namm 2018

the Bullet is made from his hardest material yet and feels great when you are trying to make whisker-like adjustments to your reeds.  It also works beautifully on synthetic reeds.  Linking it up with one of his exquisite handles, it makes the whole operation of reed adjustment much more comfortable.

Do you fancy reducing your pad stickiness by 98% and eliminating all of the mould and fungus that develops inside your horn?  Look no further than Key Leaves!  Rulon Brown is a US-based pro player and has engineered this product himself – it literally hit the market 2.5 weeks before the NAMM show and I think this product is going to be huge.  There are two main products to consider here; firstly a silicon based set of wedges, neatly designed such that they can’t injure the sax, which insert into the bottom Eb and C# keys of the sax while it isn’t being used.  This allows the air to flow through this area of the sax and helps it to naturally dry it out, preventing pools of moisture building up around these keys as the sax sits in the case.  Of course, C# is linked to G# so this key is therefore held open too.  Similarly, he has designed a very clever “Vent Cap” which replaces the traditional bung, is ventilated, and is attached to a string of silicon-based palm key discs that essentially hold open these keys.  Again the concept is to maximise the airflow through the sax.  Of course the palm keys are known for the incredible build-up of moisture and this can get really dire when the sax is left moist in a case for a long period of time.  This device puts an end to all of that.  There is a compelling video available on Rulon’s website showing an A/B test between two identically treated student saxes, over the course of one year.  Neither are cleaned, but only one sax has been used with Key Leaves.  One sax is ridden with fungi and mould, while the other one appears spotless – I think you can guess which is which!

Silverstein are at the forefront of product development and quality of design.  The Omniguard solves that common old problem that many a player suffer from: teeth marks on the lower lip!  This device can be heated with warm water and then moulds to your teeth, essentially making a custom fit!  It can be used many times over, and can be re-moulded if necessary.

The Omni patch is a long-lasting high-grade patch, and for the first time we see a ‘teeth guide’ to allow you to slot your teeth into the place they’re supposed to be!  The edges have also been designed such that the patch has a better seal on your mouthpiece.