Curved Soprano Saxes - any experiences, and best ones?!

TomMapfumo · Sep 26, 2008

Hi Pete!

I had been led to believe that it was the straight ones that were more problematic in this respect. I must remember to avoid the low B, or just stick to my high brass after all.

Do you know why a straight one is more in tune?! I'd be interested to know? I assume, therefore, that you have a straight Walstein.

Kind regards
Tom

Pete Thomas · Sep 26, 2008

Yes, I have a straight Walstein, I've previously had a curved and straight Buescher and a curved Conn. The straight Buescher was a lovely horn to play, the curved one a lovely horn to look at but did have more tuning issues.

And the Conn was also harder to play in tune.

Why a straight one should be more in tune I don't know, and others may well disagree anyway.

thomsax · Sep 26, 2008

Pete,

I think the American manufacturors back in the 20's did have some diffuculties to built a straight conical tube in one piece. That was one of the reasons, beside the tone, they manufactured the curved sopranos and even some curved sopraninos. To massproduce a soprano was not that easy. But thats not the case anymore.

Thomas

TomMapfumo · Sep 27, 2008

Hi Thomas!

Thanks for that
Kind regards
Tom

justin_chune · Sep 27, 2008

Some time back there was a discussion about straight and curved sopranos on SOTW. Dave Kessler the respected instrument dealer gave it as his opinion that when it came to curved sopranos, only the Yani was worth putting the money into.

Jules · Sep 27, 2008

Justin Chune wrote:
Some time back there was a discussion about straight and curved sopranos on SOTW. Dave Kessler the respected instrument dealer gave it as his opinion that when it came to curved sopranos, only the Yani was worth putting the money into.

Interestingly, I've just spent an afternoon testing the intonation on curved sopranos (Yanis) and was about to post that they didn't seem to have any significant intonation problems over and above straight ones.... I'll certainly back up Mr Kessler's appraisal that they're a worthy chocie.

frankb · Sep 28, 2008

Let's hope that the "Yani copy" Walstein shares that!

I have to admit that (when my arm is functional again) I'm having a bad case of curvy sop GAS and it's all Walstein's fault! (I'm sure the Yani's are utterly gorgeous, but there's no way I can justify an additional grand or so.)

TomMapfumo · Sep 28, 2008

Hi Frank!

It does sound like the Bauhaus Walstein is highly thought of by those who have one/played one, so I am optimistic. With my brass contingent (Trumpet, Cornet & Flugelhorn) I will have an excess of soprano instruments, all in Bb, which is handy from a music book perspective - some sax music sounds great on flugel (I have/play several Garbarek pieces which sound amazing on flugel, as does 'Summertime', which I did for my Grade 3 Flugel exam). I hope that the Soprano sax can provide an interesting contrast to this.

I'll let you know when it has been released into the community!
Kind regards
Tom

thomsax · Sep 28, 2008

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TomMapfumo · Sep 28, 2008

HI Thomas!

Excellent detail - fascinating stuff. Do you know of any decent Swedish Jazz? I am most keen on European Jazz - Garbarek, Nils Petter Molvaer, Tomasz Stanko and others - but know of no Swedish stuff. Any help would be great.

Kind regards
Tom

rhysonsax · Sep 28, 2008

I'm not Swedish, but I can start this off with two fabulous Swedish sax players.

Lars Gullin (baritone sax & also piano).

Arne Domnerus (alto & baritone & clarinet).

For Lars Gullin see:
http://www.gullin.net/index.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB68bzzGmHs

For Arne Domnerus see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arne_Domn%C3%A9rus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxs1V5D4WgA

I think that Lars Gullin's son is also a fine sax player.

Rhys

TomMapfumo · Sep 28, 2008

Hi Rhys! Thanks for that.

Just found Magnus Lindgren who plays Tenor Sax, and sounds interesting, as well as Nils Landgren and his Album 'Swedish Folk Modern'.
I'll be on to Amazon shortly. Apparently ML learned sax from age 13 and at age 18 was playing with Herbie Hancock. NL has done records with Tomasz Stanko - brilliant Polish trumpet player!

It's going to be a good day.
Kind regards
Tom

thomsax · Sep 28, 2008

Lars Gullin, Arne Domnerus and Peter Gullin (also on bari) are fine samples of Swedish saxophonists. But it's so sad, they are all gone. Lars Gyllin in the 70's, I think. Peter Gullin for a couple of years ago and now recently Arne Domnerus passed away. All fine jazzmusicians.

Of course, Nisse Landgren is still around with his trombone.

Thomas

TomMapfumo · Sep 28, 2008

In lieu of my sax I have just been doing some scandinavian jazz improv riffs on flugel with my Yami keyboard providing a latindisco drumbeat! Very enjoyable indeed - great soundscapes! (As batman my say)

Tom