(bottom of page)
CafeSaxophone Forum
I can't even suss out what the benefit might be.
It's outside the box - will give them that. 😀
Not a P. Mauriat hater - one of my backup altos is their Black Pearl and it's a really great looking horn but not really sure what they are going for here.
R&C beats them for efficiency. They are claiming Two Voices from only one bell lol...
It's outside the box - will give them that. 😀
Not a P. Mauriat hater - one of my backup altos is their Black Pearl and it's a really great looking horn but not really sure what they are going for here.
R&C beats them for efficiency. They are claiming Two Voices from only one bell lol...
3 Replies
·
29 views
Saxophones Selmer no longer supreme!
Okay so I was saddened when I saw this video today and a little shocked but not all that surprised.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PYOU5SgysM
One of my favourite players Eric Alexander has moved to a Chinese brand saxophone. Can I blame him? No as I have done the same and most of my playing buddies have cashed out of the high end French and Japanese horns. They cannot justify the investment on return and these are gigging musicians who say it just doesn't matter!
I just booked a friend and a killer alto player for a gig this past weekend. He now sells insurance, he gave up gigging a few years ago but jumped at the offer of $400.00 for an hour wedding gig. Insurance sales are not paying the bills. He has sold off all his expensive Yamahas and now has Eastern music horns.
How many young players are on Chinese or Taiwan horns these days?
The times they are a changing - sell your VI's because the up and comers won' be lusting after them. 😎
Introducing our newest BetterSax artist, Eric Alexander!
One of my favourite players Eric Alexander has moved to a Chinese brand saxophone. Can I blame him? No as I have done the same and most of my playing buddies have cashed out of the high end French and Japanese horns. They cannot justify the investment on return and these are gigging musicians who say it just doesn't matter!
I just booked a friend and a killer alto player for a gig this past weekend. He now sells insurance, he gave up gigging a few years ago but jumped at the offer of $400.00 for an hour wedding gig. Insurance sales are not paying the bills. He has sold off all his expensive Yamahas and now has Eastern music horns.
How many young players are on Chinese or Taiwan horns these days?
The times they are a changing - sell your VI's because the up and comers won' be lusting after them. 😎
14 Replies
·
479 views
TV/film/books Do you read books?
Do you read books in any form, hardcover, paperback, on an e-book reader, online, on a tablet or phone?
I just ordered a hardcover book to try to get back into reading, because I read one novel in the past year. I also have saxophone and music books, but I didn't read any of them all the way through in any given time. An author friend gives me books, none of which I have gotten far into. It's a little like giving a musician music. It doesn't always work out.
- Fiction, non-fiction, saxophone or music only, cheap detective novels, sci-fi, romance, western, mystery, self-help, cooking?
- Novels, anthologies, essay collections, tech manuals (like books about Photoshop and such)?
I just ordered a hardcover book to try to get back into reading, because I read one novel in the past year. I also have saxophone and music books, but I didn't read any of them all the way through in any given time. An author friend gives me books, none of which I have gotten far into. It's a little like giving a musician music. It doesn't always work out.
Do you read books?
40 votes total
145 Replies
·
6866 views
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
Walk her to forever
648 Replies
·
27857 views
Beginner Saxes Arbiter pro sound... Taiwan.
just got myself a Arbiter pro sound sax, it stamped Taiwan and s/n 481296, someone said it was from about 1988 as it not stamped London... plays really well and I really like it a lot just wanting to know more about it as information seems very scarce...
20 Replies
·
5128 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.
25 Replies
·
2228 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 !
1105 Replies
·
63392 views
Cafe Moderator
Commercial
Playing the saxophone What are the most common problems. Either for yourself or students if you teach?
I know what mine are (or were) what about yours?
Originally I think it was tuning but I probably wasn’t aware - which is another problem in itself.
Another one was finding my playing was inconsistent so it was difficult sometimes to pin down issues.
Originally I think it was tuning but I probably wasn’t aware - which is another problem in itself.
Another one was finding my playing was inconsistent so it was difficult sometimes to pin down issues.
choose up to 4 common problems you have experienced, either you or your students?
16 votes total
23 Replies
·
383 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?
884 Replies
·
29587 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.
376 Replies
·
13955 views
Miscellaneous Motorbikes
Señor Pig,
Would like to know more about this bike/side car.
More pics?
Thanks.
Might make a side car for the kids and grandkids, for the '79 XT500, if they buy a ranch/farm in the Rockies.
Off road only.
Would like to know more about this bike/side car.
More pics?
Thanks.
Might make a side car for the kids and grandkids, for the '79 XT500, if they buy a ranch/farm in the Rockies.
Off road only.
52 Replies
·
1461 views
Tech/maintenance Abalone key pearls
Needed to order from Amazon so I added a set of these to see what they're like: Bnineteenteam Key Buttons for Alto Sax, 9pcs Sax Abalone Shell Key Buttons Saxophone Key Button for soprano, alto and tenor saxophones : Amazon.co.uk: Books
Not expecting much. Most of the "real shell" pearls I've looked at seem to be covered in acrylic which means they're no different than a plastic key surely?
