What Materials Are Used to Make a Saxophone?

Ever since its invention in 1841, by French instrument maker Adolphe Sax, the saxophone has been popular due to its ability to bridge the tonal gap between brass and woodwind instruments. Because of this hybrid nature, the materials which go into the making of saxophones are similar to both types of instruments. However, there are some unique properties of the saxophone which have created the need for materials exclusive to the saxophone specifically.

Saxophone Components

All six types of the modern band saxophone consist of a mouthpiece, a reed, the crook, the keys (including rods, cups and posts), the tube, and the bell. Technically, the bell is not a separate component, but rather the flared end section of the saxophone tube.

Brass Materials

The saxophone brass tube consists of a buttery yellow alloy mixture of approximately 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc. The saxophone rods, keys, cups and the posts which hold the rods and keys in place are also made of brass.

Wood Materials

The "wood" saxophone reed is composed of a thin, usually tapered strip of Arundo Donax, a tall, perennial cane plant similar to bamboo. The reed is shaped and shaved to varying thicknesses according to the pitch of the saxophone type.

Other Materials

The saxophone key tops are generally made of plastic in the lower priced, mass produced models. More expensive saxophones or custom made instruments will often have key tops made from Mother of Pearl. Early saxophone key tops were carved from elephant ivory. However, as inexpensive plastics pervaded all manufacturing processes from around 1950 on, ivory key tops became more a matter of taste. When the sale of ivory was banned in 1989, the practice was abandoned altogether.

Lacquer Or Plating Materials

Generally, the final step in saxophone manufacturing is the application of a thin coat of clear acrylic lacquer over the bare brass, retaining the buttery yellow appearance of the saxophone we are accustomed to. A less common practice is the application of a colored lacquer, usually silver-toned. Even more rarely, gold is used as saxophone plating.

Resources

• International Saxophone Home Page