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EDM/Techno #198
A "light" dance track with disco beat, but otherwise kind of ambient. In Concert A minor. soprano and tenor play in B minor, sopranino, alto and baritone play in F# minor. 1st track with sax 2nd without. This one is fairly easy...give it a go!
This track is embedded with the friendly permission by the creatives on wikiloops.com
View: https://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-99050.phpThis track is embedded with the friendly permission by the creatives on wikiloops.com
View: https://www.wikiloops.com/backingtrack-jam-96368.php
0 Replies
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1118 views
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17 Replies
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178 views
Saxophones Saxophones, rarely discussed
Everybody knows the nice horns that get talked about all the time (Selmer, Martin, Yamaha, etc). Then there are the good instruments less talked about but I would say still fairly well known (a Yamaha Vito stencil for example).
How about a topic for those worthy saxophones (I'll leave the definition of worthy alone for now) that are rarely discussed?
Yesterday I 'discovered' the F.E. Olds Super:
Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I have to say that is a very cool looking alto! With an interesting story as well, that you can find if you dig a bit here or at the other forum.
So, what other models might fit the topic?
How about a topic for those worthy saxophones (I'll leave the definition of worthy alone for now) that are rarely discussed?
Yesterday I 'discovered' the F.E. Olds Super:
Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I have to say that is a very cool looking alto! With an interesting story as well, that you can find if you dig a bit here or at the other forum.
So, what other models might fit the topic?
14 Replies
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189 views
Animals Show us your Wildlife
Inspired by the convolution of the Show us your pet and Help a Hedgehog threads...
Here's one from another thread;
Red Squirrel
(They exist in Norway)
Here's one from another thread;
Red Squirrel
(They exist in Norway)
883 Replies
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42076 views
Beginner Saxes Draft for comment: Pan American Saxophone History
Folks... I've drafted a compiled history of Pan American saxophones. This is needed because Conn's (the parent company's) factory records were destroyed around 1969/70 -- Pan American was actively making saxophones from 1920 to 1956 +/- a year, so its manufacturer history went up in smoke. What's left now is in bits and pieces scattered across the internet -- much of it worth preserving. I've compiled much of it into a single reference PDF. This is my first review draft, so I'm sure there are issues to be ironed out. I'd appreciate feedback if you have time for a lookover. It should be accessible to you and downloadable from this link, in US letter size format. (Sorry, it's lengthy. It's a reference tome not a thriller. But give it a skim when you can and let me know of anything that pops out.) I'm a business writer, brand manager, and indifferent sax player with a penchant for things Conn related.
drive.google.com
Pan_American_Saxophone_Story.pdf
drive.google.com
20 Replies
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450 views
Saxophones Selmer Supreme alto (quick look)
Had a client bring two Selmer altos in yesterday - a Ref.54 for a service and a brand new solid silver Supreme.
First time I've had my hands on one.
It only came in for a quick tweak - so no time to run up a proper review, but I did notice a couple of things.
First up - the client brought it in because there was a problem when moving from low B to low Bb; a break in the transition.
This turned out to be a badly adjusted link between the low B and the low C#. In fact it wasn't really adjusted at all - so that when his finger rolled down onto the Bb touchpiece and just caught the C# touchpiece on the way, the C# would open about 3mm. That's plenty enough to knock out the low B.
And there was this:
This is the Bis Bb/G# adjuster bar. Take a look at that gap between the Bis Bb arm and the adjuster above it. In horn terms it's miles away.
The adjuster is actually set right in terms of its ability to close the Bis Bb - so you can't screw the adjuster in to take up the play. What this means is that the lower stack is set substantially higher than the upper.
I had a quick peek at the toneholes. Selmer are traditionally pretty good at getting the toneholes level, but I was rather disappointed with the low C on this horn:
I compared it with the Ref.54 - which still wasn't perfect but was rather flatter.
So, not a great start for the Supreme. It comes in at an eye-watering price, and for that kind of money I want all the boxes ticked...and then some. So I'd expect the out-of-box setup to be spot on and rather more precision when it comes to the toneholes. Y'know, a bit like a top-end Yani.
