I'm a repair tech as well.Your video is great. My dad was a player and a tech too in the 50's thru 2010. When you played 'Tenderly' at the end, you sounded just like my dad. He played a Selmer Mark VI that he had from the 50's and I still have it today (he played with Al Hirt). I just have to laugh at some of the critical comments made here of how to do this better or that better......as long as it works, that's what counts. More power to you!

Really appreciate this demonstration. Soon to embark on replacing pads myself. Nail biter-first time ever…

What a great video to inform me about my beloved sax (Elkhart by Buescher) and how to get that tone back! So informative and helpful. Nicely done Tim! = )

Tim, it is obvious you are a teacher and a good one! Thank you for this video. And thank you for replying to so many of the people who have commented. You offer a lot of encouragement!

Fabulous instruction. I just bought two Lamonte sax's. One a standard plays like new & the superior needing a neck & pads "have all the hardware" for a fun rebuild. Appreciate the video lessons. 🎷

This is so great, thank you for taking the time to do this! I even have the same Buescher tenor and can't wait to do the overhaul it needs! Cheers Tim!

I can't imagine a do it yourself video done better than this one. Makes me want to take apart my sax whether it needs it or not Thanks much.

I agree, you can't beat that vintage Buescher sound. I own the same tenor as well. I just bought one a few days ago. Mine is from the early 70's as well. Great video !

Thanks. Very informative and also encouraging to see that this isn't rocket science but a careful, measured and achievable process. I'll have to give it a go.

These videos on sax repair are great for me. I don’t plan to repair saxes for a living, but want to know how to do these basic repairs on my own saxes - I’ve got some nice old Martins and a Buescher curved soprano

I wanted to comment and thank you for this extremely helpful video. I'm currently looking to find a cheap Selmer Bundy (Elkhart made) tenor and alto saxophone and I figure the pads are likely going to be in rough condition on whatever I end up buying. Saving a few hundred dollars and doing it myself with a bit of patience and guidance from your video will help immensely. Sadly when I moved out of my grandmother's house in 2006 I left my soprano, alto and tenor saxes and after a house fire my aunt neglected to return a lot of my possessions (just some minor smoke damage so not write offs). I learned on Selmer Bundy saxes when I was in elementary school. In high school I was given one of the new Yamaha models, but I pleaded for them to leave an old Bundy for me use. It's been almost 12 years since I last played and I've missed it terribly. I'm finally able to replace a couple of them so hopefully I luck out and that it doesn't take my fingers (or mouth) long to get back into the swing of things.

touched by "the new saxophone just don't have the same sound as this old saxophone" , and thanks for the tutorial, I am going to try fix my 27 years old saxophone while others think it is a trash!!!! thats my first saxophone afterall!

I enjoyed this vlog!!! i used to do this all the time with my flute. i have yet to do this with my T-sax. It just seems to be too much work. But, after seeing this, I can do it with more confidence. THANK YOU! I must say that i do love the sound of your sax! I hear exactly what you mean. I have a Yamaha student model I purchased in 91. The quality isn't as... warm and romantic sounding. I have never done a step up for my T-sax or clarinet. The only step up I did was on my flute, and that was before they started to add more buttons and holes. The only up grade at the time was from a C-foot to a B-foot. But after seeing all what they've added to the current instruments just within the past 10 years, I wouldn't want to do a step up.

This is an outstanding little production you have done. Thankyou.

Super video. I'll be watching for the follow-up video on leveling a pad.

Very grateful for this video and how it nails what needs to be done.

Thanks for sharing Sir!! Saxophones repairs are so expensive… might as well buy a new saxophone!!

Thank you. Helpful video. Like to learn more about bent rods, and how to either replace or realign them.

I have a good appreciation now of why sax repairs are so expensive.

So I landed on your page due to your video on building your tiny house from start to finish and found this as a result. Pretty random that you had a sax repair video I thought. Great video though. It makes me want to find a cheaper used sax just to practice on, as I don’t think I could bear the stress of trying to do this myself to my primary horn, which is a tenor, or my alto. Both don’t need new pads yet anyway, but I am interested in learning how to work on a repair instruments. Saxophones in particular. Thanks again for the video, and you have great sound at the end. I wish I could get my vibrato to sound as even and pretty as you are able to do. Gonna keep working at it!

I love the sound of that sax. Real warm and smoky and stinkin' like I like it

Nice, simple procedure. Thanks for the demonstration!

the way you play is amazing, like old vine.

great video...thanks! I liked the sound of the horn... I know it is a BUESCHER Aristocrat... but which one ( there seem to be a bunch... serial number range would help) and what mouth piece? Thanks Vince

Interesting, illuminating and educational. Thank you.

Very nice video! I like the sound of your sax too. I guess instruments do get better by time...

Amazing video my son just took his selmer 7 to change the pads your video makes me want to change them myself 😅just subbed appreciate your skills!

I really enjoyed the video. I found it very useful. Do you know when your Beuscher Aristocrat was made?

