Ok, for those of you who just got your saxophone and are opening it for the first time, here are some tips your should really take to heart. This can really save hundreds of dollars in damage if you take precautions on how you assemble your saxophone.
To assemble the saxophone, the case should always remain on the floor. This minimizes damage to the saxophone while it is being assembled. If the case is on an unstable surface it could tip or fall. After opening the case, the first thing you should do is put the neck strap around your neck. Make sure your neckstrap has a plastic hook with a spring lock so it cannot be disconnected from the saxophone when you don't want it to. Also it's nice to have padding around the neck so the wieght of the horn doesn't make playing uncomfortable.
Next pick of the body of the saxophone by the bell. Picking up the horn any where else will run the risk of bending keys or rods. The rods have some flex to prevent damage but to mch flex will not allow no movement in the keys. By holding the bell in one hand you can stand the saxophone upright in the case.
Assemble the neck to the body by gently twisting. If the neck is difficult to assemble, gently rub the joint of the neck and the jiont on the body with a rag. If this doesn't work wipe it with brass polish making sure the polish doesn’t touch the lacquor. The polish will rub away the finish. With a greased cork gently twist on the mouthpiece. The cork on a new saxophone isn't "seasoned". When you get your horn or when you have the cork replaced it is important to grease the cork every time you alloy the mouthpiece until the mouthpiece slides on easy without the grease. I usually suggest about 5 or 6 applications. Now you can attach the saxophone to your neck strap.
In another post I'll go into detail of how to properly align a reed and ligature on the mouthpiece.
