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CafeSaxophone Forum
Saxophone FS Hanson VIII Alto
As per thread title, lovely example of Hanson VIII which I bought in 2020, in fantastic condition bar the octave ring being very slightly bent + slightly chipper cork on the neck, otherwise in pristine condition. Plays top to bottom super easily 🙂.
Comes with original case (never used since I also have a hiscox).
Happy to answer any question, provide more photos or let anyone try it in person.
Open to reasonable offers.
Comes with original case (never used since I also have a hiscox).
Happy to answer any question, provide more photos or let anyone try it in person.
Open to reasonable offers.
0 Replies
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37 views
Tech/maintenance Vise Advice
Picture of vise with V notch.
1. Why do some vises have that?
2. Not great for using parallels.
Thoughts for making something to allow use of parallels for milling.
Will be making small mounts for optics and other precision items, like metal bridges for string instruments, motor bike parts/mods, etc etc.
Might drill thru the rear block, from the back, make a metal plate, with counterbores, that is wider than the V notch and bolt it on when necessary.
Thicker parallels are an option, but they are not often used, like a parachute. 🙄
Thx
PP
1. Why do some vises have that?
2. Not great for using parallels.
Thoughts for making something to allow use of parallels for milling.
Will be making small mounts for optics and other precision items, like metal bridges for string instruments, motor bike parts/mods, etc etc.
Might drill thru the rear block, from the back, make a metal plate, with counterbores, that is wider than the V notch and bolt it on when necessary.
Thicker parallels are an option, but they are not often used, like a parachute. 🙄
Thx
PP
2 Replies
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58 views
Saxophones What to avoid?
New here, first question?
I'm a tuba player, looking to find a saxophone(s) for occasional doubling. I took a saxophone class when I was in school 20+ years ago. Went very well, really enjoyed it. I play in a group that is frequently short on saxophones and abundant with tubas so I can fill in where needed.
My question isn't what horns should I look for, but what i horns i should avoid. There's always those certain ones that are no good all around.
I'm looking for dirt cheap used instruments. I really like old instruments. I'm very good at repairing things and I work in a machine shop with access to all the toys. Thank you
I'm a tuba player, looking to find a saxophone(s) for occasional doubling. I took a saxophone class when I was in school 20+ years ago. Went very well, really enjoyed it. I play in a group that is frequently short on saxophones and abundant with tubas so I can fill in where needed.
My question isn't what horns should I look for, but what i horns i should avoid. There's always those certain ones that are no good all around.
I'm looking for dirt cheap used instruments. I really like old instruments. I'm very good at repairing things and I work in a machine shop with access to all the toys. Thank you
36 Replies
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730 views
Blog Tenor Viol's musings
OK. I've thought about doing this for a while - setting up a general thread for me to post in, rather than necessarily creating a separate new thread every time for relatively minor matters, or discussion of how things are going etc.
So, the first item is my FB page got me with an Amazon advert and I seem to have ordered a jazz theory book... It will get delivered to the Amazon lockers at work on Monday
Tomorrow is a Café Trio/Quartet...Septet day where @trimmy is going to demonstrate ascending chromatic scales in augmented fourths, and descending in diminished fifths... 😀
Yesterday was a wind band concert in Maghull. There were about 85 of us playing. We had a contrabassoon in the band...
So, the first item is my FB page got me with an Amazon advert and I seem to have ordered a jazz theory book... It will get delivered to the Amazon lockers at work on Monday
Tomorrow is a Café Trio/Quartet...Septet day where @trimmy is going to demonstrate ascending chromatic scales in augmented fourths, and descending in diminished fifths... 😀
Yesterday was a wind band concert in Maghull. There were about 85 of us playing. We had a contrabassoon in the band...
1941 Replies
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117200 views
Saxophones Conn 10m.... Could this be the one?
So guys😊☺️. I ve recently discussed with some of you, possible upgrades to move on from my Arbiter Pro jazz tenor. I almost went to try out a selmer SA80I but decided against it in the end.
Now, whilst I am not in any rush to move on just yet, I think it is definitely on the cards to happen at some point over the coming months. 😉
I was very drawn to a Selmer initially, but have stumbled across some YouTube videos on the Conn 10m.
Having watched a few comparison videos on Selmer mark VI Vs Conn 10m, (not that I was looking at the Mark VI 😳) I immediately noticed how different the tone was between them. The selmer sound much cleaner, crisper, whereas the Conn was a little warmer, fluffier 😳 (is that sacrilege to use fluffy and Conn in the same sentence?.... 🤔😳🤷)
I thought it would be just that one video so I watched a few others and yeah, it was still "fluffy" ☺️ I really liked the "fluffy" sound.
