Questions
If you’ve got a saxophone question, and 1. You’ve either had no luck researching the answer yourself, 2. The answers you’ve gotten make no sense to you, or 3. You’re not even sure where to ask it, you can ask it on this page via a comment.
If I don’t know the answer to your question, I’ll do my best to research it, and get as much information as I can for you.
Photo by M. Margison. Photo effects by H. Kahlke ©2008
Suggestions
Also, if you have any suggestions for future blog posts, I would love to hear them. Feel free to post your ideas here, or use the Contact page to send me note with your idea.
Perhaps you have a vintage horn with an interesting history that you’d like to tell people about. I’m always open to having you tell your horn’s story on my website. Just get in touch with me, and we’ll figure out the details.
Photo & photo effects by H. Kahlke © 2009
Thanks again Helen. Re the Czech alto with no name, I looked at pictures as you suggested and found the bell pad key protectors and the bell to body brace to be identical to a Lignatone with an earlier serial number. I am in the Canadian province of Quebec and the horn is priced at $500. I did like the feel, tonal accuracy and ease of play of this instrument. For lack of better terms, would you consider this a student or perhaps intermediate horn?
Once again, thank you. I appreciate your sharing of your knowlege and I will look for a Hohner President while I ponder. John
Hi John.
Re: The Hohner President. I was just giving that as an example. I wasn’t suggesting you get one of those. They are great pro horns mind you. If you can find one one to try out, by all means do, but like I said it was just a suggestion. I also love the Julius Keilwerth Tonekings and The New Kings from the 1950s. They’re great horns as well. (The Hohner was designed by Julius’ brother Max Keilwerth BTW.) You’d likely have much more luck finding one of those, or a stencil of one of those to try out in Quebec (wherabouts in Quebec are you?) than you will a Hohner. Also… There are lots of American-made horns which would be easier to find, that have a killer sound. For example a Conn 6M is a great alto. My 6M is my main jazz horn.
Now getting back to the Amati… The Amati are not what most professional musicians would consider professional quality instruments. I haven’t played an Amati of this vintage, only newer ones, so I can’t speak to the quality of the older ones. They certainly weren’t built as student instruments. However, in the end, it comes down to what you want to spend on a horn, and what you plan to do with it.
For the most part, Canadian sax prices are still higher than in the States. Why? I don’t know. Must be because our economy is so much better.
All joking aside, $500 for a horn that is in good playing condition, with good intonation (did you check it with a tuner?), that you like the feel/tone of, isn’t a bad price here in Canada. Period.
If you live in Montreal, or even Quebec City, you likely have a lot choices in alto saxophones. However, you will likely be paying more for a good quality, pro horn. If you’re living in a smaller town though, or in a more rural part of the province, then you’ll be lucky to find anything at all. When I lived in Fredericton, NB for 8 1/2 years, I bought most of my horns from the US, because there was nothing in the province at all. Now that I’m back home just outside of Vancouver, BC, I buy almost all my horns locally. Only my last alto (a Hohner President) was bought from a dealer I know in Oregon.
Just some more stuff/name brands to think about.
Questions? Thoughts? Fire away….helen
Hi Helen, Further to the alto hunt that started with the Czech sax with no name, I found a 6M lady face circa mid 50’s with under slung octave key and no microtuner. It was overhauled a few years ago, played lightly since and it plays well. It’s a bit fuzzy with the low E and D, it’s abit sharp for low C to low Bb and the C# pinky key is stiff. You mentioned that you were a fan of 6Ms so maybe you can tell me if I should be concerned. The SN is 626xxx. The price is at about half of any others I’ve seen. I’m tempted to stretch my budget and go for it, but I need a push. I am adverse to high maintenence costs and bother so I’ll ask: Do I have to polish the silver every other week to keep it from turning black and does this vintage honey need to be in the shop to get overhauled and tuned every year. I’m a light use amateur player .
Thanks Helen. I respect your opinion and your diplomatic review of my B$S Blue Label.
John
Hi John.
Just so you know, my 6M is a late model one. It is from 1966, so doesn’t have the naked lady any more. As such it doesn’t command the high price other 6Ms do, but for me it was all about the sound. It does however, still have wire key guards. I don’t know if that makes a difference. Some people say that the later horns with the wire guards are better than the later ones with sheet metal guards. I don’t know if that’s true or not, since I’ve not played any 6Ms with sheet metal guards.
As far as tuning goes, mine is completely in tune. I have no tuning issues in the lower end. It could be you not being used to the horn, or it could be key heights, or it could be the horn itself. I wouldn’t be too quick to pull the trigger on that one without it being assessed by a tech. (You don’t mention if its at a store or a private sale, or how much it is.)
Regarding silver horns in general: yes, they do require a bit more maintenance than lacquer ones. However, no, they don’t have to go to the shop ever year to be overhauled. If they did, I’d be broke. I own about 10 silver plated horns. I use silver strips in all my cases—the same kind you put in your silverware drawer or jewellery case. I also keep my horns in their cases when they are not in use, and the cases closed. I don’t polish my horns myself, and have my tech polish them when they are overhauled. In between, the strips seem to do a good job. Does the horn maintain its high silvery shine like it just came from the shop? No, but it’s a working horn, so I don’t mind. Most working pros do what I do, and it works for them. YMMV, the choice is up to each player.
With regards to visits to your tech, unless you’re using your horn on a day to day basis, most people can get away with having their horns seen by a tech only every couple of years, versus every year. Ultimately it depends on how much you use it, and how much you can compensate for. Most pros have some of the worst horns out there, because they don’t have time to get their horns looked and and worked on, so they just play through the problems, until the problems become so great, that they can no longer compensate for them.
That said, the problems that arise in horns due to use, generally don’t result in tuning issues. Tuning, as I mentioned before, is mostly commonly associated with improper heights, unfamiliarity with the horn, poor mouthpiece/horn fit, a had horn, etc.
So after all that, I’m not sure I’ve given you help John. 🙄
Hi Helen. I’m new to your site and I’ll be back regularly. I have a question for you:
I recently tried out (I’m shopping) an alto marked only with a decorative bell engraving and the words “made in Czechoslovakia” on the back and neck. It’s gold with silver tone hole covers. It has a 5 digit serial number (63xxx) that appears on the back, on the neck insert and behind one of the keys (G# I think). By the wear and look, I would guess that it was made in the 60’s.
Is this typical of any stencil alto that you know? I like the way it plays and sounds, but I have no idea if it has any inherent value. Thank you.
Hi John. Welcome to my site.
Without seeing pictures of the sax in question, I’d just be speculating wildly. European stencil horns generally followed the serial number lists of their brand-name horn cousins, so my best advice to you would be look up some of the Amati horns in my gallery to see if any of those that are close in serial number range look like the alto you saw.
