CafeSaxophone Forum

Col9
Last reply · posted in SAXOPHONES
Hi all, got a Otto Link tone edge 7 with my SA-8, Now it mostly makes a muffled fizzing sound, almost like there is a gallon of saliva in it. :x Dont have the same prob with the Jupiter mouthpiece

It has a 1 1/2 reed and a BG leather/rubber "standard" lig where as the Jupiter is using a 2 1/2 reed and a no name rubber lig

Is it me or do I need to do something different? postion, embouchure, just practice etc.

Cheers
Col.
6 Replies · 179 views
Jeanette
Cafe Moderator Café Supporter
Last reply · posted in Breakfastroom (chat and relax...)

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
2808 Replies · 81315 views
Hello, i suscribe for 170$ for 3 years at larigot and i love this,

But i would like if you know or not

The new number 77 is my horn on picture star with little describe
My press review on soprano coming soon in the next number 78 if you interested

IMG_20260920_201347.webp
IMG_20260920_201421.webp

My c soprano adolphe sax 1853-1854, my loving C saxophone
@PigSquealer love really c melody, me i love soprano (all soprano, my favorite (included f mezzo soprano and G mezzo-soprano (i don't have G mezzo soprano))

Do you interested around c soprano too or just c melody, i asking you just by curiosity @PigSquealer
0 Replies · 0 views
C
Last reply · posted in Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Been playing a year now and looking at getting a wireless clip on mic. The Isolo Choice mic comes with mic, transmitter and receiver WITH effects like echo and reverb. Thinking of getting one but concerned will it be ok in the UK it ships from Taiwan. Assuming the 9v power supply can be used in UK. It’s the effects I am after. Anyone in UK bought one they are £425. Thanks . Chris.
52 Replies · 10174 views
MikeMorrell
Last reply · posted in Breakfastroom (chat and relax...)
Inspired by @Tenor Viols musings, I decided to create my own thread. Focused on my new 'journey' from Big Band music into the world of rock/pop music.. Not only the very different style of music but (for me) also the very different world of amplification, different mpc's, etc,
I
For the 1st 3 weeks, things started off really well! I was enthusiastic and so were the band. I was less enthusiastic on the 4th week when the nominal 'band leader' returned from a vacation, brought a ton of equipment along with him and basically drowned other members out.

During the 4th rehearsal (always on a Saturday), I noticed that my right hand felt a bit 'odd' but OK. That night, the pain in my right hand kept me awake. The day after (following internet advice) , I applied a bandage and ice. My guess is that I injured my hand during a "Fitness Session' the previous Friday. Since then , I haven't been able to play sax🙁. But I have been able to listen to some tracks that I've been asked to play🙂. Not exactly (no-one in the band does) but 'sufficiently recognisable'.

bandage.webp
271 Replies · 18307 views
mikaheik
Last reply · posted in Breakfastroom (chat and relax...)

Miscellaneous  Is AI taking over!

I just made this with AI today (inspired by my daughters recent wedding) and was totally mind blown... The song itself, band, singer and sax solos were just too good... There's no future for humans in music if this is just the early stages!

Walk her to forever
622 Replies · 23166 views
Andy Hornblower
Last reply · posted in Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro

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.

DSC_0015.webp


Ermm... there seems to be a 2 file upload limit. Hopefully, that's per post

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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.
589 Replies · 71548 views
R
Last reply · posted in Other Instruments plus electronics, PA & recording
I'm considering purchasing an effect that allows me to simulate a horn section a bit for LIVE use. So far I've been using the Roland Aerephone AE10, which isn't bad, but I'd like to try it with my tenor sax so I can switch from clean sax to horn section-like effects. I was thinking about a Zoom A2.1 or a Roctary Poly Octave, but I don't have any experience. I'd use it with my Xvive wireless microphone.
8 Replies · 188 views
LostCircuits
Last reply · posted in Breakfastroom (chat and relax...)
I'll be traveling to Curitiba / Campo Largo in October and I was just wondering if there are any familiar faces in the area.

😉
4 Replies · 84 views
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saxplorer
Last reply · posted in Great music and favourite Videos
I think these are superb ...



It could so easily just be cheesey lounge music ... but ... somehow ... it is a million miles from cheesey.
466 Replies · 73582 views
U
Last reply · posted in Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro

Saxophone beginners  If you had to do it all again

Evening all.

I'm returning to playing the sax after nearly 25 years, used to play alto (played in various bands, gigs in pubs, clubs, fesitvals, weddings & wakes, recorded some albums). I've only gone and bought myself a tenor off of ebay by accident and i'm planning to do some practice, mostly so I can get some half decent sounding brass parts down on my computer based deep house noodling.

