Saxophones If money were no object

[daveysaxboy]

When flicking through the sax.co.uk catalogue I only linger on two pages of sax's, Mauriat and Trevor James Signature Custom.

I do like the Mauriat but they seem so in vogue at the moment that it puts me off a little so I think I would get a custom British made saxophone un-lacquered with no engraving.

As for mouthpieces, I don't know enough about playing to really make a choice so it would be nice to have to money to be able to buy and try as I like.

mamos

Hi Mamos, how's Falmouth,i worked there many time's in the ship yard and would end up mortal every nite in the Grape's pub and end up in Shade's nite club,love the town,had some great time's there.

 

[Phil Edwards]

Sorry folks, I'm happy with what I've got.

Have been down the route of trying out others twice in recent years (not in a money no object way admittedly) but still found nothing I'd sell my Martin for.

But I did want a 'spare' - so bought another Martin (later one but feels just the same). For me they do everything I could ever want.

Phil

 

[Mamos]

Hi Mamos, how's Falmouth,i worked there many time's in the ship yard and would end up mortal every nite in the Grape's pub and end up in Shade's nite club,love the town,had some great time's there.

Falmouth is great. I love living here. My Dad worked in the yard for 46 years and my older brothers worked there as well. I managed to escape.

I haven't been in the grapes or shades for years

If you find yourself down this way again give me a shout

mamos

 

[Lloyd]

Interesting that most seem happy with what they've got. No amount of money would compensate for lack of experience so I would employ a seriously good teacher for as long as was necessary to become really good (do I have enough time left on this mortal coil?).

I love my Walstein Tenor and have just added an Otto Link mouthpiece, which has made a huge improvement; really fat sound and the low notes just ring out. I would get another alto and leave the Trevor James for my son's exclusive use. Oh, and a dog - been without one for a few years now - just don't have the time to look after one. GSDs are my favourite.

 

[Pete Thomas]

You didn't mention alto, Pete....is that 'cos I got the one you had your eye on (at the time)? 😀
It was very kind of you to tell me about it.

Well, I'm not in any hurry for an alto, my Buescher is fine. I do prefer that bauhaus, but will probably wait for a while as I want to try out some more and also try some more R & Cs.

What's the special thing about the 76NS - isn't it the same as the 66R but just NS?

I don't know, maybe it was just that one neck I tried. It seemed to make the 66R more responsive and better altissimo.

 

[Mamos]

I would employ a seriously good teacher for as long as was necessary to become really good (do I have enough time left on this mortal coil?).

Good point

If I didn't have to work all the hours I would devote more time to lessons and practising. Employ a really good teacher go on workshops and summer schools.

mamos

 

[Pjonah]

I'd like to build my own, with a carbon fibre tube, titanium rods, barrels and cups, possibly self levelling. Haven't drawn it up yet but would love to do that.

The would be to create a soopah slick light action and lightweight instrument.

 

[old git]

I'd like to build my own, with a carbon fibre tube, titanium rods, barrels and cups, possibly self levelling. Haven't drawn it up yet but would love to do that.

The would be to create a soopah slick light action and lightweight instrument.

You can already order a carbon composite saxophone from ex-motorcycle racer Jim Schmidt. One of his other innovations is that the flare continues through the neck body socket rather than the parallel section we have to put up with.

The titanium rods are not advisable. Poisonous and if it didn't kill you, might knock off your technician.

 

[saxismyaxe]

I have just about all the horns I want (and certainly more than I need) in my collection, however I've yet to find an original gold plated Conn 26M and 30M. I am still seeking both.

 

[Rogerb]

If titanium is so toxic, why/how do they use it for replacement hip-joints?

I thought it was relatively non-reactive?

 

[jonf]

It's just Bill

Roger

All the titanium that is used for anything is actually an alloy. It's not toxic, and is indeed much used in prosthetics, as I strongly suspect the good Mr OG knows fine well. It's just Bill being, err, eccentric.🙂

Jon

 

[old git]

Jon,
Being another eccentric, you will acknowledge that virtually all metals in general use are alloyed. Even you rich guys can never get hold of pure silver, gold or platinum.
The toxicity of titanium was bought to the motorcyclist's attention when the BSA Victor provided Jeff Smith with the Moto-Cross World Championship as special precautions were taken during machining parts, so it might be the oxide that is not for human consumption. Titanium bicycle frames are fairly common but owing to American legislation, they carry instructions not to suck, despite being coated.
As for being non-reactive, I wouldn't try or recommend a couple of mouthfuls of mercury.

 

[kevgermany]

A quick web search shows that titanium is not toxic to humans, in fact it makes up about 10% of lipstick for example. It's the major pigment in white paint. Many wathes and glasses frames are made from titanium these days, not just because of weight, but because of inertness and lack of allergic reactoins from wearers. Nickel and copper are much worse...

I'd have thought that BSA's concerns about titanium stemmed from the risk of a rider getting pierced by titanium clutch and brake levers on their bikes, which'd act as high powered daggers, even if they were fitted with ball ends in those days.... Either that or ignorance

 

[kevgermany]

Just a thought on BSA - perhaps the titanium alloy they were using contained poisonous metals, and it was those they worried about.

 

[half diminished]

Well personally I love titanium; the colour and the shinyness! I have loads of it on my mtb, replaced all the nuts and bolts on my 748s (sadly now sold), my specs, various tools and my watch.

In fact I'm thinking of replacing several limbs with it, having titanium teeth and fitting titanium casters to the dogs. 😀

 

[griff136]

I like most on here would keep my current sep up and use the money so I wouldnt have to work thus having more time for my family and my playing.
I would invest though in a decent soundproof room with recording equipment and spend more time listening to live performances..

Nachoman If I'm not mistaken I blew on a unlacquered Mauriat baritone at Frankfurt.

you can see it here: http://www.pmauriatmusic.com/album.php?cde=ALB49dda01cbdce9&pageID=3 (picture no 8 inbetween me and Arno Haas)

 

[chris_curtis]

As others have said, titanium is pretty non-toxic (you'd have to eat many kgs of it to die from it!). It is never found in pure form in nature - when in contact with air it instantly forms a layer of titanium oxide on its surface. The shinyness is only possible by coating it or alloying with other metails - typically chrome which IS nasty healthwise. Titanium sax fittings including those alloyed with chrome etc. are probably fine anyway - unless played by someone who wants to suck them often! A good site is here

If we are talking about "money no object" sax design, what about diamonds? Useful as non-wearing bearings and pivots (as in jewellery) and embedded instead of engraving round the bell!

 

[Sloth]

If money was no object, maybe a custom horn along the lines of Saddam's 'supergun' - is Matrix Churchill still around?

Or maybe I could just hire a mercenary army and invade Taiwan.

I've recently had fun saving money, I got a cheap old Trevor James Revolution off Ebay and it came with a yamaha 5C mouthpiece - result! I stuck a patch on it to cover the bite marks of the previous owner (actually a patch meant for a bicycle inner tube - hehe).

Having said that, I would like to try a 6C as I'm still on the softer reeds, have added a request in 'yard sale'

 

[Jules]

If money was no object, maybe a custom horn along the lines of Saddam's 'supergun' -

What- one that disassembles to disguise it as farm implements?

 

[Sloth]

That's it, a dual-use arrangement! It would only take 45 minutes to set up, and with the right tone, I could make UN forces involuntarily kaka in their khakis.

- It's known as the 'brown note'.

It would be more of a poopergun really..