Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

16

Time Required

                          30 - 45 minutes

Sections

1

  • YAS-23 Yamaha Alto Saxophone Neck-piece Cork
  • 16 steps

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Introduction

For optimal performance, saxophones require a well fitting cork. Without this, tone quality will be sacrificed, or the saxophone will cease to function.

What you need

Step 1

              YAS-23 Yamaha Alto Saxophone Neck-piece Cork
  • The octave key is silver, while the rest of the neck-piece is gold.
  • Locate the screw on the side of the neck-piece, connecting the octave key to the neck-piece.
  • Use a small, 2.5 mm flat head screwdriver to remove the screw.

The octave key is silver, while the rest of the neck-piece is gold.

Locate the screw on the side of the neck-piece, connecting the octave key to the neck-piece.

Use a small, 2.5 mm flat head screwdriver to remove the screw.

1024

Step 2

  • Open a paperclip.
  • Push the screw out with the end of the paperclip.

Open a paperclip.

Push the screw out with the end of the paperclip.

Step 3

  • Slide the octave key down off the bottom of the neck-piece.

Slide the octave key down off the bottom of the neck-piece.

Step 4

  • Put on leather gloves.
  • Cut away from one’s self.
  • Use the utility blade to scrape off the cork.
  • Start at the base of the cork on the neck-piece with the utility blade at a 10 to 20 degree angle.
  • In a controlled motion, drag the utility blade along the neck-piece, removing cork along the way.
  • Repeat until all of the cork is removed.

Put on leather gloves.

Cut away from one’s self.

Use the utility blade to scrape off the cork.

Start at the base of the cork on the neck-piece with the utility blade at a 10 to 20 degree angle.

In a controlled motion, drag the utility blade along the neck-piece, removing cork along the way.

Repeat until all of the cork is removed.

Step 5

  • Apply masking tape where there is no glue on the neck-piece to prevent damage to the finish.

Apply masking tape where there is no glue on the neck-piece to prevent damage to the finish.

Step 6

  • Remove glue and resin by rotating the neck-piece against the 220 grit sand paper.
  • Repeat until all glue is gone.

Remove glue and resin by rotating the neck-piece against the 220 grit sand paper.

Repeat until all glue is gone.

Step 7

  • New cork may not adhere correctly without completing this step.
  • With a damp microfiber cleaning cloth, wipe off any dust and glue particles.

New cork may not adhere correctly without completing this step.

With a damp microfiber cleaning cloth, wipe off any dust and glue particles.

Step 8

  • Do not remove adhesive covering on the Valentino neck cork.
  • Make sure the shorter base of the Valentino neck cork is flush with entrance.
  • Place the Valentino neck cork flush with the entrance of the neck-piece.
  • Mark a line where the Valentino neck cork meets the masking tape.
  • Cut along the line.

Do not remove adhesive covering on the Valentino neck cork.

Make sure the shorter base of the Valentino neck cork is flush with entrance.

Place the Valentino neck cork flush with the entrance of the neck-piece.

Mark a line where the Valentino neck cork meets the masking tape.

Cut along the line.

Step 9

  • Wrap Valentino neck cork around the neck-piece.
  • Make mark where the Valentino neck cork overlaps.
  • Make sure the shorter base of Valentino neck cork is flush with entrance to neck-piece.
  • If Valentino neck cork appears to be too small on one side, rotate 180 degrees.

Wrap Valentino neck cork around the neck-piece.

Make mark where the Valentino neck cork overlaps.

Make sure the shorter base of Valentino neck cork is flush with entrance to neck-piece.

If Valentino neck cork appears to be too small on one side, rotate 180 degrees.

Step 10

  • Cut the Valentino neck cork along the line made in the previous step.

Cut the Valentino neck cork along the line made in the previous step.

Step 11

  • Remove the adhesive covering on the back of the Valentino neck cork.
  • Wrap the Valentino neck cork around the top of neck-piece.
  • Place the narrow end of the Valentino neck cork flush with the tip of the neck-piece.

Remove the adhesive covering on the back of the Valentino neck cork.

Wrap the Valentino neck cork around the top of neck-piece.

Place the narrow end of the Valentino neck cork flush with the tip of the neck-piece.

Step 12

  • Remove the masking tape.

Remove the masking tape.

Step 13

  • Sand the seam of the Valentino neck cork until it is even with the rest of the Valentino neck cork.

Sand the seam of the Valentino neck cork until it is even with the rest of the Valentino neck cork.

Step 14

  • Apply a generous amount of cork grease on the whole Valentino neck cork.

Apply a generous amount of cork grease on the whole Valentino neck cork.

Step 15

  • Place the octave key on the neck-piece.

Place the octave key on the neck-piece.

Step 16

  • Re-insert the screw.
  • Tighten the screw with a small, 2.5 mm flat head screwdriver.
  • The replacement is complete.
  • When applying a mouthpiece to the neck-piece for the first time, it will be difficult and require force. This is normal.

Re-insert the screw.

Tighten the screw with a small, 2.5 mm flat head screwdriver.

The replacement is complete.

When applying a mouthpiece to the neck-piece for the first time, it will be difficult and require force. This is normal.

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                    Lauren Wintermute

Member since: 01/16/2020

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                       University of North Texas, Team S1-G6, Raign Spring 2020                        

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                                            1 Guide authored

Cameron - Oct 20, 2021

Reply

I’m usually here for computer guides, I couldn’t believe a sax guide was here! Was overjoyed! Can someone make a Alto Sax full pad replacement guide? I know it’s a big ask! But I have a YAS-23 and it needs all new pads, getting it serviced by a pro is between $700-$850!! But buying pads yourself is as low as $50 or on the high end $200. This seems like a tutorial the world needs to have! Thank you to anyone that even took the time to read this.