Does anyone out there play soprano?

[Linky Lee]

If you can cope with the morals, get a Chinese cheapo.

They really are that cheap pretty much solely produced by slaves.

 

[Bobby G]

Hey man, we're all slaves to some degree, and will be until the workers own and control the means of production.


Cheers, Bob

 

[Linky Lee]

Most Chinese horns are exactly the same, they are all just stencils. What makes one company better than another is the quality control and finishing processes etc.

as you already play saxophone and I think will keep at the soprano and want one that will suit you nicely I would recommend investing.

I think the Chinese made horns are fabulous for getting people into saxophone and getting the instrument a bit more wide spread, though if you're serious about learning to play then investment is the way to go. They are good if you want to try out another type of saxophone yourself if you're not sure about it.

 

[impulse]

OK now I`ve bought my soprano sax. It is a Yanigisawa 981. But boy! these little guys I find are hard to play. Some notes sound appaling. I have ordered but not received yet a SemerC* to go with it, maybe this will help. This Yani is a straight one with a curved neck and altho` I use a strap I find it is going to be too heavy to hold up. I rest the bell on my knees.
I take encouragement from all of you who have said you are playing them easily and melodiously.
It just occurred to me this Yani is new (US$3000) and I wonder if it needs setting up properly. I don`t want to spend any more money. How would I know? :S

 

[Linky Lee]

Well I bought myself a soprano as well! It used to be Pete's and I found the change relatively hard. after a good day's worth of practising I had more embouchure sorted out to be able to control it well and shift between the harmonics etc. To a standard like on my alto/tenor.

I have a smaller range though. At first I couldn't get palm key D to sound cleanly and consistently (or at least as well as I would like). I've now sorted that out, just came with practise and the Eb above has hopped on for the ride as well. I still haven't got the F and F# though never mind G, G# and A (my normal range on alto and tenor, though I can get to the D above chromatically, just not consistently).

I'm using a Yamaha 4C which is doing a lovely job. I'm going to try out a few mouthpieces some time soon and the S80 is most definitely at the top of my list. I love it on my alto and can't see why I wouldn't on the soprano. The other thing I've thought of is a Jody Jazz piece which I've been really interested in for quite a while and I'm thinking of getting one for alto and tenor to see what they're like.

Got my Birthday soon so plenty of options but I think I'm going to get my Martin restored first before I go about mouthpiece hunting and tenor shopping.

 

[Bobby G]

For the reason you stated, Impulse, my preferred soprano is a curved one, like a tiny alto. It's very comfortable to play and the sling doesn't get in the way. Intonation takes a little bit of work but once you've got it, it's there. I also use a Selmer S80 C* mouthpiece, which is fine, but I also got on ok with a good old 4c.

Have fun with it - it sounds from what you're saying as if it may benefit from a bit of tweaking.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Linky Lee]

I've put the sling on the sop I got of Pete and I don't see what the problem is, it doesn't get in the way and takes a bit of the weight off.

A benefit in my opinion, unless you have a large sling where it tightens up a lot at the small setting it needs to be on for soprano and hinders your neck. I've found my standard alto BG sling works brilliantly.

I still play without it quite a lot though. I think since I'm originally a flute player it doesn't seem as strange or as tiring as it would to most saxophonists moving from one to a soprano.

 

[Bobby G]

My sling on the straight sop is more of a webbing affair and gets in the way of my left thumb, maybe a string sling like a BG would suit it better, but I think the sling eye on a straighty (mine also has a non-removeable straight crook, so the whole thing is straight) may just be for show, I suspect maybe you are meant to play without a sling, especially as to get the best out of it you seem to need to play it almost horizontally, or even pointing upwards.

Cheers, Bob

 

[impulse]

Interesting Bob, as I can`t see how a sling can do anything in supporting a straight sop. I use my neck strap but unless the sax is pointing between your legs straight at the floor it supports nothing. Perhaps I`ll continue to use it just as a safety, in case it the sax slips.

 

[Linky Lee]

Maybe it's psychological but I certainly prefer having a sling around my neck with the saxophone on it, and my arm doesn't tire as quickly without the sling. I'm using a small cheap basic one now as there is less material round the neck as it doesn't need it and stops it from being too tight, works a treat.