Amati made a great deal of stencil saxophones, for a great many companies. Unfortunately no one has compiled a proper list, nor is there a listing of Amti serial numbers for saxophones published anywhere.
Sax On The Web does have something on the history of Amati saxes, but I can’t see what’s on it right now. The page is coming up with an error code. Apparently the site is down due to traffic volume or for maintenance, but it might be worth checking out too.
If you have any photos you can send me, then I could likely comment more intelligently. Who knows, it might not even be an Amati.
So there you have it John. Good luck in your information search.
Regards,
Helen
Thank you for the reply Helen.
I’ve attached a photo of the Czech alto in question (as pasted in Word from the internet posting). I hope that it is decipherable. Amati… it would be reassuring to know that this horn may have some pedigree.If you would care to guess at a reasonable sum to pay(it works well), I’d be thankful.
Thanks again,
John
Hi again Helen,
The photo paste of the Czech alto didn’t work. I’m tech challenged. I’ll try an alternative format this time. Thanks again for this.
John
Hi John.
You’re not quite as tech challenged as you thought. You got the picture posted with your second try. 😉
Well it’s hard to say for sure with only 1 small photo of a partial horn, but, it does appear to have the bell to body brace of an Amati.
I’m not familiar enough with the brand to know if it is a Lignatone, or a model that came later. The bottom line is, Amati horns aren’t particularly expensive. Now I don’t know where you live, and there are regional differences (eg: saxophones cost more in Europe than they do here in North America), but if you check out eBay.com, and do a search for Amati with your preferences set for Worldwide and completed, you’ll see how much some of these horns sold for over the past few months, and how many didn’t. When you’re looking at these horns, you’ll have to make sure you’re looking at horns with similar bell to body braces (there aren’t many). Sadly, most of those weren’t in great condition, but nonetheless you will see there is an overall trend for the prices to be low.
Amati is not a popular brand in the vintage saxophone world. Many players don’t like them. There are a few player who do, but for the most part, there are much better horns out there, which is why the prices of the saxes is quite low when compared to other European brands of similar vintage. That said, if the sax plays well, and in tune, and you like the sound of it, and you can get it for a good price, then it might be the horn for you.
Like all saxophones, I always suggest that a person play the horn first to see if it works for them. Just because I happen to like Hohner Presidents, doesn’t mean you will. As a matter of fact, you might just hate them.
I hope this helps somewhat. Play the horn, and see what you think.
Good luck and let me know how it turns out….helen
When i play my alto sax its fine on one note. The A with the octave key doesn’t work and im not sure why. When i play the note, it sounds like its playing in the middle of the high octave and low octave. is there a way to fix this?
Hi Charlotte. Welcome to my blog.
There are couple of notes that are especially problematic on saxophones: D2 (the D with the octave key) and A2 (the A you describe). Both notes tend to sound quite airy, and saxophone and neck manufacturers have tried many different ways to come up with solutions to these poor-sounding notes.
That said, since I can’t hear what your A2 sounds like, and can’t see what your embouchure is doing, I can’t really say if it’s your horn or you—or a combination of both—that might be causing the problem. You don’t mention how long you’ve been playing, and if this a new problem for you.
It’s possible that’s it’s simply a case that your upper octave key (the one on the neck) isn’t opening quite right. The A2 is the first note that uses the upper octave key. Perhaps there’s a cork missing, or the floating lever (the little piece on the horn that goes under the loop of the upper octave key) is bent, or not aligned properly. In some instruments (like my Martin Handcraft), unless you line the neck up perfectly, the octave key won’t open properly.
You don’t mention if you’re in school or if you’re an adult. If you’re in school, have your band teacher take a look at your horn to see if he/she can see a problem. If you’re not in school, take your sax to a repair technician to see if they can give it a quick check. If they can’t see anything wrong, then the problem is likely in your approach to the note.
Hope this has helped somewhat.
Regards,
Helen
This is the first note that uses the neck octave key, as you ascend the scale. Note that if you hold the octave button and move your left ring finger, the mechanism automatically switches between the two octave vents. Make sure that when you lift your finger, the neck pip opens quickly (the pad doesn’t stick and the mechanism doesn’t gum up) and adequately (at least a couple millimeters). If it sticks, a new pad is probably in order. If it’s gummy, it probably just needs old oil (and grit) cleaned up. If it’s not opening far enough, that’s a simple matter of adjusting things until it does. You may be able to make this adjustment just by rotating the neck in the tenon one way or the other. Sometimes it was adjusted for one player’s comfort, and you like the neck somewhere else. If this is the case, all it takes is a quick bend of the neck octave key.
If none of these things seem to fit the bill, try running a pipe cleaner through the neck octave pip — dry at first, then damp, then dry again. If there’s crud collected in there impeding the venting, this will probably take care of it.
Dear Helen Greetings
Thank you and answer your suggestion.
Here’s saxophone teacher – I’m going to do two more, two more years to take my son to Germany.
Here’s saxophone teacher had to teach the kids did not meet with the student model alto saxophone.I’ve search high and chose a model that desperately need your help because my professors (taking into account that the left thumb is a small alto saxophone for my son)
My favorite models are:
1)yamaha yas-23
2)yamaha as-275
3)selmer as-500
4)vibrato a1
5)chateau vch 221l
6)
thanks alot for your help…
Hello rad.
I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to write to you.
I really don’t like the idea of you buying a saxophone through the Internet. However, if you feel that you have to, then I trust you have no other options.
I looked at that the saxophones that you listed, and after carefully considering all of them, I’d say you might give the Vibratosax a try. At least it is very light in weight, and it will be easy for your son to hang from his neck. My concern would be that a heavier horn could hurt him in the long run because he is so young.
I hope it turns out well for you.
Best wishes,
Helen
hi
my son is 6years old. i want buy alto saxophone for him.
please help me for model and…!
thank you
Hello rad.
So you’d like to buy an alto for your 6 year old? OK, that’s a bit young, but some children start at that age. What I would suggest is that you speak to a saxophone teacher in your area, and get his/her advice.
I could start throwing all kinds of brand names at you, but that is likely not going to be all that helpful. The most important thing that I would say is don’t buy a horn over the Internet. Although it might cost a bit more, buy a good, used student model horn through a reputable store in your area. This is where a teacher in your town will come in handy. Find out what that teacher recommends, and what store they work with. They know what stores are good, and who has a good repair tech working for them.
Nothing is worse for a beginning student than getting stuck with a cheap horn, that is full of leaks, and in a worst case scenario, the local repair guy won’t fix, because he thinks “is a piece of junk”. This is something I’ve heard of happening when inexpensive student horns are bought online, and taken to local shops.