And then I had a blow on the Supreme.
I was expecting a 'Woah!' moment - and I got one...but not the one I wanted.
It prompted me to go back and forth between the Supreme and the Ref.54. The Ref is exactly what you'd expect from a Selmer. Nicely balanced, a 'big' sound with that characteristic Selmer mid-range oomph, slightly resistant but nonetheless punchy - with a wide spread of sound.
The Supreme felt very closed in, like it was keeping the sound huddled around itself. And where was the punch and clarity?
It had a sort of Paul Desmond thing going on...that sort of laid back, soft kind of approach. That's fine...if you can turn it on and off at will but it kind of comes stamped into the horn.
That really surprised me because it's dramatically different from the Ref - so-much-so that I had to put a light down the Supreme to see if there was a problem with one of the pads (nothing major...slight leak on the A, which didn't change the tone when corrected).
I can't say it's a conclusive impression because it's just that horn - but even accounting for variations between seemingly identical horns it seems a bit extreme.
I'm hoping the client is going to book the Supreme in for a proper setup once I've serviced the Ref - at which point I can do a proper run-down on it and see what's what.
First time I've had my hands on one.
It only came in for a quick tweak - so no time to run up a proper review, but I did notice a couple of things.
First up - the client brought it in because there was a problem when moving from low B to low Bb; a break in the transition.
This turned out to be a badly adjusted link between the low B and the low C#. In fact it wasn't really adjusted at all - so that when his finger rolled down onto the Bb touchpiece and just caught the C# touchpiece on the way, the C# would open about 3mm. That's plenty enough to knock out the low B.
And there was this:
This is the Bis Bb/G# adjuster bar. Take a look at that gap between the Bis Bb arm and the adjuster above it. In horn terms it's miles away.
The adjuster is actually set right in terms of its ability to close the Bis Bb - so you can't screw the adjuster in to take up the play. What this means is that the lower stack is set substantially higher than the upper.
I had a quick peek at the toneholes. Selmer are traditionally pretty good at getting the toneholes level, but I was rather disappointed with the low C on this horn:
I compared it with the Ref.54 - which still wasn't perfect but was rather flatter.
So, not a great start for the Supreme. It comes in at an eye-watering price, and for that kind of money I want all the boxes ticked...and then some. So I'd expect the out-of-box setup to be spot on and rather more precision when it comes to the toneholes. Y'know, a bit like a top-end Yani.
And then I had a blow on the Supreme.
I was expecting a 'Woah!' moment - and I got one...but not the one I wanted.
It prompted me to go back and forth between the Supreme and the Ref.54. The Ref is exactly what you'd expect from a Selmer. Nicely balanced, a 'big' sound with that characteristic Selmer mid-range oomph, slightly resistant but nonetheless punchy - with a wide spread of sound.
The Supreme felt very closed in, like it was keeping the sound huddled around itself. And where was the punch and clarity?
It had a sort of Paul Desmond thing going on...that sort of laid back, soft kind of approach. That's fine...if you can turn it on and off at will but it kind of comes stamped into the horn.
That really surprised me because it's dramatically different from the Ref - so-much-so that I had to put a light down the Supreme to see if there was a problem with one of the pads (nothing major...slight leak on the A, which didn't change the tone when corrected).
I can't say it's a conclusive impression because it's just that horn - but even accounting for variations between seemingly identical horns it seems a bit extreme.
I'm hoping the client is going to book the Supreme in for a proper setup once I've serviced the Ref - at which point I can do a proper run-down on it and see what's what.
57 Replies
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1222 views
Saxophones C Melody Saxophones
I've been interested in C Melody saxes, for a while.
Apparently, they were quite common in the 1920s-30s, and the general concensus seems to be that the designs got better as time went on. Earlier models were often made in High Pitch (a tuning system that predates using A=440Hz), and should be avoided, unless you want to accompany a Highland bagpipe player.
From what little research I've done, it seems Conn made some of the better sounding ones, and their later models were improvements over the earlier ones. The ones with a "straight" neck, similar to an alto, are supposed to be good. Personally, I don't really like the S shaped neck on a tenor.