Someone said it was because they were made during the Swing era and so were more "harmonic" and "softer" built for a more acoustic environment and they blended well in a section with the likes of Buescher's. In context, this made so much sense to me.
Someone commented in my last post that perhaps I didn't really know at this stage what direction I wanted to go in looking for a new/old tenor, they were correct, I didn't know. But now I think I do 💡😳🤔
So... If this is a light bulb moment could y'all please enlighten me as to your opinions and experience with the Conn 10m tenor sax.
Is there a particular year or time period that was better than others to look for?
Any faults to look out for?
Are they harder to blow because they are so old?
What's an average price these sell for?
And really any other areas I've not thought about 🤔☺️
Now, whilst I am not in any rush to move on just yet, I think it is definitely on the cards to happen at some point over the coming months. 😉
I was very drawn to a Selmer initially, but have stumbled across some YouTube videos on the Conn 10m.
Having watched a few comparison videos on Selmer mark VI Vs Conn 10m, (not that I was looking at the Mark VI 😳) I immediately noticed how different the tone was between them. The selmer sound much cleaner, crisper, whereas the Conn was a little warmer, fluffier 😳 (is that sacrilege to use fluffy and Conn in the same sentence?.... 🤔😳🤷)
I thought it would be just that one video so I watched a few others and yeah, it was still "fluffy" ☺️ I really liked the "fluffy" sound.
Someone said it was because they were made during the Swing era and so were more "harmonic" and "softer" built for a more acoustic environment and they blended well in a section with the likes of Buescher's. In context, this made so much sense to me.
Someone commented in my last post that perhaps I didn't really know at this stage what direction I wanted to go in looking for a new/old tenor, they were correct, I didn't know. But now I think I do 💡😳🤔
So... If this is a light bulb moment could y'all please enlighten me as to your opinions and experience with the Conn 10m tenor sax.
Is there a particular year or time period that was better than others to look for?
Any faults to look out for?
Are they harder to blow because they are so old?
What's an average price these sell for?
And really any other areas I've not thought about 🤔☺️
41 Replies
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630 views
Tech/maintenance 1946 The Martin Tenor - an overhaul thread
I'm a bit crazy. I already have a lovely 1924 Martin Handcraft tenor that was overhauled and plays wonderfully.
But here we are, I couldn't help but get a Committee III tenor to match my alto! Serial # 155,xxx.
My wife found this one too, a little bit of a drive away, but worth the trip a couple of weeks ago.
Its quite dirty and nasty looking, but in overall good shape minus a dent in the bow a couple of small dents. The finish looks bad right now, but I couldn't care less about what it looks like. It has the original pads and I doubt its ever been apart before.
Day of purchase:
But here we are, I couldn't help but get a Committee III tenor to match my alto! Serial # 155,xxx.
My wife found this one too, a little bit of a drive away, but worth the trip a couple of weeks ago.
Its quite dirty and nasty looking, but in overall good shape minus a dent in the bow a couple of small dents. The finish looks bad right now, but I couldn't care less about what it looks like. It has the original pads and I doubt its ever been apart before.
Day of purchase:
90 Replies
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9072 views
Cafe Moderator
Commercial
Playing the saxophone What does professional musician mean?
I think this is the basis for an interesting discussion/debate.
My take is that a professional is someone who makes a living from playing. No other work. So in that case a couple of bucks or free meal is not it.
And of course there is semi-pro
106 Replies
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3802 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
2914 Replies
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91223 views
Playing the saxophone Bass sax - reading tuba and bass parts
It's been pretty quiet on the bass sax front over here, so I thought I'd share how I learned this new skill to open up more bass sax playing opportunities for myself. Please feel free to share your own experiences and advice here as well.
I've been playing bass sax for a few years now, mostly in a small trad jazz band where I improvise the bass lines 100% from the written chord symbols, mostly two-beat lines (root and fifth) plus some Rollini-style embellishments. But a local 10 piece trad jazz band needed someone to replace their tuba player and asked if I could do it on bass sax. I really couldn't. But I really wanted to. So I said yes and went about figuring out how to pull it off. Since this band used entirely written charts with no chord symbols, I had no choice but to learn to read the tuba/bass violin parts and play them on bass sax. Luckily I had 6 months before our first gig. Turns out I needed every bit of that to climb the mountain ahead of me.
First I had to decide how I was going to approach this problem. I could learn to read the bass clef parts as-is, then transpose each note up a step on the fly. Or I could read the bass parts as-is and just learn a new set of fingerings, i.e., read and F, finger a G and think of the new note as an F. Or I could treat it like learning an entirely new clef, Alto clef, so the note I read matched the fingerings I already knew. Since I already had a little bass clef reading skill from playing piano and tuba years back, I opted for the first approach - read as-is and transpose up a step.
