Thou shalt not DIY (Selmer Bundy II Tenor)
I bought a Bundy II tenor for $150. It arrived somewhat playable but needed a lot of repair. Reading online, it was made clear to me that letting a technician do the work was my only option; every specific problem I Googled ended with the advice: “don’t do it yourself.” However, I consider myself rather handy and found it hard to believe that getting it into good shape would be that difficult. So, I dove in.
First up, the low B-flat key was misaligned. I concluded that the bell was bent, so I put the sax in my lap and started bending and pushing until the alignment was fixed. Next, I checked the pads. Some were in a horrible state, while others were quite alright. When I looked online for single pads, I was horrified by the prices, so I ended up buying a complete set from Amazon. Without removing any keys, I started replacing the worn pads using a torch, a needle, and shellac. Using a LED light strip as a leak light, I ensured the new pads made a good seal. Then, I replaced almost all the cork padding and adjusted everything to the proper regulation distances. Some of the springs needed tensioning and I had to smooth out a grove on the body where a spring for one of the palm keys rested.
When I play-tested the horn, it played quite well. But since Coleman Hawkins is my guy, I really wanted to be able to subtone throughout the entire register. Unfortunately, everything below low D was impossible to subtone (though full tones were no problem). Since I’ve only been playing for a couple of months, I initially thought something was wrong with my technique. Boy, did I fight for those low subtones…
Eventually, I figured there had to be a hidden leak that the light wasn't showing. I wrapped a vinyl glove over the bell, closed all the keys, and sucked the air out. After sealing the mouthpiece with my lips, I watched as the glove slowly deflated from the vacuum. Okay, so there was a slow leak—but where?
I realized that if I kept creating suction while releasing keys individually, a good seal would hold the key shut. Wherever there was a leak, the key would pop open, either slowly or instantly. Through this method, I found and changed two more pads in the upper stack. Lo and behold, subtoning all the way down to low B-flat became easy! In the end, I got a very cheap, highly playable Bundy II with zero leaks and great regulation. It’s a beautiful-sounding horn.
Why am I writing this? I guess as a counter-narrative to all the online advice warning against DIY repairs. I’d say if you enjoy fixing things—like changing car brakes or picking a lock—odds are you are perfectly capable of getting a sax into playable condition.
On a final note, I’d also like to call out my local sax shop, which has made me feel very unwelcome on several occasions. The last straw was when I wanted to buy rail guard felt cushions. The shop refused to sell them to me unless I brought the sax in for a full service—a policy delivered in a tone suggesting I might be the stupidest person alive.
Thanks for reading!