Anyway, here's one I've asked about recently. I've posted a couple of these pictures in Ads's review discussion thread of the Sakkusu C Melody sax, but here's all I have.
This is a 1924/1925 Conn C Melody, currently for sale at the Trevor Jones shop in Bristol. It's in low pitch, has had a partial repad, and is ready to play.
Bristol is a bit far for me to visit so I asked if they could send me photos, particularly of the hand positions, because the ergonomics are a bit different on these old saxes, and C melody saxes in particular.
Ermm... there seems to be a 2 file upload limit. Hopefully, that's per post
The thumb rest is apparently soldered on, so can't be adjusted easily, but the position looks good for reaching the right side trill keys (Bb/C/high E). This seems to be an issue on the Sakkusu / Thoman C Melody (see https://cafesaxophone.com/threads/sakkusu-c-melody-saxophone-review.13705/Ads's Sakkusu C Melody review[/URL])
The "L" stamped below the serial number indicates it's built for "Low" pitch - i.e. designed for modern A=440Hz tuning. I've read different accounts of what was meant by High Pitch (and maybe there was more than one definition), but the consensus seems to be it was at least A=450Hz, or A=453Hz - kind of between semitones, in modern tuning, and too far out to compensate for by positioning the mouthpiece differently etc.
It's important to check for that when buying any brass or woodwind instrument from that period. I think military bands kept it going for a while longer, in Britain. Scottish bagpipe and Irish/Scottish Bb flute players tend to still use it, as I understand it. It's certainly the normal tuning for 5 or 6 key Bb flutes.
Apparently, they were quite common in the 1920s-30s, and the general concensus seems to be that the designs got better as time went on. Earlier models were often made in High Pitch (a tuning system that predates using A=440Hz), and should be avoided, unless you want to accompany a Highland bagpipe player.
From what little research I've done, it seems Conn made some of the better sounding ones, and their later models were improvements over the earlier ones. The ones with a "straight" neck, similar to an alto, are supposed to be good. Personally, I don't really like the S shaped neck on a tenor.
Anyway, here's one I've asked about recently. I've posted a couple of these pictures in Ads's review discussion thread of the Sakkusu C Melody sax, but here's all I have.
This is a 1924/1925 Conn C Melody, currently for sale at the Trevor Jones shop in Bristol. It's in low pitch, has had a partial repad, and is ready to play.
Bristol is a bit far for me to visit so I asked if they could send me photos, particularly of the hand positions, because the ergonomics are a bit different on these old saxes, and C melody saxes in particular.
Ermm... there seems to be a 2 file upload limit. Hopefully, that's per post
The thumb rest is apparently soldered on, so can't be adjusted easily, but the position looks good for reaching the right side trill keys (Bb/C/high E). This seems to be an issue on the Sakkusu / Thoman C Melody (see https://cafesaxophone.com/threads/sakkusu-c-melody-saxophone-review.13705/Ads's Sakkusu C Melody review[/URL])
The "L" stamped below the serial number indicates it's built for "Low" pitch - i.e. designed for modern A=440Hz tuning. I've read different accounts of what was meant by High Pitch (and maybe there was more than one definition), but the consensus seems to be it was at least A=450Hz, or A=453Hz - kind of between semitones, in modern tuning, and too far out to compensate for by positioning the mouthpiece differently etc.
It's important to check for that when buying any brass or woodwind instrument from that period. I think military bands kept it going for a while longer, in Britain. Scottish bagpipe and Irish/Scottish Bb flute players tend to still use it, as I understand it. It's certainly the normal tuning for 5 or 6 key Bb flutes.
662 Replies
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73417 views
Cafe Moderator
Café Supporter
Miscellaneous Daily Check In
Good morning,
We thought it might be good to have a thread where you can just come and say hi, tell us what you are doing today, have a moan, share an idea that you wouldn't necessarily start a thread for ( we can always create a new thread from posts here if it became a substantial discussion).
It doesn't have to be sax related🙂
Basically an easy way to connect on a daily basis.
So to kick us off, I am writing this whilst prepping a casserole for the slo cooker as I am playing sax today with café sax and need a quick easy tea when I get home.