My bass clef reading skills weren't all that great to begin with. So I spent the first month with flash cards until I could read the bass clef notes instantly and reliably. Next, I had to tackle the transposition. I did this with the sax, fingering the note that was one step higher than I was reading. This process took me a solid two months to get reasonably fast and mistake-free. I spent the subsequent three months reading every tuba/trombone part I could find. Unfortunately the band leader would only share a few actual bass parts with me ahead of time. The rest I'd be sight reading at the gig.
One wrinkle I only learned once I started reading lots of different parts is that tuba and bass violin parts aren't the same. Bass violin parts are written an octave higher than they sound. So I had to read up high, and play down an octave. Tuba parts are written as they sound. So they're written lower on the staff and don't have to be taken up an octave. My main difficulty was not being great at reading the higher ledger lines. Otherwise, it wasn't too terrible going from one type of part to another.
Finally, D-day came, and the first gig was upon me. Most of the tunes had fairly simple written two-beat bass lines. A few had quarter note walking lines, but at pretty brisk tempos. I'd say I did ok, at least well enough to get asked back for the next gig. At least now I have all the parts which I can practice on my own. It's still a work in progress as my old brain doesn't retain as much or work as fast as it used to.
I've been playing bass sax for a few years now, mostly in a small trad jazz band where I improvise the bass lines 100% from the written chord symbols, mostly two-beat lines (root and fifth) plus some Rollini-style embellishments. But a local 10 piece trad jazz band needed someone to replace their tuba player and asked if I could do it on bass sax. I really couldn't. But I really wanted to. So I said yes and went about figuring out how to pull it off. Since this band used entirely written charts with no chord symbols, I had no choice but to learn to read the tuba/bass violin parts and play them on bass sax. Luckily I had 6 months before our first gig. Turns out I needed every bit of that to climb the mountain ahead of me.
First I had to decide how I was going to approach this problem. I could learn to read the bass clef parts as-is, then transpose each note up a step on the fly. Or I could read the bass parts as-is and just learn a new set of fingerings, i.e., read and F, finger a G and think of the new note as an F. Or I could treat it like learning an entirely new clef, Alto clef, so the note I read matched the fingerings I already knew. Since I already had a little bass clef reading skill from playing piano and tuba years back, I opted for the first approach - read as-is and transpose up a step.
My bass clef reading skills weren't all that great to begin with. So I spent the first month with flash cards until I could read the bass clef notes instantly and reliably. Next, I had to tackle the transposition. I did this with the sax, fingering the note that was one step higher than I was reading. This process took me a solid two months to get reasonably fast and mistake-free. I spent the subsequent three months reading every tuba/trombone part I could find. Unfortunately the band leader would only share a few actual bass parts with me ahead of time. The rest I'd be sight reading at the gig.
One wrinkle I only learned once I started reading lots of different parts is that tuba and bass violin parts aren't the same. Bass violin parts are written an octave higher than they sound. So I had to read up high, and play down an octave. Tuba parts are written as they sound. So they're written lower on the staff and don't have to be taken up an octave. My main difficulty was not being great at reading the higher ledger lines. Otherwise, it wasn't too terrible going from one type of part to another.
Finally, D-day came, and the first gig was upon me. Most of the tunes had fairly simple written two-beat bass lines. A few had quarter note walking lines, but at pretty brisk tempos. I'd say I did ok, at least well enough to get asked back for the next gig. At least now I have all the parts which I can practice on my own. It's still a work in progress as my old brain doesn't retain as much or work as fast as it used to.
22 Replies
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298 views
Saxophone FS Tenor Grassi Professional 2000
So, after a few years in my hands, the same grassi that used to belong to NigelD & DavidUK is up for sale alongside a black hard plastic carry case.
The horn is in great nick, when I bought it I stripped all the old patina and let the new stuff develop, as well as. had the horn serviced.
Plays great top to bottom, pads are in good nick. Alll you need is to provide your own mouthpiece and the rest will be history.
Happy to send more pictures, anwser any questions and provide more pictures 🙂
The horn is in great nick, when I bought it I stripped all the old patina and let the new stuff develop, as well as. had the horn serviced.
Plays great top to bottom, pads are in good nick. Alll you need is to provide your own mouthpiece and the rest will be history.
