{"id":8012,"date":"2014-09-16T10:20:27","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T17:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/?page_id=8012"},"modified":"2024-06-15T08:52:58","modified_gmt":"2024-06-15T15:52:58","slug":"are-vintage-instruments-practical","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/articles\/are-vintage-instruments-practical\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Vintage Instruments Practical?"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_7963\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7963\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Front-View.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7963\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/about\/gear\/restorations\/martin-committee-iii-baritone\/front-view-12\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Front-View.jpg?fit=1600%2C703&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1600,703\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Front-View\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Front-View.jpg?fit=1024%2C449&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-7963 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Front-View.jpg?resize=1429%2C628\" alt=\"Martin Committee III baritone, The Martin Baritone, bari sax, vintage sax, silver sax, are vintage instruments practical\" width=\"1429\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Front-View.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Front-View.jpg?resize=300%2C131&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Front-View.jpg?resize=1024%2C449&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Front-View.jpg?resize=500%2C219&amp;ssl=1 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1429px) 100vw, 1429px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7963\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This Martin Committee III bari from 1958 came without a chromatic F# key. It also doesn&#8217;t have very ergonomically friendly keys compared to its Selmer Mark VI counterparts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Vintage saxophones are currently very much in vogue\u2014at least in some circles. However their serge in apparently popularity begs the question: Are vintage instruments practical for everyday use?<\/p>\n<p>This is by no means a new topic. The practicality of vintage horns has been discussed ad nauseam in many a saxophone forum\u2014<a href=\"http:\/\/forum.saxontheweb.net\/forum.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SOTW<\/a> comes to mind\u2014as well as a multitude of websites and blogs\u2014including this one. That said, when I tried to find a concise list, or even a single article, that covers all the important points that I felt should be covered, I was unsuccessful.<\/p>\n<p>So without further ado, here is the Bassic Sax answer to the question:<\/p>\n<h2>Are vintage instruments practical for everyday use?<\/h2>\n<p>Simply put, they can be, but it depends on a whole lot of factors, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Pitch<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">For example: If it&#8217;s a high pitch horn, like my <a href=\"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Right-Side1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Evette &amp; Schaeffer baritone from 1886<\/a>, it is not practical unless you&#8217;re playing with other high pitch instruments.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Intonation<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Some vintage saxes do not play in tune very well. They were just poorly made, or require very specific mouthpieces in order to play in tune. Remember though: all saxophones are inherently out of tune, it is the player that plays them in tune.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Range<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Not all vintage saxophones had the same range as modern ones. For example, many 1920s baris\u2014certain Conn and Buescher models come to mind\u2014were only keyed to high Eb, while eBay is flooded with early 20th century European horns that were keyed only to low B.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_42542\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-42542\" style=\"width: 844px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Right-Side.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-42542 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Right-Side.jpg?resize=844%2C2000\" alt=\"alto saxophone, Oscar Adler saxophone, are vintage instruments practical?\" width=\"844\" height=\"2000\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-42542\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Oscar Adler alto saxophone keyed from low B to high F. Note it has no front F, or a chromatic F#. Source: saxofonservis.eu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Key work<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">It&#8217;s common to see vintage saxophones lacking certain keys we take for granted, e.g.: front F, bis Bb, chromatic F#, and of course a high F# key. Conversely, many vintage horns had extra keys not found on today&#8217;s horns like a G# and\/or high C\/D trill keys, a fork Eb, etc. Either way, a player might find having or not having these keys could be a hindrance to their playing.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Ergonomics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Unless you&#8217;re talking a Mark VI, most vintage saxes have ergos that are very awkward compared to modern ones. Can you work with these awkward key layouts?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Condition<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Many vintage horns have suffered from a lifetime of use, abuse, or neglect, while others are outright minty. While a talented repair tech, experienced in vintage horn repairs, can repair any vintage sax, if the horn is missing pieces, those are not so simple replace. In the case of keys or a neck, the parts are impossible to replace with original parts\u2014unless an identical donor horn available. In all cases of repairs however, the questions that have to be asked are: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em><strong>How much are you willing\/able to spend? Is the horn worth it?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Player&#8217;s experience<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Unless a player is at least an intermediate level player, they shouldn&#8217;t consider a vintage sax. Vintage horns have a lot of things going for them, but they also have a lot of things which make them more difficult to play. A new player starting out is always better out starting out with something like a YTS-23 or YAS-23, since these horns have much less resistance; have spot-on intonation; and maintain their regulation quite well.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve pulled together a list of readings that might of be interest to you if you are looking for more information about the practicality of vintage horns.<\/p>\n<p>If you have anything to contribute to this either the list above, or the suggested readings list below, please leave <a href=\"mailto:bassic.sax.ca@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">email me<\/a>. Thanks!<\/p>\n<h2>Suggested related readings list<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.shwoodwind.co.uk\/Reviews\/vintage_modern.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Saxophones: Vintage v Modern<\/a>, by Stephen Howard<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/articles\/vintage-or-modern\">Vintage or Modern?<\/a>, on the Bassic Sax website<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/articles\/is-a-vintage-sax-right-for-me\/\">Is a vintage sax right for me?<\/a>, on the Bassic Sax website<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/?p=38810\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Exactly What Is A Vintage Saxophone? <\/a>The Bassic Sax Blog<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/?p=152\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vintage Or Modern: Choices, Choices, Choices<\/a>, The Bassic Sax Blog<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/?p=438\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yes But, What Does \u201cVintage Sax\u201d Really Mean?<\/a> The Bassic Sax Blog<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vintage saxophones are currently very much in vogue\u2014at least in some circles. However their serge in apparently popularity begs the question: Are vintage instruments practical&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":1889,"menu_order":9,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8012","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P30OPe-25e","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8012"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8012\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/version5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}