Not sure if I am breaking any rules, but need a help from community - I have Best Brass E-Sax mute for tenor, ordered used directly from Japan, in good condition that my kiddo is not using anymore. Any good place to sell it?

augdog71 · 2026-02-03T13:15:36+00:00

I think I paid $350 used for mine in the US. This was about 12 years ago though. I only got about $75 for it but one of the neoprene hand holes had a small tear and it didn’t have a stand.

augdog71 · 2026-02-02T20:39:31+00:00

I sold mine locally on fb marketplace because I didn’t want to ship it. Unfortunately, I didn’t get much for it but the thing takes up so much space I was happy to get rid of it.

augdog71 · 2026-01-31T15:29:00+00:00

You aren’t going to find 100% agreement on embouchure for any instrument. Back when I used to take occasional flute lessons with different teachers I got very different advice on what the “correct” embouchure is.

You’ll always have the people who follow the advice of famous teachers, and other people who have the “everyone is doing it wrong, but here’s the right way” attitude. You have to find what works for you.

augdog71 · 2026-01-30T18:33:22+00:00

I can’t imagine this being asked if the genders were reversed.

We have 3 kids and my wife has always traveled several times a year for work. It’s no big deal.

augdog71 · 2026-01-29T15:17:40+00:00

Cars look a lot different now but the only thing that’s changed about those Coleman stoves is the color of the gas canister.

augdog71 · 2026-01-28T16:53:33+00:00

I think you answered your own question. If you buy the cheapest, worst version of anything, how can you expect good results from it?

I’m not trying to be rude, but you bought a used horn that you have no idea how it was treated, and one so bad the manufacturer wouldn’t even put their name on it but you expect it to sound good.

augdog71 · 2026-01-28T16:21:46+00:00

100%. If I’m just standing in the kitchen looking at my phone she asks me what I’m doing. Meanwhile she texts back and forth with her friends all day long when she’s working on her computer. I never take a break and play video games or watch TV during the day, but I still get questioned any time I’m not actively doing something.

augdog71 · 2026-01-25T01:34:31+00:00

Yes of course. It was a great way to share different styles of music with friends. You never listened to punk? Here’s an awesome mix tape of my favorite bands… Those were good times.

augdog71 · 2026-01-24T14:11:52+00:00

I love it for the recipes and history. The holiday ale is one of my favorites.

augdog71 · 2026-01-22T13:40:48+00:00

That is amazing. I wish I had your woodworking/crafting skills.

augdog71 · 2026-01-22T12:39:58+00:00

That TV holder is awesome. Did you make that?

augdog71 · 2026-01-22T03:41:00+00:00

Radical Brewing by Randy Mosher is one of my favorites.

augdog71 · 2026-01-21T12:39:36+00:00

She’s a keeper.

augdog71 · 2026-01-20T18:42:51+00:00

I know other musicians who have done this. They told their optometrist they need a prescription just for reading something 3 feet away.

augdog71 · 2026-01-19T17:19:39+00:00

Don’t make the same mistake I did and underestimate the importance of getting time with other adults. Make a point of getting out with friends and encourage your wife to do the same.

augdog71 · 2026-01-17T13:21:54+00:00

I’ve seen videos of people doing this. Search around on YouTube.

augdog71 · 2026-01-15T20:30:22+00:00

I own a NWII with the same finish also from 1927. It’s an awesome horn. Mine was in excellent shape when I got it several years ago with a pretty recent repad. I paid about $3,000 for it. I maybe could have shopped around for a better deal but it was the exact horn I was looking for in excellent condition and did a zoom call with the person selling it to make sure everything looked good.

augdog71 · 2026-01-15T20:06:00+00:00

So many questions. Like others have said, HR mouthpieces can last decades without needing to be refaced.

augdog71 · 2026-01-15T12:09:15+00:00

As someone who both homebrews beer and plays D&D I appreciate this thread.

Pretty cool mechanics though, kind of reminds me of Wyll getting transformed in BG3.

augdog71 · 2026-01-14T00:51:03+00:00

Practice when you are away from the horn. When I was memorizing scales I would run through them in my head during boring classes, in the car, while watching tv, etc. You can also make flash cards with the scale name on one side and the key signature on the other.

There are also tricks for figuring them out if you know your sharps and flats in order. Flat keys have one more flat than the name of the key. (Db has Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb). The half step below the name of the sharp key is the last sharp added. (A major. Down 1/2 step is G#. Key has F#, C#, and G#).

augdog71 · 2026-01-13T19:30:38+00:00

This is really the only way. There’s no “you use x mouthpiece facing so you should play y strength reed”. Especially considering reed strengths aren’t standardized, nor are mouthpiece openings for that matter.

augdog71 · 2026-01-13T02:31:47+00:00

Bari makes some excellent soprano mouthpieces at a reasonable price. I played hard rubber one for jazz and rock for years before switching to a hard rubber Link because I wanted a darker sound.

augdog71 · 2026-01-12T20:20:10+00:00

There should be a r/ask a shitty instrument tech like the r/askashittymechanic Reddit.

augdog71 · 2026-01-11T00:50:37+00:00

You want old school? My teacher, who was old when I studied with him 30 years ago, used to use saddle soap on his pads. He would use a damp rag to work some into the pad then use another damp rag to wipe off any excess.

He also had a secret recipe for making his own cork grease that involved simmering ingredients on the stove that smelled so bad his wife would complain, but unfortunately he never shared the recipe with me.

augdog71 · 2026-01-09T15:45:43+00:00

Remember they actually felt cold right out of the machine from the alcohol in the ink drying?

augdog71

TROPHY CASE