If you son is 6, you’ll likely want him to be taking private lessons anyway, so talk to the local saxophone teacher first, and get that person’s advice early on. It’s amazing how many parents don’t think to do this. If they did, it would likely save their children a lot of aggravation down the road, in that they would avoid getting stuck with poor quality, starter instruments.
I hope this has helped a bit rad.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Regards,
Helen
Hi Helen, what a fantastic site. I have a question which I hope someone will be able to help me with.
About 15 years ago I bught a Julius Keilwerth Special s/n 82226 from a retiring tenor pro. I have recently tried to find out more information about it but nobody in the UK seem to know anything about the Special.
Anyone shed some light?
Thanks Jill
Hi Jill. Welcome to my site.
I’d have to see some photos of the horn to be sure, but based on the serial #, it should have been made in 1980. If you bought it 15 years ago, it would have been about 17 years or so old. Does that fit?
I recently wrote the history of the Julius Keilwerth company for my website. The Toneking Special was JK’s pro horn of the 70s and 80s. I do have some photos on the page that you can compare yours to, so perhaps that will help you.
That aside, I’d be happy to look at photos of your sax, and let you know what you have. If you’re going to send me pics, please send them to my gmail account. My address is: bassic.sax.ca@gmail.com
I hope my web page answers some of your questions Jill. Once you’ve had a chance to look it over, ask anything else you like, and send me photos if you want to know specifics about your horn. This page on my site tells you what kinds of photos allow me to help you best.
Regards,
Helen
Hi Helen,
Thamks for such a quick and informative response. I’ll get some pictures off to you shortly as some things don’t seem to match.
Thanks again
Jill
Hi
i have just learned about your site. i have been all over the internet to find out more about my sax. i use to play it when i was younger many years ago. my parents just gave it to me , it had been at their place all these years. i wanted to know more about it now. i can not find much information about it online.i was hoping you could help or point me in the right direction.
it is a Andre Raven orsi stencil from what i have found out. it has a serial number of d4303 on it. thanks for the help.
Hello Jose.
Well what would you like to know? Based on the serial #, you’re right, it should be an Orsi. However, I would need to see some photos of it before I can give you any concrete information about your sax.
Check out this page on my website. It will give you information on how I can best help you.
Hope this helps…helen
Hi! I am starting saxophone lessons next week and I really cannot decide whether to take up baritone saxophone or soprano. Any advice for a beginner? (I do play bassoon if that makes a difference) :saxy: :saxy:
Hi Tammy.
Welcome to the world of saxophones, and to my site!
The type of saxophone you first learn on depends entirely on you. Although most people start on alto, some do start on tenor. Baritone or soprano are not commonly starter instruments per se, because they are not as commonly rented, and in the case of the baritone, quite a bit more expensive.
Ultimately you have to like to listen to the sound that comes out of the end of your horn. Which do you like better? That’s the one I would pick.
Soprano saxophones are much more picky when it comes to embouchure, but if you’re already playing bassoon, then you’re familiar with the fine control necessary. Baritones require far more air, and proper breathing technique, in order to get a good sound and consistency over the full range of the horn.
I don’t know if I’ve helped you much Tammy, but maybe I’ve given you something to think about. Perhaps you’d like to split the difference and learn on tenor. Then once you’ve got the basics under your belt, you can either go up, or down, in size.
Thanks for your advice! It’s really helpful 😀
Hi, I hope you can help. I have a an Orpheus brand saxophone that has sitting around in the shed for about ten years. It has ‘made in Italy’ stamped on it and I was told it might have been made by Orsi. I was also told it might be a C-melody.
Anyway, I’ve just put it on eBay ( http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-sax-Alto-saxophone-may-suit-shop-restaurant-display-/180948020013?pt=AU_Musical_Instruments_Instruments&hash=item2a2157ab2d ) and I can’t answer any questions about it. Any ideas?
Thanks.
Mike.
Hi Mike.
Sorry I’m far behind in my comments. I checked on your auction, and realize that there’s just over an hour left to go before it concludes. Did any of the people writing to you offer you any input as to possible makers?
I can tell you what it’s not. It is not an Orsi. As for what it is, that is not so clear. I have only seen one sax like it before, and that too came from down under. I was never able to positively identify it for the owner. My area of expertise is not Italian saxophones, and I only have a fair amount of knowledge about Orsi horns.
I have compared your Orpheus to the other Italian brands that I have in my gallery, but it doesn’t line up particularly well with any of them. As I said, it’s not an Orsi. It’s features aren’t right, and although you don’t mention a serial #, Orsi started their numbers with a letter like “A”, “B”, etc.
It can’t be a Ida Maria Grassi, since the company started producing saxophones in the 1960s, and this horn is older than that, and its features don’t really line up with any of the known models.
If I had to guess, I’d have to say that it’s an A. Rampone (before the joining with Cazzani). Furthermore, later A. Rampone stencilled for Orpheum. While not conclusive, it is interesting. I wonder if Orpheum and Orpheaus were related?
In any event, I would guess that by now my answer is quite irrelevant to you. Nonetheless, you asked, and I don’t like to see questions go unanswered. Again, my sincere apologies about my tardiness.
FWIW, a stencil alto saxophone, from an unknown Italian manufacturer, in need of a restoration, sadly, does not fetch much on auction. Even fully functional, these horns are not worth a great deal. Even top notch pro horns can be picked up for cheap these days. Great if you’re a buyer. Not so good if you’re a seller.
I have a Voss Alto Saxophone that I would like to sell, made in west germany, #14620. Couple of questions: How do I find out how much it is worth and what is the best way to sell it? eBay?
thanks
See attached photos
Hello Julio. Welcome to my site.
If you’re interested in selling your sax, and would like to know what it might be worth, I have put together a page on my site that can help you figure it out. When you’re looking for completed auctions, you can look for more than Voss saxophones. You can look for any Dörfler & Jörka (D&J) altos that have sold, that are in similar condition to your Voss. Check out the D&J page on my site for a section called Stencil Names. (It’s about 1/3 of the way down the page.) There you’ll find a listing of all the stencil names that you can search for. Any of them (as long as they were built by D&J of course) would be comparable to yours.
Oh, I should mention, make sure you check “World Wide” on you search list. This will give you the greatest amount of results.
As far as where to sell it, that depends on where you are. eBay will certainly give you the greatest amount of exposure. A music store in your community that takes consignments is another option. The fact is, D&J altos don’t sell for a lot of money. They usually go for under $500 US.