Anyway... for a fiver it's worth a go. Let you know what they're like once they arrive.
Not expecting much. Most of the "real shell" pearls I've looked at seem to be covered in acrylic which means they're no different than a plastic key surely?
Anyway... for a fiver it's worth a go. Let you know what they're like once they arrive.
122 Replies
·
8333 views
Introduction Gizmo is here
Hey
I'm Gizmo. The owner joined my forum so thought I would join this one.
😀
I'm Gizmo. The owner joined my forum so thought I would join this one.
😀
13 Replies
·
143 views
R & B, Blues, Soul Recommended Blues Listening
My teacher has suggested trying to improvise over a blues progression.
For various reasons I've barely touched my saxes since, I'm after some listening recommendations to give me a little bit of inspiration.
So what should I be listening to?
For various reasons I've barely touched my saxes since, I'm after some listening recommendations to give me a little bit of inspiration.
So what should I be listening to?
14 Replies
·
242 views
Saxophones Playing at Old people’s home
Evening,
I have been asked to play at a local old people’s home for a coffee morning for a hour. It’s for ages 65 up. The question is how many songs should I aim for and how long ie a hour straight of 2 , 25 minute sets with a short break.
I will be playing old Jazz ballads.
Thank you Paul
I have been asked to play at a local old people’s home for a coffee morning for a hour. It’s for ages 65 up. The question is how many songs should I aim for and how long ie a hour straight of 2 , 25 minute sets with a short break.
I will be playing old Jazz ballads.
Thank you Paul
77 Replies
·
5636 views
Tone or Sound subtone
is subtone supposed to be achieved by moving the bottom lip lower on the reed to dampen the sound? or is it achieved by just lowering/widening the airstream and keeping the embrochure the same?
found you can achieve a subtone by doing both but am not sure if one or the other is better, or if they can both be done interchangably. also i find doing the former (dampening the reed by moving the bottom of the lip lower on the reed) makes the sound slightly more thin and muffled than doing the latter variation of subtone.
found you can achieve a subtone by doing both but am not sure if one or the other is better, or if they can both be done interchangably. also i find doing the former (dampening the reed by moving the bottom of the lip lower on the reed) makes the sound slightly more thin and muffled than doing the latter variation of subtone.
13 Replies
·
340 views
Try our new Social Feeds
Look out for the navigation icon: . Switch to social feed nested & infinte scroll (and back again to forum view) in your account preferences.
Member Blogs (currently active)
-
Saxophones Pork Tales: Saxophone Repair DIY Adventures.- Started by PigSquealer
- Replies: 1K
-
-
Trending
Popular Discussions on the Café
-
Saxophones C Melody Saxophones- Started by Andy Hornblower
- Replies: 689
-
Saxophones Carrying a tenor on a (motor)bike?- Started by Jay
- Replies: 779
-
Saxophones How will Tariffs affect Sax Prices?- Started by Ivan
- Replies: 465
-
-
Playing the saxophone The Cafe Trio grown to Octet down to Sextet- Started by trimmy
- Replies: 844
-
Great Players Who sparked your love of Sax music- Started by jools
- Replies: 619
-
Playing the saxophone Learn to play by ear or by reading music- Started by Taz
- Replies: 1K
-
Tech/maintenance My new "DIY" pads...- Started by DavidUK
- Replies: 393
-
Theory & Impro Do we really need theory?- Started by jbtsax
- Replies: 497
-
Misc Reviews Yamaha YDS-150 Wind Synth
- Started by Acc6441
- Replies: 301
-
Playing the saxophone Learning to Read v Playing by ear- Started by BigMartin
- Replies: 505
Featured Classifieds
Latest Song of the Month
-
-
SOTM SotM September 2026 - Autumn Leaves- Started by mrblackbat
- Replies: 25
-
-
-
SOTM SOTM June 2026 "And You Just Smile" (from ear to ear- training)- Started by LostCircuits
- Replies: 11
-
SOTM SOTM May 2026 - Always Remember Us This Way
- Started by MikeMorrell
- Replies: 39
-
SOTM SOTM April 2026 - Freedom Jazz Dance- Started by rhysonsax
- Replies: 14
-
SOTM SOTM and PETE (Play by Ear Training Exercise)
- Started by Wade Cornell
- Replies: 16
-
SOTM SOTM Feb 2026 - On Green Dolphin Street
- Started by mrblackbat
- Replies: 44
-
SOTM SOTM January 2026: Our Love Is Here to Stay- Started by GCinCT
- Replies: 46
-
SOTM SOTM December 2025: Wexford Carol
- Started by MikeMorrell
- Replies: 37
-
SOTM SOTM November 2025 - Red Baron- Started by sax panther
- Replies: 36