Another Walstein Tenor Owner

[Smiffy]

Hi Pauline, I am slowly doing that but just not very good yet



Hi Dave Thanks

Yep that's the way I worked t out, the neck is about 5 degrees off

The Harness is very good (I think) a BG


Getting it with the sax was another bit of luck

 

[peter_fitton]

Hi Smiffy, what's the Middle C to D transition like on the Walstein? I seem to remember Pete saying it was among the easiest of any sax he's ever played - but I might be imagining him saying that lol.

Am thinking of a Walstein tenor myself because of this issue on my T James tenor, and also what seems to me to be very poor intonation from second A upwards.

Cheers

Peter

 

[Smiffy]

Morning Peter, work calls so will let you know late but hadn't' noticed any problem yesterday

 

[Smiffy]

Coffee break time


Peter "Middle C to D transition like on the Walstein"

Very smooth in deed


Just noticed a couple of things, F# with Octave is a bit flat -10/15

What I don't like is the palm keys, when pressing the D (L3) with the palm my finger touches the (L2) so I have to change the shape of my hand, or will have to put something on the D to lift it a touch

 

[DaveW]

Peter, I agree with Smiffy on the C to D transition.

My black tenor could be stuffy so one of the first things I tried on the Walstein was C to D and it really was very easy.

Dave

 

[phil_edwards]

Smiffy wrote:
What I don't like is the palm keys, when pressing the D (L3) with the palm my finger touches the (L2) so I have to change the shape of my hand, or will have to put something on the D to lift it a touch

You need these Garry... http://tinyurl.com/47x437

Work a treat.

Phil

 

[Smiffy]

Thanks Phil

I never knew things like that existed, I was getting worried as what to do about it


Brilliant 😀


Thanks again

 

[phil_edwards]

you have pm

 

[Smiffy]

Thanks Phil, have replied

 

[peter_fitton]

Cheers Smiffy and DaveW. Hmmm the Walstein is tempting me more and more... the stuffy C to D transition on my T James is a constant source of frustration and I can't really seem to overcome it. 🙁

Cheers

Peter

 

[Smiffy]

I am pretty sure there is little or nothing wrong with this horn but I am going to get Griff to look over it, just for peace of mind, if there is anything, then it will be sorted

Will let you know what happens

 

[Smiffy]

Back from taking the Sax to Griff

Well as I thought there was not a lot wrong

A leak on the G#
A couple of other small adjustments

The Octave key needed a little adjustment

A couple of sticky pads

The neck was a bit tight and needed rubbing off a bit

The other thing was, the mouthpiece that was said to be a Yam4 was NOT, it was, to put it nicely, a stock Mp Grrr

Griff had a short blow with his Mp (not sure now what it's was called) while working out what was wrong, after fixing things, he had another go with a Yam5, Really nice warm tone


The combination of the adjustments and the Yam 5, have made the Low B and Bb far better along with the octave F# which was a bit flat

All in all very pleased, this horn (to my ears) sound really nice

Have to say Griff, is a very nice guy and I will be taking my Alto down to him at some time

What did he make of it

Well he was busy, did not get to spend to much time with it, but did say he thought it pretty nice considering the price, far better than some Chinese horns he had seen
He said the Alto he has seen was also nice

I will leave it up to him to say anymore, if he wishes


Afterwards I want around to see old git Bill

Had a blow on his Hanson ST8 which he spent a bit of money on for Griff to set-up for him, Very nice horn

Comparing the two, I would say they are much the same, Bill's low B Bb is smother, not much but a touch

Bill liked the Walstein, again will leave it him to say anything or not


Bill has lent me his Vandoren T 75, which sounded good around his home I'll be trying it out for awhile and will let you know what I think of both Mp's

Another thing that's happen is I have received the Complete Learn to play Saxophone book

Just had a brief thumb and have to say it looks to be a pretty good book for a learner to Pro

Will post more on that another time


A word to Peter, It's nice mate 😀

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Smiffy!

Sounds like a good day all round. Are you going to get a Yamaha 6 for Christmas, a 7 for Easter and so on?! At least those reeds should be better with a larger facing.

Still trying to do something about my C below the Octave key, which sounds dull in comparison to the notes below and above. I wish Griff was a bit nearer South Wales - the local guy can't seem to answer emails.

Just starting Alto practice 8)

Kind regards
Tom

 

[Smiffy]

Yep pretty good mate, will be having a go with those other reeds tomorrow

Looks like you could do with Griff having a look at yours
He gets my recommendation, for sure

 

[griff136]

TomMapfumo wrote:
Hi Smiffy!


....... I wish Griff was a bit nearer South Wales - the local guy can't seem to answer emails.


Kind regards
Tom

I only live just outside Exeter so only 85 mins from the Severn Bridge If you fancy a morning or afternoon or evening out.


BTW

Garry's (Smiffy) Walstein is a nice horn particularly for the price - very similar in looks feel and playability to a yanni 901.

 

[Smiffy]

griff136 wrote:

TomMapfumo wrote:
Hi Smiffy!


....... I wish Griff was a bit nearer South Wales - the local guy can't seem to answer emails.


Kind regards
Tom

I only live just outside Exeter so only 85 mins from the Severn Bridge If you fancy a morning or afternoon or evening out.


BTW

Garry's (Smiffy) Walstein is a nice horn particularly for the price - very similar in looks feel and playability to a yanni 901.

Just let me know if I'm looking >>>>>😀<<<<< to happy

 

[peter_fitton]

Excellent stuff, Smiffy 🙂 and Griff and Tom.

You guys in the South all seem to have a great time.... popping into each other's houses, playing each other's saxes etc. Kind of wish I wasn't stuck here in Manchester, lol.

Cheers

Peter

 

[DaveW]

You have PM Peter

 

[old_git]

Peter Fitton wrote:

Excellent stuff, Smiffy 🙂 and Griff and Tom.

You guys in the South all seem to have a great time.... popping into each other's houses, playing each other's saxes etc. Kind of wish I wasn't stuck here in Manchester, lol.

Cheers

Peter

It's called civilisation.
You have Oasis and the eyebrow brothers as compensation.

 

[peter_fitton]

Lol Old Git. For me the only good thing about Noel & Liam is the football team they support. MCFC is reason enough to be a proud Mancunian 🙂

Well, ok, I suppose Live Forever wasn't bad.

Looks like the Walstein might have to wait for a while. My teacher has managed to persuade me that my T James is more than up to the task for the time being. I mentioned that I was thinking of changing my tenor, so he asked me why I was dissatisfied with the TJ and then had me play some exercises on it involving high notes and the C to D transition. His verdict was that the sax is perfectly ok and that my/its intonation was pretty much spot on 🙂

His verdict: put more effort into your sight reading, it'll be much more beneficial than changing your sax. Killjoy :laugh:

Peter