Hope this helps a bit. If you have any more questions, please just ask. I’ll do my best to answer them quicker next time. Sorry it took so many days to get back to you this time…helen
For some years ago I bought a Kohlert tenor (pre WWII) and in the saxcase there were some mouthpieces that came along with the sax. One metal mpc that I think is from the 30’s or 40’s and I also think it’s made in “CZ”. I tried the mouthpiece on differnt saxes (King, Conn, Kohlert, SML, Buffet, Keilwerth stencils, Martin, Klingsor (Hammerschmidt) …. ) from the late 30’s to the early 60’s. When I tried the mouthpiece on a Martin HC-38, it was “BINGO”. I’ve been looking for suitable mouthpieces to old Martins. I think Martin saxes have smaller bore and needs a mouthpiece with a small chamber and some kind of baffle. The mouthpiece is working fine on the Martin -38. In tune over the whole register, nice timbre, quick response …. . There are a few problems: I need more volume, I also prefer a mouthpiece with a longer facing (curve) and it’s bare brass (I think it was plated)! The tip can be open up and make a longer facing as well . Send the mouthpiece for silverplating. I think this will cost me quite a lot? And I don’t know the result!
So my questions for you are: Is it just me that think a small bore sax needs a small chamber mouthpiece? Do you have any idea who made the mouthpiece? There is a stamp but I can just read ”CZ”.
As you can see the table on the mouthpiece is longer compared to most modern mouthpieces. Modern Berg Larsens and a Dukoffs have shorter table. A modern reed is longer than an old one!
I use the mouthpiece on a Martin HC (Comm I) -38. A BG ”FL” ligature and Vandoren V16 #3½-4 reed is working fine. A good setup for playing ”unplugged” (acustic guitar, -bass, -piano ….).
With all this written I would also say: You never knows what’s hiding in an old saxophone case!!
Thomas
Hi Thomas. I’m sorry I never replied. I didn’t see your comment until now. Did you ever find any answers to your mouthpiece questions?
I don’t know about the blanket statement that smaller bore saxophones need smaller chamber pieces with some kind of baffle. If you look at what came with these horns originally, I’m not sure if that’s true. However, I have a Handcraft tenor (Series 1) that I use one of 2 mouthpieces on. The first mouthpiece I got was a vintage, hard rubber Berg Larsen piece that has the numbers worn off its shank. You can barely make out something like 110/0. It plays on the horn very well. More recently I started using any of my vintage Dukoff pieces. They all work really well, and allow all the nuances of the Martin’s rich tone to come through.
Now if it just would have better ergos, I would use it much more than I do. 😥
As far as you never know what you’ll find in a case, I’ve never been all that lucky. I did however, receive an email from a fellow a few months ago, whose son bought his very first tenor saxophone at a yard sale with money he earned from his paper route. The horn was a run of the mill La Monte, but the mouthpiece, it was a Dukoff Hollywood! I told him not to let his son take the piece to school, and to get something like a Rico or Yamaha mouthpiece to learn on. Put the Dukoff away until such a time that the kid becomes serious, and understands what he has, or he gives up the sax. If the later happens, he then has a valuable piece to sell to someone down the road.
Now why couldn’t I find a Dukoff Hollywood at a yard sale? Or you Thomas? Wouldn’t you like to find one in a junky old sax case? Now that would be quite the prize.
I couldn’t make out the stamping on the shank of the mouthpiece either. Have you had any success with that yet? If you haven’t I have a software program that might be helpful. I can play around and see if I can enrich the detail enough to make out the letters more. Let me know.
Hi, just a quick 1. I play bass in a band and would love learn sax, I can’t read music, only tableture. Will my experience playin with a band for over two years and many successful gigs help with grasping the basics? How much would lessons cost? And how much (£) and what type of sax would suit me? (Half decent of course)
I would b thankful for any reply. 🙂
Hi johnboi. Welcome to my site.
Having the experience in the music business that you do will help in some ways, but not so much in others. You will have to learn how to read treble clef notes, and how to form an embouchure. Those are 2 things that are very different from bass to sax.
As far what lessons cost, that varies a lot from city to city, and country to country. I assume you are somewhere in the UK. I’m not familiar with the online sources where teachers advertise there, but if you check out the sax forum Cafe Saxophone, it might give you some info there. You might want to join, and ask your questions there as well. Although there are members from all over the world on the site, it is based out of the UK, and most players there are Europe-based. The site is owned by UK’s Pete Thomas, a fairly famous sax player, composer, producer, among other things. His site has a lot of information on it that might be useful to you—like this, a listing of sax teachers in the UK. (I just happened to see it while looking up the site for you.)
As far as horns goes, that depends on a lot of factors. I always tell my adult students—especially the ones that are already musicians—to buy the best sax that they can afford. (Within reason of course. I wouldn’t suggest that anyone drop $18,000 on a 1967 Mark VI alto, just because David Sandborn plays one.) If you find yourself a teacher, perhaps get their assistance in buying a sax. Again, this might be a great question to ask on the Cafe Saxophone forum. Be aware though, people can have very strong personal opinions about this, and sometimes that clouds what they tell others to buy. Just because I play sax brand X, with mouthpiece Y, and reed Z, doesn’t mean you should. This is where a good teacher can help you pick out the right sax for you.
Hope this helps a bit johnboi.
If you’ve got anymore questions, feel free to drop in anytime…helen
I tried asking this in an email, but the email came back as undeliverable, so I am posting it here. Thank you.
Hello Helen,
I’ve been playing flute and saxophone for about 52 years – since I was 12. I am looking to get some feedback on the issue of playing with dental implants. I know that there is no substitute for natural teeth and being able to maintain an adequate embouchure and bite, and that there is (for all intents and purposes) no playing with dentures. So, I am writing to ask if you, or any of your subscribers, friends or other players, play with, or know of anyone who comfortably plays with implants (at least the upper front four teeth). I thank you for any replies. Take care, be well,
Armond Neal
Los Angeles, CA
Hi Armond.
I’m sorry your email didn’t go through. I wonder why? I just tested the Contact button, and it worked. I also checked my other email address that’s located in various places around the site, and that works too. Maybe my server was having a time out. I’ve been getting a few of those recently because of too many spammers using my site to send traffic to their site. It really annoys me to no end, but there’s not much I can do about it. 😡 I’m going to talk to my hosting company about it, and see if they can increase capacity on my site.
Anyways, back to why you wrote… I don’t have any implants, so I can’t speak from personal experience. A friend, and fellow sax player I worked with in Fredericton, had partials, and those included the front, top teeth. He did play, and he still played very well. He did complain bitterly however, that he felt it wasn’t the same anymore, and that it took him a long time to get get used to his dentures.