I am still suffering with a cough which will impact my playing today and I am worried as we are playing our first care home gig next Sunday!!
Have a lovely Sunday
Jx
We thought it might be good to have a thread where you can just come and say hi, tell us what you are doing today, have a moan, share an idea that you wouldn't necessarily start a thread for ( we can always create a new thread from posts here if it became a substantial discussion).
It doesn't have to be sax related🙂
Basically an easy way to connect on a daily basis.
So to kick us off, I am writing this whilst prepping a casserole for the slo cooker as I am playing sax today with café sax and need a quick easy tea when I get home.
I am still suffering with a cough which will impact my playing today and I am worried as we are playing our first care home gig next Sunday!!
Have a lovely Sunday
Jx
2862 Replies
·
83578 views
Miscellaneous Photography - all aspects
Following various recent posts, I thought I would create a thread specifically for photography. Somewhere to talk about equipment, experiences, processing...
To start off, I was a Nikon user for over 40 years, but had to 'down size' as handling full-frame cameras and lenses was getting to be too much like hard work and giving me shoulder issues. My current digital camera is a mirrorless Fuji X-T5.
For film cameras, I have a Pentax MX, Mamiya RB67, and a Sinar F2.
To start off, I was a Nikon user for over 40 years, but had to 'down size' as handling full-frame cameras and lenses was getting to be too much like hard work and giving me shoulder issues. My current digital camera is a mirrorless Fuji X-T5.
For film cameras, I have a Pentax MX, Mamiya RB67, and a Sinar F2.
368 Replies
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12792 views
Saxophones Pork Tales: Saxophone Repair DIY Adventures.
Tales from a pig that likes to stick his nose into everything.
Paint that S. How difficult could it be ?
1) Search the net.
2) Find the color.
3) Order color.
4) Study task on University of YouTube, aka; For destruction by DYI presented by pro tech.
Do the cleaning & prep.
Paint and cleanup / detail the edges with hard cotton swabs. Sounds easy……
Yeah tha guy Matt makes it look easy.
Anyone remember your first experience cooking bacon crispy while still in the frying pan !
Paint that S. How difficult could it be ?
1) Search the net.
2) Find the color.
3) Order color.
4) Study task on University of YouTube, aka; For destruction by DYI presented by pro tech.
Do the cleaning & prep.
Paint and cleanup / detail the edges with hard cotton swabs. Sounds easy……
Yeah tha guy Matt makes it look easy.
Anyone remember your first experience cooking bacon crispy while still in the frying pan !
1049 Replies
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58979 views
Saxophones Carrying a tenor on a (motor)bike?
I'm thinking of acquiring a secondhand Suzuki Van Van and learning to ride over the summer, the idea being that it will be fun, and more economical than my 4x4 for going to work and other short journeys, when the weather is reasonable. But on quite a few of those journeys I am accompanied by my tenor.
Anyone carry one on a bike, and got any advice please?
Anyone carry one on a bike, and got any advice please?
763 Replies
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83594 views
So given September marks the start of Autumn, let’s have a tune that amazingly hasn’t been done yet: Autumn Leaves!
It’s a great standard for learning to improvise, with a beautiful melody demonstrating great voice leading and relatively easy harmony to understand.
Some classic recordings:
View: https://youtu.be/tguu4m38U78?is=6zKX4L-i3egwzieu
View: https://youtu.be/by4Cr3kPNPg?is=7mN5sI0y4w-9HHm5
View: https://youtu.be/a-I1jHokbl8?is=9k6tPG-7yT_3UwdP
View: https://youtu.be/Gsz3mrnIBd0?is=Aeu-S8IXURB0I9Xf
And Eva Cassidy also did an amazing interpretation of the song, showing just where you can take it:
View: https://youtu.be/xXBNlApwh0c?is=HPckcaa_NhYsKS4l
I’ll post lead sheets and so on shortly; tons of backing tracks available on YouTube etc.
It’s a great standard for learning to improvise, with a beautiful melody demonstrating great voice leading and relatively easy harmony to understand.
