Bushman Pocket Sax redux

I know some of you guys have these gathering dust

here is a disorderly  rambling post I put on the Xaphoon Pocket sax forum in answer to a new owner fears and questions..

perhaps it will renew someones interest in these amazing instruments.. Bushman no longer sells them.. but they are available under other brands names

copy of post follows :
soaking reeds is no big deal.. some of us just hold it in our mouths a few minutes , others put them in a glass of water

however after soaking a reed the first time or two it will get curly ... don't worry,, let it dry and do it again.. and dry it again.. it will get flatter,, then , it will not still be perfectly flat yet , but nearlly so,  so  soak it again go ahead and play it and it will straighten out..

as to the "embouchure"  (what you do with your mouth)  just place your top teeth on top of the mouthpiece (NOT your lips , use your teeths edges)  and your lower lip against the reed a bit forward of the tip  and apply pressure enough to get a sound.

at first you will squeak... ASSUMING you have properly installed the reed NOT TOO TIGHT but NOT TOO LOOSE.. in the right position (with a wet reed, you should be able to gently push it against the mouthpiece with your thumb and see the curved tip of the mouthpiece edge almost showing thru the thin reed tip and making a nice contact

so assuming the reed is installed properly...  you will still squeak BECAUSE your lips , no matter what a great kisser you may think you are... ARE NOT STRONG as a sax players...

So just put up with the squeaks, try playing long  L O N G tones and in a few days your lower lip with strengthen  (sax players call it "getting Chops"  (to "keep" your "chops" you must practice 20 or 30 minutes a day,, or an hour every 2 or 3 days at a minimum... if you lay off more than a couple weeks you will "lose your chops" and it will take a few hours to get them back again

after a few days of 20 minute sessions you will have chops (strong lower lip ) and you will get great satisfaction and good tone...
If you are still squeaking after a few days of these 20 minute sessions.. ... you are doing something wrong with the reed installation.. get someone to show you

as to clear notes on the instrument.. air leaks are the problem  YOU NEED TO SLANT YOUR FINGERS AS SHOWN ON THE BROCHURE<,  notice the grooves at the holes are slanted...!!   haveing the fingers perpendicular to the instrument  will not close the holes

also  I find my finger TIPS do not seal well, the PADS of my finger tips work much better

It is not at all  as difficult as it may appear from what I have written... but my harmonica playing friends , being LAZY ,,, all give up too soon and throw their zaphs in the sock drawer
DON"T GIVE UP.. this is the most AMAZING instrument..

oh, and do not get impatient and "CHEAT" by using your lower teeth under your lip to support and strnghten it,, it DOES work, but you will never get really good tone ... and once you start that habit,, it is hard to break... it is bad form and will haunt yu later... just be patient and develop that lip..

I also exercise my lip silently when not playing by holding an oval Bic cigarette lighter between my lip and teeth and using the lip to clamp down on it .. usually when I am wasting my time by driving somewhere..

looks weird.. you could use any similarly sized object  (when no one is around of course..) as you do dishes,, watch TV or whatever


ALL sax players do this.. it is our way of life

We got one of these a couple of years ago.  We tried to learn to play it, but I hated it and Rich didn't like it much either.