its a few thou, not massive amount! Simply stunning, work, artistry, detail, knowledge and metal work..... I just wish you were in the UK.... Great stuff👍👍🎷
Thanks Matt! Again I keep coming back to your wonderful videos, and I'm leveling my first time hole at this moment- a student Jupiter alto right hand d#
Great stuff, as usual. Thanks for taking the time and effort to do these videos!
Excellent series on tone holes. I was at least "conceptually" familiar with this topic before, but actually seeing the process done to a horn really enhances my understanding. Great work. Thanks!
Hi Matt, interesting videos. What is the process for rolled toneholes? I know they are more complicated but wonder how techs get them right.
Cheers
Greg
There is a video by Saxworks where the tech will lightly mallet down the high spots of the rolled part and uses a dent rod to incrementally push the metal up from inside the body so as to not actually remove any material.
I also wonder how Matt does it. I love hearing his explanations and methodical process.
sure thing, I'll get to that sometime soon.
$$
Matt, you are a true artist.
yes indeed, takes a little more time because the toneholes are thicker/wider and as such the files work even more slowly. but gives a fantastic end result.
Hi Matt, would you be willing to answer a question about a damaged soprano saxophone?
The detail is great, thanks for sharing!
glad to help, and thanks for sitting through all three!
These are wonderful videos and I have learned so much from them. Thanks so much for posting them. One subject I can't find anywhere is what do you do when a tone hole is bent or dented. How can you fix that? Once again, thanks for posting these great videos!
Matt, can you show a demo of how to install a pad using those flat tone hole rings, thanks
Thanks for all the info! Amazing
Glad to help!
Start out by oscillating the file along the high axis. Once there are flat spots on the highs, it prevents the file from rocking into the lows. Works for me.
Certainly would save on those highly expensive tools. you should do a YT video for this.
it can only be done when changing the pads, so its not a service i can charge for a la carte.
you do make up a lot of the time it takes though on the padwork end, since padwork is now easier to do well.
Nice work Matt, Thank you.
@
ooo9o keys NJ
Iuka
Is there some sort of makeshift tool that could replace a tone hole file?
I made a set using aluminum discs; drilled a hole through the center and cut threads for a bolt with a hex head to go through. You can buy diamond skins or use adhesive sandpaper. I got the disks slightly over-sized and then cut back the excess on a lathe to true the center hole up. They work really well, just like what is available on the market - it's just a bit of a time consuming process.
Hi Matt!!
I am repairman with 20+ years working on just about everything, from brass to guitars, sheet metal carpentry.... With that said I have little experience with Saxophones. I have a 1931 Buescher True Tone... it is in excellent condition (other than being stored out of case, on a wall for 50yrs!!) I quickly found that every henge rod and screw are frozen up. Is there any hope? I have time patience and experience, but I just would like your opinion, can I disassemble this without ruining the horn? Any tips or links? Or just cautionary advice would be appreciated. Thanks Jay
Do you recommend a similar procedure for tone holes on a clarinet---especially the larger holes. Thanks
Matt can you suggest where we can purchase quality tone hole files like those you use?
Great video by the way, very informative, thanks.
MusicMedic or maybe the manufacturer, jsengineering.
If a tone hole is leveled can the same pad be used or will that pad need to be replaced ?
Replace the pad.
Can this be done on the old martins with beveled tone hones?
How much pressure are you using with your fingers?
Hey Matt, I've seen some people pull toneholes up as opposed to filing down. What are your thoughts on this?
Assuming the body tube is straight and there is no dent pushing the tonehole in, I think it can be useful if done well and done sparingly. There is a simple but well done tool sold by JL Smith for this purpose, in addition to methods involving dent balls etc.
Really though, when it comes to toneholes, whether you are filing or raising, you simply need to know very well what you are doing. If you aren't at least a little bit afraid, you probably don't have the proper respect. Leveling toneholes should need done exactly once in a horn's lifetime, barring damage (including refinishing).
Matt - Out of curiosity, what would you charge for this service? It's obviously very time consuming,with having to take everything off the horn and then check each tone hole? Since things are all apart, there's be other work that could be more easily done. But I can't imagine this is really worth doing for a "student" horn.
These three videos were really fascinating and informative. I'd heard the terms you described before, but never understood the actual issues. Thanks for making these!
How are you able to tell the tone hole is both level and now leveled in the right direction? (meaning you didn't accidentaly rock of plane and level it, although only very slightly, facing in a poor direction?
William Daniels check with leak light against reverse side of tonehole file (or any other flat disc)
Thank You.
A pad can be made on Silicone???
dont really understand.! The toner file should not be exchanged so you use the coarse first and then find the diamond file.? ( Danmark )
Not very much. The only downside of pressure that is too light is that it takes too long- the downsides of too much pressure is that you can take off too much material, or deform the body tube causing it to spring back up and be unlevel after you finish, or not hold it steady and let the file rock and thus take off material without making it level. So it is best to be cautious and use a fairly light pressure.
Good afternoon, please tell me where i can buy this tonehole (8:59)? Thanks from Russia.
Thank you guy
should you file rolled toneholes ?
No.
I meant after dis assembly of course!
Hi Matt Stohrer who repairs saxophones for a living.
Matt, will you be showing us sax repair techs wannabees how to properly clean an older sax?
You'd have to ask a clarinet specialist, I only do saxophones.