Right to the point! Thank you for the excellent leseon!

Great video. I'd like to see a channel dedicated to diy saxophone repair😊

nice,,,very informative....thank you

Thank you for the video, I've been considering getting into instrument repair, and your videos have definitely helped!

dude, that was kinda fantastic! we appreciate it!!!

Hi Tim, I have a tenor Sax Yamaha YTS 62 ("brass color" ) and at least the higher pad of the palm key is completely damaged. It's one of the easier to change (only one screw to be removed). So it is a good beginning to change all the pads. When after removing the basket of the pad, you warm it on the flame or with hot air, will the varnish of the saxophone not be damaged? Do you use the flat tools like a bone with one hole for the resonator in each extremity to adjust the pad? If yes, how do you use it. Thank a lot

I definitely agree with you that lots of newer horns don't have the same sound as older ones

That was very informative but I have to ask you what that beautiful melody you were playing there at the end of your video?

I gave it a thumbs-up at 9:56 and you gave me a thumbs-up back. Mutual respect, I like it.

thank you for all the good information and the good savings we do. what is the use of pad over the bf flat key and the b key

This was very informative, thank you! What kind of pads do you buy?

Dear "TimTools99," Greetings, I'm James Williams of Anchorage Alaska. Last week when I was shopping an antique store I came across an old saxophone instrument. It has a lot of dirt, grime dust and oxidation that must be removed. However, all of the soldered components are in excellent shape and are rock solid. Also, one of the action springs is broken off and needs to be replaced. The unit I found is a "Lafleur Tenor or Alto Sax" that was made in London England. It was an import from "Boosey & Hawkes Co." However that is all the information I have on this instrument. The serial number is "178699." The instrument is in very excellent shape for the most part, but sadly, it is also suffering from long term neglect. All of the engraving work is in fantastic shape and will not need to be restored in any way. The other issue due to age and neglect are the key pads. The mechanical components are a combination of solid brass rods, along with Nickle and Stirling Silver parts. All of the fingering for the primary keys still have their original mother of pearl buttons, but every single pad is suffering deterioration and need to be replaced. I'm contacting you because I am in the process of repairing and rebuilding the instrument. I would like to know... do you have any information about this particular saxophone? I don't think that it has any real value as a collector piece, nor do I believe that it's one of the high end instruments so many people covet. If history is any judge, then it's likely to be a student instrument of some kind. It was obviously a well loved instrument and has only a few minor scratches, and the single bell dent that I worked out using a variety of wooden tools I made for this purpose, a non-marring hammer and my metal burnishing tool with a highly polished finish. ... the workmanship and craftsmanship of the sax is remarkable. Aside from the broken action spring, the mechanics still move and function with a silky smooth motion. Based on the little bit of information I'm providing, can you enlighten me about this instrument? When was it made and how old is it? I tried to trace it with the serial number but kept hitting a dead end and couldn't locate any information about it with the serial number. I believe that I have enough knowledge about instrument repair, and I am a blacksmith/knifemaker with a solid working understanding of metallurgy. I was able to remove the bell dent with no problem at all. There are a few tiny ripples that still need to be addressed with my burnisher, but won't be a major problem. After I have it cleaned and polished, I want to take it to a music shop to have all of the pads replaced and the neck cork replaced. Any information from you is welcome, and if you know anything about this instrument I hope you will share. My goal is to restore it, then hand it down to one of my grand, or great nieces or nephews. Many of them are coming of age and showing an active interest in learning to play a musical instrument of some kind. This saxophone would make a nice starter instrument for them. Thank you for your time. If you would like, you may email your response to . Best wishes, James

Thanks, great teaching video. We also have a Beuscher tenor sax (pronounced "Bisher"), love it, American quality.

Thanks, Tim. You make it look easy. I hope it is...LOL!

Wonderful. To me, this is just such amazingly interesting viewing. Do you have any experience with new Chinese made saxophones?

I am just now getting around to restoring an old alto that I've had sitting in storage for over a decade. Being almost a century old, most if not all pads need to be replaced. I had thought that I should clean all the old shellac/glue out of the key with a solvent like acentone before I put a new pad in. But apparently that's not necessary? Thanks for your video....this is my first time doing this

This is amazing.

Thanks for all your hard work!!

Thank you so much. Very helpful

Good video! Thanks. I am a novice sax mechanic and have a question for you. What do you think about using saddle soap on the pads of older saxophones to get pads to soften up? Also I have had some success with removing certain springs on the sax on main row. Put sponge foam blocks on large hole keys with guards and throw into oven heated to 300° while it kools down. The pads all float over the tone holes and they can come out playing wonderful.

I have a 1948 Holton tenor saxophone that needs new pads. Will any pad kit work, or do I need to measure all of the keys to get the right pads? I feel confident in replacing the pads after seeing your video. Thanks

Thank you, as a new player I'm struggling. Is it me or my sax? I think it's the sax because the problem are new. So you have been very helpful, thanks again.

Awesome video! Very informative, thanks for posting.