Have you check with some of the players on Sax On The Web (SOTW) at all? I just did a search for implants in the Sax Lifestyle & Sax Related Health Problems forums, and found these entries that came up. Not all will apply, but some might. If you’re not a member there yet, you should sign up, and join in on the conversation. I suspect with a community as large as they have, you’ll find some players who have some experience. Needless to say, there’s no guarantee that their experiences would be anything like you would have, but it will give you a place to start. If the topic you’re looking for specifically isn’t there, you can always start your own thread.
Maybe someone else will chime in here as well, but I expect your best bet will be SOTW.
BTW, I assume your dentist isn’t able to offer up any advice. Sometimes they have access to professional journal articles that cover the subject. Have you discussed your concerns with him/her?
Take care, and best of luck Armond….helen
Hi Armond,
There is an alternative that allows one to play the single reed instruments independently of the condition of one’s teeth, and that is the so-called double-lipped embouchure. It does require a great deal of diligence to develop for several reasons.
Historically, what transformed the chalumeau into the clarinet was the discovery that turning the reed around to the bottom lip and placing the teeth on what is now the top of the mouthpiece greatly facilitated playing in the “clarion” register, hence the new name. Achieving the same upper register facility without relying on the rigidity of the teeth requires methodically building up the facial muscles so that the lips are balanced, much like a bassoon or oboe embouchure. Sigurd Rascher’s Top-Tones for the Saxophone details an excellent way to go about this.
Additionally, saxophonists studying what have come to be the standard methods tend to rely on their upper teeth for stability of the instrument itself. Switching to a double-lipped embouchure will therefore require a thorough examination of posture and hand position, such that the thumbs of the hands take responsibility for maintaining position and the finger motions are relaxed and precisely balanced so that they do not cause the instrument to move with respect to the embouchure.
Thanks Paul! I would never have thought of the double-lipped embouchure. My style of playing has (de)volved 😉 so much from what I studied in my classical university days, that I couldn’t even think of going back to any of those ways of thinking, let alone playing. I think your last paragraph is very important, and something that I suspect most of us have lost sight of—if we ever knew it at all:
I believe many players have taken this to the extreme, and this increases a player’s likelihood of biting too hard. It’s a constant struggle when teaching, to strike the balance between teaching firm pressure, but not too much pressure. Then when you get into harmonics and altissimo, any biting comes home to roost. I’ve had students that I didn’t realize were biting until they started practicing the overtone series.
I think for me the best thing that ever happened as a young player, was taking bassoon for a few years. The double embouchure really reduced the pressure I was exerting on the saxophone. Now, as I say, I’ve devolved, and had forgotten all about those lessons I learned on bassoon until your comment. Thanks again for making me drag through the deep recesses of my grey matter, and remembering some valuable lessons learned.
Hello,
I bought an alto saxophone, but no one knows where it comes from or what the brand is.
on the bell it says: “supérieur” and the serial number is #45737 made in GDR.
here is a picture i hope you can help me
Hello Nord.
Oh, that’s an easy one.
What you have there is a stencil saxophone made by VEB Blechblas- und Signal-Instrumenten-Fabrik—the makers of B&S saxophones. B&S made their famous professional line of Blue Label horns (that’s the nickname that they’ve been given by players because of the blue enamel paint on the bell to body brace) and their just as famous, intermediate line: Weltklang.
What you have there is a stencil of the Soloist model of Weltklang. You can compare yours to photos here in my gallery at Bassic Sax Pix. Compare your horn’s bell to body brace to those of the Soloist and you’ll notice they look the same.
What gives your horn away as being made by VEB, is the shape of the right pinkie keys and key guards. I knew immediately by looking at those features what you had. I’d have to see more photos to tell you what other features yours has in common, but I suspect if you compare your sax to the photos in the gallery, you’ll see all you need to. Oh, and the serial # of your sax fits too.
Hope this helps Nord. Anything else you’d like to know?
Regards,
Helen
Thanks for all your help.
I’ve been searching for some time here in the Netherlands, but know one seemed to know its origin.
I have on last question.
Can you tell the year when it was build? (perhaps on the hand of the serial).
Greetz Nord
The year is built is a bit harder to pin down, only because there are no serial number charts published. I have a rough serial number chart that would estimate your horn to have been made in the 1970s, but that’s all I can tell you.
How is your German? There is a forum that you can go to, where the forum moderator has access to the original serial number books for VEB. The forum is part of the Markneukirchen Music Museum website. The part of the forum dedicated to wind instruments is located here.
There are a number of existing threads about Weltklang saxophones that you can ask your question on, and then either Mario Weller, or Dr. Enrico Weller will be able to look up the exact date of production.
Hope that helps. If you need help navigating the site let me know, but Google translate might work for you…helen
Hello,
I have a very old saxaphone with (Beacon Boston, Mass.) engraved on it in very large fancy letters. Does anyone have any information about this saxaphone’s origin, maker, etc.? I would love to learn more about where it may have come from. I read once that Beacon is a little known name and that they were made in England but then I noticed the reference to Boston on mine. Could this sax have been one that was used on Beacon St. for the purpose of giving lessons? It seems like an awfully fancy engraving job for that purpose. HELP…anyone out there know more about this sax? Thanks
Hi there. Welcome to my site.
I’d be happy to see if I can give you some info on your site. However, in order to do that, I’d need to see some photos first.
Please check out this page on my site. It will give you information on the kinds of photos I need in order to help you best.
I can tell you that it was most likely a stencil saxophone, and that the instrument was made by a major saxophone manufacturer. Furthermore, ordering companies often changed who they ordered their horns from. They may have ordered shipment 1 from company A, and shipment 2 from company B. That’s why photos are important. Without them, it will be impossible to tell you anything about the horn.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Helen
My question concerns my bass saxophone. I purchased the Holton bass saxophone featured in the blog Oct.10,2008. The horn has black enamel paint(not lacquer). The neck is custom made and fitted(not the original). The author questioned the pedigree of this horn. My serial # research indicates that it is most likely a Conn, produced in 1910(source: “the Vintage Saxophone Gallery). I am interested in obtaining another neck. I believe the current one is too long. Also, the horn plays flat. If you adjust the mouthpiece inward to pull the pitch up, you run into overtone problems. Who can fashion a neck, or where could I obtain a replacement? GW Little
Hi Gary. Welcome to my site.
Yes, when Quinn sold the horn a mere month after the post you mentioned (in November 2008), he provided the full serial #. Because it starts with the letter “P”, we know that it was made on the Pan American side of the Conn factory. Unfortunately, the serial # list you mention on Saxpics doesn’t help us in dating your horn, because it is only for the Conn labelled horns, not the Pan American lines. There are no published serial # charts for Conn’s Pan American, or stencil horns. Therefore, we can’t say with certainty when your horn was built.