When i started learning (early 90s) I taught myself, never had a lesson and subsequently developed a load of bad habits. These days there's something called youtube and it's full of AI slop tutorials for people to learn off so I've had a look around.

I'm planning on focussing on my embechoure first (long notes, stupid face exercises), intonation then finger placement (always moved my fingers too much and hit the pads too hard).

So my question is, if you had to do it all again - how would you go about it, what would you concentrate on?

Coke Escovado - I wouldn't change a thing
26 Replies · 2649 views
ghostler
Last reply · posted in Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
December 2025, I purchased the subject alto sax, S/N 541xxx on eBay for $118.50 + $35.00 shipping + $12.18 tax, total $165.68, seller from Indianna, US. It appears to be a later model as it has felt adjustments on the bell key pad guards. My earlier Jupiter Vito tenor does not have these adjusters, ditto with photos I've seen of other altos with lower serial numbers.

It was missing the left hand B key pearl and the right thumb rest. However, it had no major dents (a plus at this cost!), keys appeared straight and aligned (another plus), back side has large blotches of tarnish where the lacquer had been worn away.

There are small dents around the bell back area from metal chair bangs, some backside bell lacquer abrasions like it was laid against Portland cement concrete bleachers in a sports stadium. However the bell rim itself was left unscathed, amazing. Case was dusty but serviceable, no major rips in the plastic sheet covering the plywood. Most of the plastic sewn edge guards are intact, not thread rotted.

Considering what it must have been through, it is the basis for a good player with a little work. For $15 I installed the missing thumb rest with an all brass aftermarket one, which replaced the missing plastic one perfectly.

2026-08-31-nuevo-apoyapulgar-de-saxof%C3%B3n-webp.36905


I installed a 14.6 mm plastic pearl from a parts set I bought some time back for one missing on my Vito tenor, over the B key. Photo is before and after.

2026-09-04 alto llave falta pearl4.webp


Someone already replaced the A Key Pearl, its pattern is slightly different than the original. Mine has more of a swirl to it, the OEM ones have a linear streak to them. If I sent it out to a tech, they'd put one from their stock, which may or may not completely match but it will be close. Its a student sax, perfection not required, now feels good.

It needs a going over for cleaning. Pads are intact, no leather cuts or cracks. Some look old. Few bumper corks are missing. As I get more involved, will decide whether I can return it to service or have it sent out for tech servicing.
18 Replies · 1102 views
ManEast
Last reply · posted in Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro

Great Players  Mr Super Hip. Carl Mellor

I was just wondering if anyone here knew Carl Mellor.
The first time I met Carl was at Covent Garden sometime at the start of the 80s. He had a Mountain bike with a trailer on the back. The trailer was full of car batteries and a cassette machine. He would play with backing tracks...as a matter of fact he used Abersold and was the first guy to introduce them to me.
He was quite a characterful saxophonist/guy. The last time I saw him he was playing outside a coffee shop... Starbucks on the bridge at Camden it think. That must have been 10 odd years ago, maybe more.
Truly one very Interesting player. If you know anything at all about Carl I would very much like to know.

Kind Regards

ManEast
13 Replies · 5103 views
mpjbiker
Last reply · posted in Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Anyone using one on tenor? What are your impressions and thoughts? Cheers!
9 Replies · 284 views
rhysonsax
Last reply · posted in Breakfastroom (chat and relax...)
Apparently, at a Richard Thompson gig a girl asked him to "play that song about the Water Bed". "I don't do a song about a water bed" he replied. "Yes you do, the one the goes Let me ride on your water bed one more time".

View: https://youtu.be/gw1ZDzBoUf8?si=yah5OyWiRWCpzq_T


Have you got any other examples ?

Rhys
48 Replies · 2844 views
sax panther
Last reply · posted in Yardsale - Sell, buy & swap
for sale - a rare beast, the Phil-tone Isotope. This has been discontinued for a while, it was a collaboration between Phil-tone and Theo Wanne -beautifully made piece as you'd expect. Comes with the original wooden box. Big step baffle so unsurprisingly leans towards the bright side with a clean, modern sound, but I found it to be capable of a bit more warmth and versatility than a guardala for example.

Always used with a patch, I've removed this to give it a clean up for selling and you can see on the photos there's a bit of a colour difference on the beak where the patch has been stuck on. There's also some discolouration on the table which I've shown in the photos below, this was there when I purchased it (I'm not the first owner) but doesn't affect playability - table is flat and rails are unblemished. I've found myself to be more comfortable on rollover baffles, but this needs to be enjoyed by someone instead of sitting on my shelf. UK postage only please.

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3 Replies · 183 views
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