After giving the matter some thought, I will admit that there are some things that are better than a freshly adjusted horn. There just aren’t many.

I got my trusty Conn 6M back from my repairman today, and I’ve fallen in love all over again with my “Lady Face.” The horn is an absolute joy to play when all the pads are sealing tightly and the horn has been properly regulated. Tomorrow night, when I play at One Trick Pony with Francesca and Friends, I’ll be getting everything out of my alto sax that it’s capable of giving–and that is a lot, beginning with a fat, round, robust tone that fills the room without any need of a mic.

This is the second time I’ve taken my alto to this present horn technician. He’s pricier than what I’ve been used to paying, but I don’t mind, because the man really knows his stuff. When I walk away from the shop with my horn playing the way it is now–that’s worth it to me. There’s something about a freshly serviced horn that makes it irresistible; pick it up and start playing it, and you can’t put it down anytime soon. At least, I can’t. I gave mine a good workout this evening, and I’d have kept going for another hour had I not had other items on my schedule to take care of.

If you’ve played your horn any length of time, you understand that periodic maintenance is as much a built-in, normal expense of playing the saxophone as purchasing new reeds. I try to get my horn in to the shop every six months or so. That’s not really so much a matter of the calendar, though. I’m just sensitive to my horn, and when it starts getting squirrelly on me–when the low notes blow hard and want to separate into overtones; when the volume becomes difficult to control; when my tone becomes raspy or strident–then I know it’s time to see the tech.

Since the issues that can crop up on a saxophone tend to do so incrementally, it can be surprising just how huge a difference a good maintenance job can make. If you’re a novice player, don’t be shy about taking your horn in to the music store and having a repair man look at it. Just make sure he’s a good one. Most techs know their job, but you may want to ask around and find out if there are one or two names that get stellar recommendations from professional players. I’m really pleased with my present technician, and it helps to know that he gigs regularly himself.

Can’t wait to see what my horn does on Francesca’s Valentine’s Day gig. It’ll be a blast. I hope to see some of you out there tomorrow night at One Trick Pony!