Saxophones Electric vs traditional

iangotts · May 17, 2010

I played the flute to a high level many many year ago. I now have children who are musical so thought about picking up the sax. Love the sound and the music.

So - an electric sax allows me to practice without disturbing the rest of the family and alos take it on business trips and play in the hotel. But is is like th real thing?

Or more importantly shoudl I learn on a real instrument first?

Pete Thomas · May 17, 2010

Do you mean a wind controller such as EWI or WX? or the Synthophone which is quite a bit more saxophone like.

As you play the flute, your fingering is not as important to work as your tone and embouchure, so my gut feeling is that a normal saxophone would be better.

Unfortunately there are no effective mutes apart from the e-sax, which is basically a case that the horn goes inside, and you use headphones.

iangotts · May 17, 2010

>> Thanks for your reply

Do you mean a wind controller such as EWI or WX? or the Synthophone which is quite a bit more saxophone like.

As you play the flute, your fingering is not as important to work as your tone and embouchure, so my gut feeling is that a normal saxophone would be better.
>> I *played* the flute about 20 years ago, so I need to remember how to read music and relearn the fingering

Unfortunately there are no effective mutes apart from the e-sax, which is basically a case that the horn goes inside, and you use headphones.
>> Perhaps traditional for learning tone and embouchure and electric when want to play quietly?

>> If so what is the view on electric saxes. I couldn't see much on the site. Yaham WX5 is the latest (but pricey), but there are WX11's on ebay at more reasonable price. Akai USB is cheaper but not as well thought of?

old git · May 17, 2010

Have an Akai EWI4000S and it has touch sensitive keys, just touching without pressing will alter the pitch. Quite like a sax , possibly easier as you just blow, no need for that incredibly accurate air stream needed on the flute.

If you are near Croydon, quite willing to let you try mine, just pm me.

iangotts · May 17, 2010

Thanks for the reply and offer, but I'm in Portsmouth.

Thoughts on Akai EWI4000 vs Akai USB, Yamaha WX5, 7 or 11 ?

Can you play the EWI4000S through headphone amp and headphones or do you need a MIDI controller?

Pete Thomas · May 17, 2010

This reminds me, I was going to sell my WX7 wasn't I?

iangotts · May 17, 2010

As a complete newbie (ignorance on fire), I might be interested... Price?

Pete Thomas · May 17, 2010

iangotts said:
As a complete newbie (ignorance on fire), I might be interested... Price?

First let me dig it out and check that it all works, then I'll private message or email you.

old git · May 18, 2010

The standard Akai sounds are horrible so I use mine as a MIDI controller and using Pete's Sample Aids, I've got Pete's tones but not his musical ability. For me, the USB would be sufficient but one of the members has a 4000s with Patchman sounds that are reported as excellent. Problem is that Patchman will not export from the States.
With the WX, you will need some form of MIDI output but the keys move and operate just like a sax, so Pete's WX will probably be best.
Portsmouth? Commiserations for 1-nil.

iangotts · May 18, 2010

Thanks for all your replies.

Settled on Yamaha WX-7 (older version) or WX-5 (latest). These models are closest to the ‘real thing’ rather than Akai. Then I put in a silly low bid for a WX-5 plus VL70-m Tone Generator using BidNapper (it puts the bid in at the very last second so you don’t get into a bidding war). And I won!!!! Oops.....

It is the USA so I wont get it until my next US trip in mid-June 8-((

But decision made. So now I better start thinking about the best way to learn....

h4yn0nnym0u5e · May 18, 2010

Hey Ian, welcome to the electric sax club! :w00t:

If you haven't found it already, here's a good guide to setting up the WX5, from a guy who plays it for a living (as well as "organic" sax).

Cheers

Jonathan

visionari1 · May 23, 2010

That's a really good guide.…been lusting after trying one out for some time .,..…now I want one!
Ta
Jimu

h4yn0nnym0u5e · May 23, 2010

visionari1 said:
That's a really good guide.…been lusting after trying one out for some time .,..…now I want one!
Ta
Jimu

If your travels are likely to get you near St Neots at any point, do PM me to see if we can find a mutually convenient time for you to drop in for a try.

Cheers

Jonathan

visionari1 · May 24, 2010

Thanks Jonathan,
My teacher has one of these and occasionally impresses me!
Most kind, currently waiting for the knife on my various injuries, then recovery so when I do return to travels I'll keep it in mind!

Oh had a look to see where St Neots is, yes I'm going to the Ace Foundation Jazz workshop in Cambridge 4th July and also my cousin lives over there in Over! So one never knows exactly where the wind blows?

Ciao
Jimu

cherrybyte · May 29, 2010

old git said:
The standard Akai sounds are horrible so I use mine as a MIDI controller and using Pete's Sample Aids, I've got Pete's tones but not his musical ability. For me, the USB would be sufficient but one of the members has a 4000s with Patchman sounds that are reported as excellent. Problem is that Patchman will not export from the States.
With the WX, you will need some form of MIDI output but the keys move and operate just like a sax, so Pete's WX will probably be best.
Portsmouth? Commiserations for 1-nil.

Patchman won't export hardware from the states but his soundbanks are his property, he sends them in midi/sysex format ovr t'internet or if you have a VL70m his own hardware ROM

JonTheReeds · Sep 18, 2015

I'm thinking of buying an Akai EWI USB

Has anyone here got one, and if so, what is their opinion?

Also how similar is it to the sax? Obviously the feel is different, but if I want to use one just to practise fingering is the keywork the same as a sax? (again, the mechanics are obviously different, but are the fingering patterns the same, or are the buttons in different places to the sax keys?)

I have complaining neighbours so need to do something!

BigMartin · Sep 18, 2015

JonTheReeds said:
I'm thinking of buying an Akai EWI USB

Has anyone here got one, and if so, what is their opinion?

I've got an EWI 4000S. Haven't tried the USB version(s). I assume the fingering will be the same as mine. There is a sax-based fingering option. It's similar but oviously not the same as there are fewer keys and you can play in 7 octaves (woo-hoo!). The octave rollers take a fair bit of practice to make smooth transitions (ie wIthout an annoying blip as cross the break). But I think it's useful for scale and arpeggio practice and learning tunes. And on the non-sax-realated side it's a lot of fun to have so many different sounds to play with. Well worth getting the appropriate soundbank from Patchman Music if you do get one (they're designend specifically for use with wind controllers). Won't help you with sax tone production or articulation, obviously.

JonTheReeds · Sep 21, 2015

Thanks, it's just for fingering and patterns, can get the tone and articulation from actually playing a sax!

I was wondering if anyone knows of a music shop in the Hampshire (UK) area that has an EWI USB in stock and are happy for punters to try them out. Have Googled but no luck

ProfJames · Sep 21, 2015

JonTheReeds said:
Thanks, it's just for fingering and patterns, can get the tone and articulation from actually playing a sax!

I was wondering if anyone knows of a music shop in the Hampshire (UK) area that has an EWI USB in stock and are happy for punters to try them out. Have Googled but no luck

The Yamaha WX5 is no longer for sale in the UK, not sure about the Akai.......