As far as necks goes, the only company I know of that makes replacement necks is Gloger. They will make you a better-than-original neck for your Conn, Pan American-stencilled Holton bass. The company is located in the The Netherlands, and you can contact them in English, so no worries there. If I had to get a replacement neck for a horn, I would not hesitate to order from them. Their hand-crafted products have received excellent reviews, and are chosen by pros the world over.
I hope this has been somewhat helpful Gary. It’s funny that you got in touch with me. I saw your bass originally when Gayle at Vintage Sax.com had it for sale around 2005 or so, and I was intrigued by it then. I watched it bounce around a few years later from Saxquest to Quinn’s eBay stores, and always wondered who ended up with it.
BTW, what kind of mouthpiece and reed set up are you using on the horn? Have you experimented with different ones? Did that change the intonation at all? (Either for the better or the worse?)
I am planning on getting a soprano sax to play also while playing my alto and I wanted to ask if it is a big change in playing both instruments and if I do get one what brand is best and what is a good beginner soprano.
Hi Ben.
Yes, there are quite a few differences in embouchure between alto and soprano. There’s lots that I could write about that, but it would take more time than I have right now. I will write more about that tomorrow if you like.
As far as brands goes, there are a lot of options. That too is another topic that is too big to write about now. Tomorrow I’ll write more about that, and put together some links and contacts that you can follow up with. Sound good?
Hi there Ben.
OK, I’ve got some more time tonight, so I can answer your really good questions. First as to any differences between alto and soprano, as I mentioned in my previous comment, there are some. Perhaps the biggest difference—at least the one that has the greatest influence on your playing—is the difference in embouchure that the soprano requires.
The soprano being smaller, uses a smaller mouthpiece, and as such, takes quite a bit more control in order to play it in tune. The tiniest changes in the facial muscles, can, and usually do, change the intonation of notes. For me, as primarily a baritone and tenor player, getting the proper control of the corners of my mouth, is always the biggest challenge if I haven’t played my sopranos for a while. Bottom line: sopranos are finicky little creatures, which, as a general rule, you need to spend double the amount of practice time on, as you would on a larger horn.
As far as brands goes, there are lots of good brands out there. There are also lots of shitty brands out there. The problem is if you buy a shitty brand of soprano, you are almost guaranteed to have intonation problems. And sadly, those problems usually can’t be fixed by a tech. Or if they can be fixed, the fix usually costs much more than the horn is worth.
I always tell people to buy the best horn that they can afford, and to always buy it through a reputable store with a good return policy. I don’t know if you’ve heard of Kessler & Sons in Las Vegas. Although I haven’t bought anything from them (I’m into vintage horns, and they only sell new), I have quite a few email exchanges with Dave Kessler. He is a straight shooter, and very knowledgeable about saxophones. If I were looking for a new horn (I did almost buy a Julius Keilwerth tenor from him, but found a vintage one instead) I’d get it from Dave. I know lots of people who have bought expensive, and inexpensive horns from Kessler & Sons. Everyone has had good experiences. Some people I know have bought 5+ horns from the company.
If you are interested in buying a soprano, I’d suggest you get in touch with Kessler & Sons and talk with Dave. He will be able to assist you in picking out a soprano that works for you. Besides their house brand, they sell also Antiqua sopranos. Both would a suitable for what you’re looking for. They have a toll free phone number if you want to call them.
I hope this has been somewhat helpful. It’s a fair amount to think over. The main thing is: Avoid cheap eBay horns at all cost. They will be a major let down, and will lead to nothing but frustration. Sopranos are difficult enough to play in tune when they are built correctly, and are of decent quality. A POC horn, will always be a POC horn.
Thank you for the advice on brands but im still wondering as an alto sax player of beginner to intermidiate skill would it be a challenge to get used to the different embouchure of the soprano compared to the alto?
Hey Ben. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving.
Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by beginner to intermediate. If you’ve been playing for under a year or two, then I’d suggest most likely that you should stick to your alto and get more comfortable on that. However, if you’ve been playing for more than a couple of years, and if you’re a decent enough alto player, then there really is no reason that you couldn’t give soprano a go.
I’ve had students that have been amazing players after a couple of years, while on the other hand, I’ve had students that have sucked really badly after 5 or more years of playing. Most students I find are usually in the middle somewhere though.
Having said that, there’s no way for me to know what kind of player you are. I think the best advice I could give you is to ask your music teacher, or better yet—unless they are a saxophone player—a sax teacher what they think of your playing. Do they think that you are ready to take on the challenges that a soprano embouchure will throw your way? Another option is to see if you can find a music store near by that rents one. The problem might be that sopranos are not a horn that most music stores rent, and the ones that are rented, might very well be badly built. If it plays out of tune, you won’t know if it’s you, or the horn.
How long have you been playing Ben? Do you have a sax teacher? If not, could you see yourself getting one for a few months to get a good assessment of where you’re at, and what you need to work on? This will likely be the best investment you’ll ever make in your playing… Regardless if you go on and buy a soprano or not.
Think this one through for a bit, and then tell me what you think.
me again …
about Brazilian sax, seen some photos another model very interesting:
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-203620370-saxofone-tenor-galasso-vintage-_JM
this models was done in the 70’s! manufactured by Galasso Brothers!
note that has rolled tone holes and an interesting spit valve near the key of D#
Galasso’s made sopranos,altos, C melody, tenor, bari sax and bass sax!!but bass,are made only 14! these bass sax range to Low A and have triple neck rings!
some people say Galasso’s factory is Weril today!
that’s it!
see…
Hello Helen,
how are you? I hope good!
I know it’s a little late but,I just saw this discussion on the tenor of Mike today!
well,I think this tenor are made in Brazil!
seems to be a model like this:
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-204689291-saxofone-tenor-weril-bentley-91-_JM
I not really sure but from what I know, Bentley was a brand of sax for export manufactured by Weril (http://www.weril.com.br/)
just do not know if they made some stencil sax for a brand that Mike says is his!
I hope help!
Hi John.
Thank you for those links. They are very interesting. I agree with you. I looked at those pictures, and Mike’s Paci does look a lot like that Bentley.
I did not know that there were other saxophone makers in Brazil. Here in North America, we have only heard of J’Elle Stainer and Lopes. It is interesting to find out that there are other companies making woodwinds in South America. It makes sense of course, but these instruments don’t really make it “up here”. It seems that perhaps in the case of the Paci, one did.
I really think that the Galasso Brothers tenor is very interesting. Rolled tone holes, a microtuner neck, and a spit value. What a strange horn. Fascinating stuff! Thank you John. 😀
Thank you also for all those custom bass saxophone case photos. I’ve been wanting to write you an email, but I am very far behind.
