How to Fix a Baritone Sax
Baritone saxophones, being the largest of the four main saxes (soprano, alto, tenor, bari), may seem indestructible because of their size. However, the opposite is true, and baritone saxes are the most commonly damaged saxophone for two reasons: Owners consider the horns stronger than they are, and the horns have elongated rods that lack support and are easy to bend, causing misalignments.
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Instructions
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Identify the problem area. Play the horn and find where the notes are having a problem playing. Lift the horn and observe the pads as you open and close them. Do they close all the way? Are there any obvious adjustment problems?
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2
Use a leak light. If you do not have a leak light, tie a very small flashlight (small enough to fit down the body of the horn) to a piece of string and slide it into the body. For a bari, you will have to do this in the bell first and turn the horn upside down to get it in.
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3
Close the problematic keys while the light's on inside the bari. If you see light escaping the tone holes, there is a leak, and a key needs adjusting. If not, move on to other keys until you find the problem.
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4
Find where the key is attached to and you will see a screw that adjusts it. If there is no adjusting screw, then the key must be bent back into place.
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Determine whether the horn has a key that is not popping back up. If it doesn't, this is a spring issue. Look around the key and find the spring that is off and should be evidently sticking out.
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Use a small screw driver to place the spring back behind its holder and check the key.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult a repair technician before performing repairs. Baritone saxophones are very expensive and improper repairs can cause more damage.
