{"id":1979,"date":"2008-10-07T11:47:55","date_gmt":"2008-10-07T18:47:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/?p=1979"},"modified":"2011-10-04T10:04:21","modified_gmt":"2011-10-04T17:04:21","slug":"acrylic-polymer-wood-oh-my","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/2008\/acrylic-polymer-wood-oh-my\/","title":{"rendered":"Acrylic, Polymer, & Wood Oh My!"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Adolphe Sax\u00a0patented the saxophone in 1846, he\u00a0envisioned\u00a0the instrument\u00a0for either orchestral work (in the keys of F & C) or for military bands (in the keys of Eb & Bb). However in either case, Sax envisioned his invention to be an instrument made out of brass, with a mouthpiece and single reed similar to that of a clarinet.<\/p>\n

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An Adolphe Sax original quartet featuring a soprano circa 1858, alto circa 1857, tenor circa 1861-1862, & baritone circa 1858. Source: National Music Museum, The University of South Dakota, Vermillion<\/a>.<\/h6>\n

Adolphe Sax could never have foreseen some of the changes in technology that have allowed saxophone manufacturers to attempt to make their instruments out of\u00a0acrylic, such as the Grafton<\/a>, or\u00a0polymer, like the new, not-yet-on-the-market Vibratosax<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Grafton Acrylic Alto Invented by Hector (Ettore) Sommaruga (1904 – 1986). Source: http:\/\/www.thesax.info\/<\/a><\/h6>\n

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The 100% ABS plastic, student model Vibrato Sax, complete with rubber pads.\u00a0Source: SOTW<\/a><\/h6>\n

Now, one material that certainly was available in Sax’s day was wood, and if Adolphe had thought that it\u00a0was a good idea to make a saxophone out of it, I’m sure he would have. Well, sometimes the old ways really are better….Case in point…Saxwood<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saxwood claims to be the world’s first full wooden saxophone. According to the company’s website:<\/p>\n

Saxwood is a kind of music instrument. It is a saxophone handmade. It can be as a saxophone and a souvenir. Saxwood is made from good quality of Javanese Teakwood.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

OK then, so which is it? A saxophone, or a souvenir? But if I haven’t been to Indonesia, do I really want a souvenir? Oh right, the company’s\u00a0Mission Statement says:<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0To make “simple playing” by giving the standard fingering and tuning configuration of saxophone. So, it is suitable for the new comers of saxophone player who wants to play saxwood or even for the professional saxophonist.<\/span> (Emphasis added.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

OK then, so it’s aimed at experienced players as well. Good to know.<\/p>\n

Saxwood comes in so many different horn varieties, a player with a serious case of GAS could be satisfying their needs by ordering wooden saxophones for some time. Saxwood comes in: alto, c pitched tenor, Bb tenor, baritone, straight soprano, soprano with a curved neck & bell, and a curvy soprano.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What they call their curved soprano. Source: www.saxwood.net<\/a><\/h6>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tenor in the key of C. Source: www.saxwood.net<\/a><\/h6>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Source: www.saxwood.net<\/a> \u00a0<\/h6>\n

BTW, did you notice that “high-tech” string operating the octave key on the tenor? … But I digress…<\/p>\n

But the real question is, how do they sound? For the answer to that, a quick tour of Saxwood’s Video page <\/a>will provide all the answers you need. My personal favourites are Steve Grant playing the baritone on the American anthem<\/a>\u00a0& Robi Jazz Perhaps trying to groove on a riff on the Bb tenor<\/a>. It’s obvious these 2 players, who were presumably in town for the jazz festival, could play, but the horns were really working against them.<\/p>\n

I think we can safely say these lovely pieces of hand\u00a0cut and assembled\u00a0teak should be\u00a0left in the\u00a0souvenir category. Although I don’t think I’d be spending $600 to $1500 for souvenirs in the shape of a saxophone, but hey, that’s just me.<\/p>\n

But wait, what’s this? Pete Hales, our intrepid saxophone researcher found yet another saxophone made of wood!<\/p>\n

Thaitradder.com<\/a> lists a wooden alto saxophone made by Mr. Sawad Dejprakune. This horn claims to be “the only original one in the world”. (Me thinks he needs to check out the Saxwood website!) None the less, this horn sells for $350, and is actually playable. The link to the YouTube video is actually impressive when you consider the sax is made of wood.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Source: Thaitradder.com<\/h6>\n

The sax actually comes with “saxophone gear” like a gig bag, and looks like it might be better constructed than the Saxwood horns.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Source: Thaitradder.com<\/h6>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Source: Thaitradder.com<\/h6>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Source: Thaitradder.com<\/h6>\n

I don’t know what Adolphe Sax would\u00a0think of all of these variations in the material used for constructing saxophones.\u00a0One thing is for\u00a0sure…These aren’t your\u00a0father’s saxophones!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

When this phrase\u00a0was first used a number of years ago to refer to a certain brand of American-made car,\u00a0newer was\u00a0better. In this case…Not so much…\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/h6>\n
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…this is just my blog<\/em>. <\/span> My \u201creal\u201d <\/b> website is<\/span> www.bassic-sax.info.<\/a> If you\u2019re looking for <\/span> sax info<\/strong>,<\/span> you should check it out too.<\/span>There\u2019s lots<\/em> there! <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
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When Adolphe Sax\u00a0patented the saxophone in 1846, he\u00a0envisioned\u00a0the instrument\u00a0for either orchestral work (in the keys of F & C) or for military bands (in the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[74,154,633,644,615,322,156,153],"class_list":["post-1979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-saxophone","tag-adolph-sax","tag-grafton","tag-musings","tag-photos","tag-saxophone","tag-vibratosax","tag-wooden-saxophone","tag-wooden-saxophones"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t