You did a great job on the case. It is much lighter in weight I’m sure, than the original case that came with the case.
Hi Helen,
do not bother to answer me … I know you are VERY busy!
I’m glad you like my new case! was hard work for do it!
yes, there are other instrument makers here! Jelle and Lopes are new! (About 10 years) but here existing manufacturer of the 70’s!
if I found a Galasso’s Brothers bass sax,I sell my car to buy it rsrsrs (then I will send you an email with some photos of the only one bass sax what I saw for sale!)
so is this …
See …
**I sorry for my mistakes!
I am having trouble deciding what to do about practice because it is an annoyance to have to lug a saxopohone to and from school everyday but i do not feel like paying another 2K fr a stay at home saxophone to play so i was wonder if people had any suggestions or if i would have to just suck it up and keep hauling my saxophone.
Hi Ben. Welcome to my site.
Well… You asked for it: Suck it up. Keep hauling the sax. 😉
Seriously, how far do you live from school? Do you have to carry it? Do you take the bus? What kind of sax do you play? Alto? Tenor? Bari?
I had to carry my tenor to and from school, but then I only lived about 8 blocks from school. I also practiced in the band room. Is there a practice room in school you can use? Perhaps you can practice there during your lunch hour or after school for a while.
I don’t know what else to suggest. Maybe someone else has some suggestions about they do/did.
If you do have to carry it, you could check into getting a type of case that has backpack straps. I have a couple of different brands of cases like that. I recently had to pack my bari all over Vancouver, and for the first time ever I used the back pack straps that came with my BAM case. Worked great, and didn’t strain my shoulders or arms. Really works wonders on your posture as well. 🙂
Well thank you I was exppecting to hear that so im not very discouraged and i dont live the farthest away from my school so I will just carry it then. It is not the worst because it is an alto but i might look into getting a strapped case like that and once again i thank you for the advice.
Glad to be of help Ben. There are lots of decent cases that have backpack straps—if you do decide to go that route. Depending on the value of your sax, you’ll want to spend appropriately. By that I mean, you don’t have to buy a $500 case for a $500 sax, but some cases do seem to be pretty good, can carry a fair amount of musical accessories, and still have backpack straps. If you decide that’s what you want to do, and you have trouble finding what of case to be looking for, come by again, and I’ll give you a few brand names to check out. In the meantime, build up those arm muscles. 😉
Although you probably want to avoid a cheap horn, there is less drawback to using a cheap case for toting your horn around. Get a case like this, and you’ll shave a few pounds off your hauling. You’ll also get backpack straps. Just remember to use the original case for band trips, as they are better protection when your horn is stacked up with a bunch of others in a truck or a bus cargo hold.
Good point Mal-2.
BTW, I hadn’t heard of these WolfPak Polyfoam cases before. Have used them for your horns?
Hey there,
So I recently picked up a low Bb La Monte Bari Sax out of a music shop that was just collecting dust. When i picked it up it was completely Tarnished and some of the keys were frozen. So far i’m the process of getting pads for it, but I don’t know what brand of neck would work with this horn. Any recommendations?? This is my only Bari so I don’t have a neck to just try. Let me know
Rob
Hi Rob. Welcome to my web site.
Is that baritone silver plated? It looks like it is, and it has a gold wash (lacquered?) bell. That would be strange, because I’ve never seen a La Monte with that finish before. (At least not one made by Orsi.)
If you’ve read a few of my blog posts on the La Monte horns, you’ve likely ran across the name Orsi. Orsi is the Italian manufacturer who for the most part stencilled the La Monte saxophones. Now I’d have to see more pictures of your horn, and/or know the serial number to be sure. This information would be vital in order for me to give you any information as to where you might be able to get a neck for your beastie.
Does the serial number of your horn begin with a letter? For example is it something like A1234 or E1234? Do you have a photo of the bell engraving? Tell me a bit more, and then I hope to be able to help you out.
If you’d like to send me some more photos, that would be even better. It would make it easier for me to help you.
You can send them to my gmail account. My address is: bassic.sax.ca@gmail.com
Helen,
I sent you some photos, if you need more let me know and i’d be happy to oblige! I look forward to hearing what you have to say.
Rob
I’m just too proud of this thing not to show it off a little! Alas, still neckless and padless! :bang:
Good luck in your neck quest for your Orsi stencil. Hopefully your bari will be back to playing at some point in the future.
Let me know how you make out…helen
OK.. here is the back view
OK Helen, here is the first of three pics that will show the angles not previously visible in pictures… It shows the other side view and the back and a particular key will be in the other two…….. thanks again to you and Pete and I sincerely hope this helps someone, as this is a TRUE bust, except for the fact that I’m not really out any money just have to explain to a friend how I’m not using their gift cause it was a piece of doo doo……..MB…
I honestly don’t see why that horn couldn’t be re-worked into a decent player, from a mechanical standpoint. Of course pictures don’t tell us if it’s inherently out of tune or has bad notes or bad response, which would put it beyond worthwhile restoration. One thing I see though is that if you DID whip it into shape, it’ll probably stay a real looker for a long time with that nickel plate.
Oh well, if it looks good but plays bad, find a non-destructive way to make a showpiece out of it, like a lamp.
What my mechanical guy is telling me is that because of bad manufacturing technique several of the keys dont line up with the key holes so he felt it would never be able to hold air to make proper sounds… maybe I should get a second opinion from a less “picky” mechanical guy….
Mal-2 is an eternal optimist when it comes to getting cheap, Asian horns to play. From what you wrote in your email, given what your alto is, this will never ever compare favourably to a Super 20.
By all means get another opinion from another tech, but remember, the old adage:
Just food for thought before you sink a lot of money into this pig.
BTW, renowned repair tech Matt Stohrer gave an excellent interview on the rather pretentiously named The Best Saxophone Website Ever. In the article which is titled Is it Worth Buying a “Pro” Model Saxophone?, he talks about the cheap, Asian P.O.C. horns (which your horn may or may not be one, although your tech seems to think so) and why they are this way. It is an eye-opening read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering an inexpensive—read cheap—Asian-made sax of unknown origin.
BTW, Matt is a stand-up guy, and someone I highly trust. He and I have exchanged emails and ideas over the years. If he lived closer to me (or I to him) I would have no problem taking my horns to him. He and I also happen to share a love for vintage J.K.’s.
I just got a Paci (brandname) Tenor supposedly made in Brazil… ever heard of it? I have been playing sax for about 35 years and a couple of years ago had to sell my Yamaha Tenor as times got tough… this was a gift but I’ve never heard of the brand and can’t find ANYTHING about it on Google or anywhere else… Thanks for any help you can give
Hi Mike. Welcome to my site.
