I received a few emails regarding a very unique C-Tenor saxophone

I received a few emails regarding a very unique C-Tenor saxophone.  I asked the sender Jeff F. if I could

post a couple of pictures of his sax along with its story.  Here is his reply which I have edited somewhat.

Hi Wade. Permission granted.

After I received the horn, I was severely disappointed. I've been trying to collect a complete

set of playing Pan American horns since my first tenor in 1975. I bought this C melody about ten

years ago. When I saw the amount of damage, I hung it up in the shop with the intentions of fixing

it some day.

     Since then, my son has started playing at church and we were thumbing through some old

Saxophone Journals one afternoon between services. I came across an article that Paul Cohen had

written about a straight Buescher baritone sax. In the article, he mentioned the rumor of a custom

ordered straight C melody for Bud Senter and his Sentertones. I showed the article to John (my son)

and he thought it would be "pretty cool".

     We disassembled the horn and started making measurements for the straight section to replace

the bow. My wife told me that I had lost my mind and that it would never play again! Well, we moved

(actually, we stayed, the house was replaced) and it was stuck back in the shop. Maybe she was right.

     About 8 months ago, some of the teenagers at church wanted to take sax and clarinet lessons. Ok.

No problems except they didn't own any horns. The LORD provided a clarinet, 2 alto saxes and a MINT

Wurlitzer (Martin) C melody with the original white kidskin pads and it played (I have some pics of it

also if you would like to see it after the resto, wild strawberry pearl and polished brass, BEAUTIFUL!).

I showed them the carcass of the straight C and I think they started to have second thoughts about

lessons (from me).

     Anyway, with those horns done, my instruments for church were pretty well caught

up, the bari

in the shop for major dent repairs, I guess we were bored. We got to thinking that it was time to

see if we could complete the straight C project. I laid everything on the bench and thought to my self

"What am I doing?” I had forgotten how badly damaged the horn was originally. The neck didn't belong

to a C, bow was dented beyond repair, and some keys were either broken or missing. What a mess!!!!

We have hand built probably about 60% of the keys and mechanism, the straight section from sheet

brass and a scratch built neck. Joe Sax provided the diagram and dimensions from a Conn straight neck

that he had.

     Since we finished it, my wife now claims it's hers (she likes blue!), the students at church now

think that is the neatest thing since sliced bread and John is already planning on getting it after my

teeth fall out and I'm too broken down from "Uncle Arthur" to play. Boy, is there love here or what???

I’m using a vintage big bore tenor mouthpiece and a #2 reed. There is Teflon treatment throughout.

The scale is in tune low Bb to high F. It actually plays easier than my curved C.

     Wait! There is an alto, in a box in the shop. HMMMMMM. I think my mind is starting leak out of my

ear (again). I'll let you know what happens.

     Thanks for the opportunity to share this with you.

Yours in CHRIST,

Jeff

p.s. We have been praying for GOD to open the door for us open our own repair shop. I've been a

certified master automobile tech about 25 years now and my health is failing. We have been doing

horn repairs for a couple of our local jr. high schools about 10 years. I enjoy the horns A LOT more

than the cars. If it is HIS will for the shop, we'll name it J & J Woodwinds and it will be for HIS glory!

From Wade:

Okay friends, why don’t we all say a prayer for Jeff and the J & J Woodwinds shop!