Thank you very much for the demonstration. I am thinking of getting an older sax which has dodgy pads but is priced accordingly. By the way, I am wondering if wrapping the pearl button with silver foil will prevent it from being burnt by the flame?

Tim I appreciate your videos.....I too and into working on many things......woodworking....make guitars......cabinets.......but I have a sax question on the buescher student tenor...........all of my note seem pretty well in tune except the high d with the palm key.......I think it is flat.....I can't find my harmonic tuner......I have too much junk but a fellow sax player I played some tunes with kept complaining about my intonation and my embrature.............but I think it is off key.......what might be a fix for that :)

Great vid! Thanks.

This is nice, useful information, helpful to watch. You should NOT use a "crochet" hook for this work, however. There are real tools -- specialized spring hooks -- that are designed to hook and unhook the springs, and they don't cost very much, and you don't have to start filing notches in crochet hooks. (The only other person I've seen use one of these crochet hooks was another band teacher. Get the right tool, guys!) And thanks Tim for this little video :)

In your video you said sometimes after the pads are in you would have to adjust the key to seal off the leak. Is that done with a screw or do you try to take off the key again and reposition the pad?

Wonderful. Thank you

i’ve always wanted to learn how to repair instruments, so thanks so much for this video!! i have a quick question though, how should i go about cleaning the gunk off the metal? when the metal turns green, or when you remove the pads and there’s residue on the saxophone. thank you!!

Thanks for posting. I am not a band teacher but I find low priced student instruments, re-pad and adjust them, and donate them. This video will help with an alto saxophone I just acquired. 3 questions: Do you clean and lubricate that long rod that holds the keys before replacing it? If so, what do you use? I use a little dab of glue (easy to remove) on the threads of the screws of the instruments I have handled so they won't vibrate loose. Can I do that on the saxophone? Is the same shellac I used on the clarinets? Thank you for any response in advance.

You made it look so easy 🙃Now I feel a bit less intimidated...

Name of song at the end is : Tenderly

Scary. I’d be ok putting in the pads but remembering how to re assemble? A tiny drop of thin oil on the rods would be sensible. I noticed some of the keys did not have cork stops so it would be metal against metal. The sax has a lovely tone. I have a selmer cigar cutter made in 1927 and super action made in 1947, both superb.

I love the old American horns I have 2 old Conns that sound great do you do repairs for other people if so where are you located?

Thankyou I also have a Beuscher 400 with an otto link super tone master 8 that came with the horn very loud now to fix the leaks,, thankyou !! now to find the glue.

I noticed that you're not using resonators. Have you tried them? Thanks!

Hi Tim - great Video. Whats about the Pad-Leveling video?!

Do you have a suggestion of which pads to get? Just looking online, different styles, different prices, different resonators...it would be nice to have a seasoned opinion

Congrats! Great tutorial! ;) Sax shop will not like it so much ehehe!

Do you ever have problems with heat varnish while doing this? I'm a current red wing bir student and want to try and repad my sax before I learn to next semester. Also would a plain hand held torch work as a substitute to the bunsen burner? Thanks

Thank you for the information may I ask can you still get parts for your horn

I got a tenor sax for Christmas and it came with almost half the pads missing. I know what I’ll be doing for a while!

My sax needs quite a few pads replaced. This video was very helpful, however I would like to ask what fuel you use in your bunsen burner?

For some beginners a flag wire can be used to thread through the key posts and it give slack to minuover The keys in place

Je vais essayer de me lancer progressivement.sur un tenor mark 7 Merci pour la vidéo bien expliquée.

Thank you very much Tim

Nice sound!

My son plays the Yamaha YAS23. Which brand/type of pads should we consider to replace the worn out pads ? Thank you.

Thank so much!

HOW REPLACE ALL SMALLS CORKS FOR THE NOISE OF CHIQUI ,CHIQUI THATS KILLINGME !!

You sound great man

What do you call those burners that are used to heat the pads off? And where to buy them?

I wanted to hear u play longer 💙

Please I watch and saw your good work pls what what's that glue call or name

Supppperrr Sr Thanks

whats the name of that glue?

Thanks for an informative well done video

what do you do about lubrication? thank you for this wonderful video!

What's a decent name for pads? Also where to buy the stick shelac?

Wich gum is use

I'm going to try to repair my alto sax. It might only need one or 2 pad replacements.

I have a student model Buescher tenor also that I like very much but I am wondering....I can not see in the video.....does yours have the support bar on the neck piece that mine has....a straight rod going horizontally under it......that is the only thing I do not like about it's appearance......is there an option or fix for this ?

There's a lot to be said for some of those old student & intermediate horns huh?

Ferree's has amber and clear shellac. Is there a difference? Why not use clear?

Is this a Conn 16M?

NIce work chum

what's the glue called and where do i get it?

whats the glue that you use???

What type of glue is that? What is the name?

It didn't look like you seated those pads. Just wondering if you skipped that part in the video?

can use just a simple lighter?