Nope. I can honestly tell you I have never heard of Paci saxophones. The only 2 Brazilian companies that I have heard of are Lopes and J’Elle Stainer.
Have you tried the Brazilian Google at all? Just a suggestion. I know a player in Brazil that I could send an email to and ask. He is a regular reader of my site, so he might even read this comment and chime in.
If you’d like me to do some digging for information, I’d need to see some photos of your horn. Check out this page on the main portion of my site for information about what kinds of photos allow me to best help you.
Regards,
Helen
I’m picking up the horn in a couple of days so when I get it I’ll snap a couple of pic’s and let you know what it plays like and see if I can offer any additional info from my first post… thanks again, and talk to you soon………MB…
I checked the Brazilian Google site and it was a big Nada BTW. I’m inclined at this point to think that it is a stencil horn of some stripe. Pics might confirm this though.
Helen, Picked up the Tenor a couple of days ago and it play’s nice and after some research it appears to maybe be a selmer OR a selmer knock off… the neck and octave mechanism seem to bear that out but I have some photo’s to attached for your perusal but since I can only do one at a time I’ll do two reply’s… let me know your thoughts….MB
Here’s the octave Mechanism
here is another view of the whole thing
Interesting sax Mike. Very interesting.
It isn’t a Selmer (Selmer doesn’t make stencils), but it is either a Selmer copy, or at least uses many Selmer-like features in its design.
I’ll ask my buddy Pete to chime in here too. He’s been doing some Selmer research lately, and we’ve been discussing Selmer knock-offs on the Woodwind Forum over the past couple of days.
Thanks for the quick response and reference to the other blog… interesting musings out there on the knock-off’s… I’ll be interested in what you friend Pete has to say… thanks again….MB…
Hi Mike. Pete was wondering if you could take a photo of the left side of the horn as well. Thanks. BTW, he’s thinking it’s looking more like another make of French sax, and not a Selmer, that’s why he’d like to see the left side.
Helen… thank Pete for his time but we have a bigger issue… when I took it to my regular repair guy to resolve the few leaks I knew I had and he put the light inside and got a look at the key allignments he in a nut shell told me it was “un-work-on-able”… he feels its a BAD Chinese knock-off of someones but the keys dont even correctly cover the tone holes… he also told me that if I was getting this to play at all he wants to manage me as a professional wrestler (I’m not quitting my day job). I will still take and send the pic if it helps anyone moving forward just give me the high-sign and I’ll send it directly, thanks again….MB…
Hi Mike. Sorry to hear what your tech said.
Yes please do send a pic. It will definitely come in handy.
I’ve sent an email to you as well. Please check your Inbox (or Spam Folder 😉 ) for something from me. It would have come from Bassic Sax.
Can you tell me where I can find out a general price range for a Holton Tenor, 1914 Chicago production, LP, silver, original light lacquer mint condition that can really blow your socks of (believe it on not)?
Hi Marcella. Welcome to my site.
Well your best bet for figuring out the price is probably going to be eBay and vintage saxophone dealer sites, and comparing your horn against others that are the same. I have an article on the main portion of my site that explains the best way to calculate the price of your vintage horn. This should help you.
Remember when it comes to vintage saxophones, condition is key factor when it comes to determining value (among other things of course). In the end it really comes down to what a buyer and seller can agree to in price. Holtons—while they do have a niche following—are not particularly high on the food chain of vintage horns. The only Holton saxophones that I’ve personally seen that generate more wide-spread interest are the Rudy Wiedoeft models—and specifically those with the extra speaker keys.
Hope this helps. If you want further help, I’d need to see some photos of your horn. This page of my site gives you an idea of the types of photos that are most useful in helping me, help you.
Regards,
Helen
Hello, I used to play an Alto Sax, many years ago. My Ex pawned it. I have recently been looking at Saprano Saxaphones. What should I be looking at, and looking for? What are the sound differences? What is the average investment, or what can or should I expect? I am looking for the best horn for the money that I can afford. I heard someone play a saprano saxaphone at an event I went to, do not know what the brand was, or anything else about it. I fell in love with the sound.
Thanks,
Marcia
Hi Marcia. Welcome to my site.
First of, I want to congratulate you in deciding to pick up the saxophone again. I always think it’s a great idea when someone who stopped playing for whatever reason, decides to start again. Music can be a really good outlet for many things. For example, it can be a wonderful source of stress relief.
You’ve asked some really great questions here, and I’ll do my best to answer them.
The soprano saxophone is quite a different animal compared to the alto. Soprano saxophones have come a long way over the last 20 years thanks to players like Kenny G, who have increased the popularity of the instrument. When I started playing soprano, my choices were very limited 30+ years ago. I bought a Mark VI by Selmer, because that’s pretty much all that was available, so that’s what you played. Now the choices for players have increased dramatically.
The problem with sopranos is that when you buy a cheap one, you really increase your chances of buying something that is not able to play in tune easily, or not at all. Sopranos are much pickier than the larger horns, and require more precision during the building phase than the larger horns. Any problems not picked up during the QA phase of the manufacturing process lead to problems for the owner.
Since you’re coming back to playing sax after some time off, and you don’t tell me what your budget is, I can only tell you that when it comes to new horns, prices can vary from a few hundred dollars to over $6,000. It’s like everything else: You get what you pay for—but you also pay for the name sometimes.
With soprano saxes something to consider, is do you want to play a straight model? Or would you like to play a curved model? Some players will tell you a curvy sounds more sax-like than the straight variety, but others will tell you that this in not the case. I own both, and it has been my experience that both sound like soprano saxophones. There is no difference due to their shape, but there is a difference because of their make. (My straight one is a Selmer circa 1977, while my curved one is made by Conn in the 1920s.) I believe why some players think the curved horns sound more like a saxophone is because the sound comes up at them more, while with the straight horn it travels away from the player.
When buying a saxophone, the way to look at it is: Spend the most money you can afford to (within reason of course; don’t get ripped off) to buy the best sax you can.
Are you in North America, Marcia? Here’s who I would recommend you contact: Dave Kessler owns a music store in Las Vegas. He is a stand up guy. Kessler sells many brands of saxophones, and also have their own brand name of horns. Their sopranos have received very good reviews. Kessler Music stands behind the products they sell, and if you have any problems, they will deal with them.
I seriously recommend that you drop Dave an email and tell him that I sent you. (Just so you know, I don’t get any kickbacks, but he knows who I am, and we’ve done some work together.) Explain your situation, and that you’d like his input in choosing a sax. They might have other inventory that’s not on the site as well, so ask him about that as well.
I’ve barely scratched the surface here Marcia. I could write a thesis on the questions you asked. I think talking with Dave will help you a great deal.
Let me know what your thoughts are….helen