Accessories Ever seen this?

[ESJohn]

Sax players know that many notes are difficult to play softly and still maintain good tone. Neotech’s Sax Tone Filter™ reduces the volume of air that is allowed through the horn so it is easier to hold good tone even while playing at lower volume. Simply place the Sax Tone Filter™ snugly in the bell of your instrument at the desired angle. The friction fit of the Sax Tone Filter™ holds its position nicely even when you move around with your instrument.

The Sax Tone Filter™ helps to maintain proper back pressure in the horn which keeps air flowing through all of the keys while blowing less air. It can be used in various positions within the instrument to affect the instrument’s tone. This can be particularly helpful when blending with other musicians or ensembles. This feature is especially useful in the harder-to-play lower notes.

Made of soft rubberized material, the Sax Tone Filter™ holds securely in place without any danger of scratching the instrument’s finish. It can be hand washed in mild detergent and left to dry. Give it a try!

Available Sizes

• Alto: Outer diameter: 2.9"; Inner diameter: 1.5"
• Tenor: Outer diameter: 3.4"; Inner diameter: 1.75"
• Combo: Includes one Alto and one Tenor

While I'm familiar with the brand name from their neck straps, I've never seen this. Of course, I found it on Ebay. The text above the image is from Ebay.

 

[Woodpad]

Looks like an old type of silencer. Formerly made of metal. Didn't do much.
Now relaunched in plastic to increase backpressure. If you put it in the bell it will only affect backpressure for low B and low Bflat. So it has limited use.

Even less when the bell keys do not close properly.

 

[skeller047]

AKA sax mute. People used to make these from curtain rings wrapped in velvet. Larry Teal discusses these in the Art of Saxophone Playing.

I agree, they don’t do much.

 

[greenstripe]

They're not particularly expensive -so perhaps try for yourself if you're curious

 

[ESJohn]

I was looking over reeds when it popped up. I don't think that I'll be wanting something like this. The traditional approach is just fine with me.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I can't see the point of it. Just another gimmick for beginners still honking bell notes.
With a well regulated, leak free horn, a well finished mouthpiece and a precisely adjusted reed, bell notes will whisper, without a gadget.

 

[jonf]

What a load of nonsense. Part people from their money in order to make their saxophone worse. A complete waste of money. A well adjusted sax and practice is the answer, not sticking a rubber doughnut in the bell.

 

[Woodpad]

Imagine it nano sized.

 

[Ne0Wolf7]

I used to use one I made from pipe cleaners and a roll of cloth from the craft store to adjust the intonation of the bell notes, I tended to play them sharp. When I went up half a reed strength, I didn't need it anymore. I did have a bit of fun making a few in different sizes to get it to sit in just the right spot to flatten the bell notes just enough though.

 

[Wade Cornell]

Shouldn't be needed, yet has one use not mentioned: can help if you have "motorboating" on low B, Bb. Also OK if low Bb is a tad sharp. Bad idea if one hasn't got the ability to play those low notes well/evenly as it's then a crutch.

 

[Pete Effamy]

OK if low Bb is a tad sharp

Is that right Wade? I would have thought it to sharpen a flat note?

 

[greenstripe]

Thinking out loud:

I've not used a tuner on this but if I'm playing with my teacher and he subtones a bell note he's way out of tune with me if I'm playing the note normally. I suppose we'd need to both subtone and normally to check.

Personally I never have issues voicing with low notes on alto subtone or normal, pitch is not something I've checked with a tuner though.

Is the OP product designed with this in mind?

 

[Pete Thomas]

pitch is not something I've checked with a tuner though.

I have found that (on alto especially) there can be a tendency for subtone to maybe be a bit flat.

 

[Wade Cornell]

Is that right Wade? I would have thought it to sharpen a flat note?

If the ring is inserted (needs to be large enough) after the Bb it then tends to flatten. I have a Gerhard Keilwerth alto that has the most wonderful tone, except for low Bb being sharp. A ring inserted inside the bell (above the Bb) tends to flatten it. It's possible to instead use subtone/throat or loose embouchure, but not at speed or if you're changing the timbre too drastically. It is visible though, and not a good look.

I'm guessing that the extra distance for the sound to go around tends to flatten? The motorboating thing (again I'm guessing) has more to do with breaking up a standing wave that slightly pops open some pads. There were some discussions (in the way backs) about these two issues.

 

[Pete Effamy]

If the ring is inserted (needs to be large enough) after the Bb it then tends to flatten. I have a Gerhard Keilwerth alto that has the most wonderful tone, except for low Bb being sharp. A ring inserted inside the bell (above the Bb) tends to flatten it. It's possible to instead use subtone/throat or loose embouchure, but not at speed or if you're changing the timbre too drastically. It is visible though, and not a good look.

I'm guessing that the extra distance for the sound to go around tends to flatten? The motorboating thing (again I'm guessing) has more to do with breaking up a standing wave that slightly pops open some pads. There were some discussions (in the way backs) about these two issues.

Yeah. I have no idea, just seems contrary to logic.

 

[Woodpad]

If the ring is inserted (needs to be large enough) after the Bb it then tends to flatten.

When horn players put there hand in the bell it lowers the tone. You can also do this with a saxophone mouthpiece + crook and a pinky or a proper sized ring (the nano sized ring comes to mind).

This decreases the difference between the sizes of both ends of the horn, so it changes the conicity.

 

[Pete Thomas]

When horn players put there hand in the bell it lowers the tone.

As it does when saxophone players put their foot in the bell

 

[greenstripe]

Normally when I try to say something funny it lowers the tone

 

[mizmar]

Normally when I try to say something funny it lowers the tone

... Present company excepted!

 

[Targa]

That thing looks like the rubber 'doughnuts' that held the exhaust on my Toyota, I might have a couple in the garage, have to try it.