Some classic recordings:
And Eva Cassidy also did an amazing interpretation of the song, showing just where you can take it:
I’ll post lead sheets and so on shortly; tons of backing tracks available on YouTube etc.
21 Replies
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1512 views
The dates have been announced for the 2027 International Saxophone Symposium hosted by the Navy Band at George Mason University: January 8-9.
Plan your trip now if you're coming from afar.
Plan your trip now if you're coming from afar.
20 Replies
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952 views
Introduction HELLO
I'm Mike Reed aka Saxdaddy on another forum. I have been repairing saxophones since High School as a hobby since 82 and professionally since 91.
I complete a 2 year repair program and received a certificate in Musical Instrument Repair, then onto a formal apprenticeship for another 3 years under the guidance of the programs instructor. I have worked for myself and ran large and small shops for or in partnership with others. I only repair single reed instruments anymore, since it's always been my specialty and is what I enjoy doing. I like helping others, have horrible grammar, spelling and my posts are full of typos. I can come off as harsh, so sorry ahead of time for my tone. I am much nicer than I often sound, but my patience can be short at times. (I'm grumpy). I focus on Pro and or vintage instruments, but accept all single reed intruments if the client is wiling to pay for and let me practice my craft. I hope to learn and improve my craft through interaction here and hopefully help others to do the same.
I complete a 2 year repair program and received a certificate in Musical Instrument Repair, then onto a formal apprenticeship for another 3 years under the guidance of the programs instructor. I have worked for myself and ran large and small shops for or in partnership with others. I only repair single reed instruments anymore, since it's always been my specialty and is what I enjoy doing. I like helping others, have horrible grammar, spelling and my posts are full of typos. I can come off as harsh, so sorry ahead of time for my tone. I am much nicer than I often sound, but my patience can be short at times. (I'm grumpy). I focus on Pro and or vintage instruments, but accept all single reed intruments if the client is wiling to pay for and let me practice my craft. I hope to learn and improve my craft through interaction here and hopefully help others to do the same.
6 Replies
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87 views
Saxophones Thinking to try double Reeds
Hello, i will begin the double Reed instrument, i'm originally saxophonist and clarinettist.
My friends is collector and it will loan me one instrument with double Reed to try and learning
I thinking like this, the double Reed is really complex and very important,
It's for that i think to begin on sarrusophone alto or rothophone alto.
Why this to instrument => globally the same finger charts of saxophone,
Learning new finger charts is for me largely not very complexe.
But learning new technical to make a sound is largely hardest thing.
The sarrusophone alto/rothophone alto could be great choice, to be one slow transition.
We keep saxophone finger charte for 99% and excluded one difficulty, after we can focus only one double Reeds,
After, when i will have one correct sound and correct playing with double Reed, i can go on bassoon or english horn,
Just to learn the new finger charts but that is really simple in compareason to learn double Reed.
And sarrusophone/rothophone is forgotten instrument and i would like to use this rare instrument,
What do you think about my project ???
My heart want learn sarrusophone alto.
In the life, we can try new thing,
My friends is collector and it will loan me one instrument with double Reed to try and learning
I thinking like this, the double Reed is really complex and very important,
It's for that i think to begin on sarrusophone alto or rothophone alto.
Why this to instrument => globally the same finger charts of saxophone,
Learning new finger charts is for me largely not very complexe.
But learning new technical to make a sound is largely hardest thing.
The sarrusophone alto/rothophone alto could be great choice, to be one slow transition.
We keep saxophone finger charte for 99% and excluded one difficulty, after we can focus only one double Reeds,
After, when i will have one correct sound and correct playing with double Reed, i can go on bassoon or english horn,
Just to learn the new finger charts but that is really simple in compareason to learn double Reed.
And sarrusophone/rothophone is forgotten instrument and i would like to use this rare instrument,
What do you think about my project ???
My heart want learn sarrusophone alto.
In the life, we can try new thing,
0 Replies
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25 views
Miscellaneous watches
Before I subscribe a forum about watches, where I will realize that only expensive pieces made in 1962-63 are worth wearing,
is anyone knowledgeable about automatic watches and straps?
is anyone knowledgeable about automatic watches and straps?
854 Replies
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27385 views
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