Happy to send more pictures, anwser any questions and provide more pictures 🙂
0 Replies
·
34 views
Cafe Moderator
Commercial
Playing the saxophone How to growl on saxophone - tutorial and examples
Examples of the saxophone growl
Before I go on the describe it, here are some audio examples:
Although we think of the saxophone growl as an effect, it can be applied with different intensities. You can use it here or there on one or two notes or add it quite extensively. It's up to your taste and judgment how you use it. It can be anything from a slight edge to brighten the tone to a full on snarling roaring tiger growl.
It is a sort of equivalent to a guitarist using a distortion pedal.
How do you growl on a saxophone
First of all one of the misconception is that you growl while playing. That is not likely to work. Another misconception is that you roll your RRRs. Again, that won't work either - BUT - it does give a different but related effect: flutter tongue.To growl you simply sing, or rather hum, while you are playing. It's not actually possible to sing of course because there is a mouthpiece in the way, but humming (which takes place in your throat) works well.
Which note to hum?
That's the $1000 question. Some people say to hum the same note as you are playing but slightly (or very) out of tune, others to hum a specific harmony or interval relative to the note you are playing.I have found that either of those may work, but nobody I know of has yet come up with an explanation of how out of tune or which interval. The way it works is that the note (being out of tune or different to the one you are playing) causes interference with the sound wave of the saxophone to cause the distortion. It may be that not all saxophone notes growl based on the same amount of pitch variation or harmony in the hum.
My preferred method of learning is via a sort of subconscious process of trial and error. Trying to sing along, whether out of tune, or in harmony is just too difficult a process.
So try this:
- Play a note on the saxophone
- While playing, hum any note and while keeping on the same saxophone note, vary the pitch of your hum
- Listen carefully to the note and as your hum varies and note when it causes the tonal interference - and the resulting growl.
- Play that note again (asa long note) while humming that same pitch if possible
- Repeat a few times and then move on to a different and do the same process over again
Another very quick example...Happy growling evybody!
PS: We are pleased to also bring you a a soundcloud tutorial from our very own cafe member Taz.
View: https://soundcloud.com/taz-16/growl-tutorial
226 Replies
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81053 views
Blog Mike's musings
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'.
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'.
289 Replies
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20728 views
Cafe Moderator
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Animals Show us your pets.
I apologise in advance but rest assured the Café is not going to turn into Facebook.
As a competition maybe the photo with the most likes or funnies gets a prize. I can offer a Cebulla or B.Air neck strap, as a prize. Might think of a few more. Or else a book or DVD. Or something else.
As a competition maybe the photo with the most likes or funnies gets a prize. I can offer a Cebulla or B.Air neck strap, as a prize. Might think of a few more. Or else a book or DVD. Or something else.
357 Replies
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24028 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 !
1176 Replies
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66777 views
Tech/maintenance Making parts you can’t find.
Missing parts are often a pain to find. Making a new part can be done. Cost, more than a thick combo pizza & pitcher of beer.
It’s all starts with the phone call… “ I didn’t notice that missing on the Goodwill auction pictures “ .
With no carcass horn to pick at…. its time to just make one.
A section of chopstick for size and bit of cork to check fit.
It’s all starts with the phone call… “ I didn’t notice that missing on the Goodwill auction pictures “ .
With no carcass horn to pick at…. its time to just make one.
A section of chopstick for size and bit of cork to check fit.
114 Replies
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8193 views
Cafe Moderator
Commercial
Cafe Announcements 📣 Sensitive content filter
We have had this filter for quite a while now. Part of the reason is compliance with various regulations around the world regarding online safety.
Some of you may have noticed that it isn't perfect, there are inevitably false positives, ie they are mistakenly picked up by the filter. The latest update allows more control over what is and isn't acceptable to view. It includes nudity obviously, but also violence, firearms etc. Currently I only have it set for nudity (and beyond).
It will often pick up images that many find not offensive or even sensitive, for this reason we are introducing an option for members to unblur images. Currently this is in trial and only for supporters.
However as soon as we find images that are false positives, they will be unblurred by moderators. If you upload a picture of a saxophone part and find it is flagged, please feel free to report so we can fix it and tweak the settings.
Thanks
Some of you may have noticed that it isn't perfect, there are inevitably false positives, ie they are mistakenly picked up by the filter. The latest update allows more control over what is and isn't acceptable to view. It includes nudity obviously, but also violence, firearms etc. Currently I only have it set for nudity (and beyond).
It will often pick up images that many find not offensive or even sensitive, for this reason we are introducing an option for members to unblur images. Currently this is in trial and only for supporters.
However as soon as we find images that are false positives, they will be unblurred by moderators. If you upload a picture of a saxophone part and find it is flagged, please feel free to report so we can fix it and tweak the settings.
Thanks
14 Replies
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258 views
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