Dilemma - Selmer cigar cutter alto vs Yana 992

[suethesax]

My regular alto is a Yani a992, which I love, but I also have a Selmer Cigar Cutter, which I've had for a few years ( a lovely gift from my parents who bought it without me trying it)

Trouble with the Selmer is that althought the tone is lovely, for my small hands it's not the most comfortable or easy to play. I've had a few adjustments made but it's not really the ideal horn for me.

Anyway my dilemma is do I keep it because it was a gift and is a vintage horn? Trouble with that is it just sits in it's case and it really should be played. Do I sell it or trade it?

I can't decide - what would you do?

 

[jonf]

Hiya Sue

Two great horns - I have a T992, and if the alto plays as good it's a cracker.

Personally, I find it very hard to sell any musical instruments - hence the seven saxes and a clarinet. I just seem to get attached to them in a way I don't with other stuff likes cars, bikes, electrical stuff and the like. Unless you need the money, I'd say keep both.

What I do is make an effort to rotate the saxes I play each day - a couple of days at a time on each. That way they're not just sitting unused in a box gradually stiffening up.

As you say, a nice dliemma. And what nice parents you have! 🙂

 

[justin_chune]

Keep it, and play it. In my view two saxes are better than one. A good back-up sax is a handy thing to have.

 

[phil_edwards]

If you're really troubled by it Sue give it to me. Think how good we'll both feel then?

Well, just a thought, someone had to say it...

regards, Phil

 

[blues_growler]

Sue, I feel your thoughtful parents could not have foreseen the small hands dilemma and must have intended you would enjoy playing the Selmer. May I respectfully suggest you consider finding another instrument of similar vintage and quality that is comfortable and enjoyable for you to play, and pay for it by selling the Selmer ? Following this course would result in you having a horn you can play, and just as important, fully implement your parents generous intention when they gave you the cigar cutter. Failing that, taking male growth hormones
would cause your hands (and feet) to grow quite a bit but also you'd have a beard, a small price to pay for that fabulous c.c. tone.
PS Thanks for your sound advice regarding pork pie hats.

 

[old_git]

Sue,
Don't do male growth hormones.
I'm big, bearded and BALD.

 

[Bobby G]

There goes my mental image then Bill. I had you down as a Wilfred Brambell lookee-likee :laugh:

No offence 😉

 

[Rogerb]

Is that your Cigar Cutter FS in the Sax On The Web forum, Sue?

(BTW, I had a similar, but less unflattering, image of you, to Bob's, Bill 😉 Funny bloke, imagination!)

 

[old_git]

No problems Bob but are you Amy's dep?

 

[suethesax]

No Roger - it's still in my music room - can't bear to part with it, I don't think. I have this love of the idea of a vintage horn but in reality, I find them more difficult to handle in comparison to modern saxes.

Blues Growler - I do have another alto - a Yani A992 and because it suits me so well I think any other would fall down (for me) by comparison. I have tried a couple of others - A gorgeous
Conn 6M and a Buescher True Tone which were OK but not as easy to play as the Yani. I also tried a Mark VI and found the same thing as the CG.

Incidentally when I bought the Yani, I tried it against a Reference 54 and it didn't suit me either.

Maybe I'm just not destined to play Selmers?

I did consider maybe trading it for a P Mauriat because they look so sexy but I think I'll end up keeping it.

I definitely won't be taking the growth hormones - my niece calls me a PORG - person of retarted growth.

 

[Bobby G]

I am Amy's dep while her 'troubles' continue, the Birmingham farrago was all part of my masterplan to bring her down heh heh heh.

Lookee-likey info; some kids in a caff near the Roundhouse many years ago wouldn't have it that I was not the bloke who played Ken in Citizen Smith

 

[jambo]

If its not used my advice would be to sell it and put the cash towars something you will use.

This is what I did with my Tenor and I havent looked back. Afterall, thers not much point in having something nice just stuck in its case.

 

[Bobby G]

Hey Sue, d'ya want a nice old Dolnet....? 😉

 

[Linky Lee]

I kind of do the same thing at the moment.
I've got my Martin sitting in a lovely luxurious hardcase and very rarely get it out. The keywork on the Hanson just makes it that much more effortless to play. The Martin sounds better (and looks better IMO) but is a lot of work.

Really I'm looking to sell the Hanson and buy something with the modern keywork and more of the sound like the Martin.

I played my tutor's MK VI and I sounded just like I do playing my Hanson, and the Key work was only marginally better on the MK VI.
I'm thinking of popping down WWAB and a trying a Walstein alto...
maybe a Bari and a sop too? Why not get the set 😛

 

[Bobby G]

Why not get the set indeed Lee. At those prices, and with the endorsements of people who already own them, those Walsteins sound like a snip.