I'm new at this,is my Tenor acceptable-some say NO!!!???

[xMelx]

Hi,i am new at playing-just 2-3 months,i was given my sax though so many people say it's not a good one,Buffet Crampon Evette and it is made in ROC.

I seem to have reasonable tone,some would say good,when playing GABC C#B_ and EF F# D and so forth,it came with a fancy mouthpiece Berg Larsen mottled black and brown with 100/1.ok i know little about all of this and this is what i am learing on,my high "D" appears to be a little-strangulated,my low "B" rattles like the Queen Mary as someone said,the whole thing vibrates though one can get a smooth tone once it is warmed up but i do find the lowest notes somewhat difficult to play straight off,(i do breathe them not blow them)if in a run then they are not too bad 😱

Otherwise,any scales i attempt to play are ok-ish but i really have to pronounce my keying-i have small hands and some of the keys mean i have to really stretch to play them without playing -the left keys in my palm or the lower right.

I have the Andy Hamptons learning book,though I have learned to play "Tangerine"&"when lights are low" but again,that high"D" seems poor.I just wish to make sure i have the right instrument because i do oh so love the sax and i do wish to progress much further!

Thanks for your time and please be gentle with me i really have had only some 24 hrs experience so far.(20 minutes after warm up a day and unfortunately not every day-yet)

Hugs,xMelx

 

[sax_starved]

Hello Melissa,

Welcome from another beginner, although I'm getting to be an old hand at this having been learning for 5 months!

I don't know anything about this make but I would suspect that your sax is perfectly adequate for a beginner. It's the indians not the arrows that make a difference and difficulty playing certain notes is more likely going to be down to you rather than the equipment. You seem to have a good mouthpiece, which some say is more, or as important as the instrument itself. I would recommend you getting your sax checked out by a reputable repairer (Griff's the man on this forum) to make sure that it is in good working order, but other than that just get practicing. You will have plenty of time to upgrade equipment once you get more proficient.

 

[Pjonah]

I think Buffet Crampon Evette were more noted for Clarinets, good ones if I remember.

Where the instrument is made is to a large point irrelavent, does it play well throughout top to bottom? Does it feel good (ergonomics)? The Berg Larsen mouthpiece suggests that it can't be all bad. The Chinese are making some good instruments these days and so Buffet Crampon are unlikely to put there name on something crap.

As far as tone is concerned, I feel you would benefit from a good teacher to ensure you embouchure is correct and give further guidance on what would benefit you at this stage.

Provided you're not being held back by your instrument, its all plain sailing! Practice then practice some more.....enjoy! See you on TV in a few years

Oh and good luck and welcome to the Braekfastroom

Simon

 

[jadoube]

Mel,

As said above I think its probably just a case of practice until it comes good.

I've been learning 3 years and still can't always hit the lowest notes with a nice quiet tone. To be getting a low b after 3 months seems pretty good progress to me.

You'll be surpised at how small hands can stretch with practice. Once you get there you'll not understand why there was any difficulty.

You've a decent mouthpiece. Wider than I could cope with, so again you're probably progressing better than you think. You could always try something a bit narrower, Yamaha 4c perhaps - although I hesitate to suggest a change of equipment so soon. So long as you are feeling positive about your playing I'm sure practice will solve most things.

Sounds like you're doing fine. Perhaps a few sessions with a teacher if you can . Otherwise relax and enjoy the things you're doing well. There's the rest of your life to learn the other stuff.

John

 

[old_git]

Just remember that bad work(wo)man always blame their tools but there aint such a thing as a bad saxophone (providing they are not owned by Kenny G or a 'Nino).

Sadly the wife blamed mine....................

 

[dooce]

Maybe I missed it but I didn't see any mention of the reed you are using. They make a huge difference. Maybe you need a thicker reed - maybe a thinner one..... Try a range of thicknesses from some of the popular manufacturers, say 1.5/2.0/2.5 Ricos and Vandorens - yeh, I know they are 3 quid each, but half-a-dozen are still a lot cheaper than a sax technician or a new mouthpiece!

 

[xMelx]

Hi all,Thanks so much for your replies,you are all so kind,i was only worried because some have said i had no hope with a Rebublic of China instrument and should give up because it would be a struggle to get anywhere with it.

Simon,bless you,tv someday-lol!the ergonomics seem to be fine though have not quite mastered that left T pad-and thanks for the welcome!

John,the mouthpiece came with my sax and i am sure it is an upgrade but i seem to get on with it fine,it has a lovely tone,not quite bright and jazzy but at least i can play with it and thank you regards the Low B info,i think i must be lacking some confidence regards the ability to play!

Lloyd,i shall keep looking for Griff so hopefully have it checked out and thank you for putting my mind at rest regards my sax,I actually love it and perhaps i should not listen to those whom seem to put my sax down!

 

[xMelx]

Hi Dooce,
i am using Rico 2.5's as they came with my sax,there were a few vandoren 3.5's with it and i can barely get a not out without Serious effort!

dooce wrote:
Maybe I missed it but I didn't see any mention of the reed you are using. They make a huge difference. Maybe you need a thicker reed - maybe a thinner one..... Try a range of thicknesses from some of the popular manufacturers, say 1.5/2.0/2.5 Ricos and Vandorens - yeh, I know they are 3 quid each, but half-a-dozen are still a lot cheaper than a sax technician or a new mouthpiece!

 

[dooce]

xMelx wrote:
Hi Dooce,
i am using Rico 2.5's as they came with my sax,there were a few vandoren 3.5's with it and i can barely get a not out without Serious effort!

dooce wrote:
Maybe I missed it but I didn't see any mention of the reed you are using. They make a huge difference. Maybe you need a thicker reed - maybe a thinner one..... Try a range of thicknesses from some of the popular manufacturers, say 1.5/2.0/2.5 Ricos and Vandorens - yeh, I know they are 3 quid each, but half-a-dozen are still a lot cheaper than a sax technician or a new mouthpiece!

Mel - you could well benefit from trying some softer reeds then.

3.5s! ****, I would only use those as door wedges!

 

[Col9]

I had an Buffet Crampon Evette, Mine was OK. I sold it to my friends daughter who got upto grade 4 before giving it up for the flute.
I also had a Jupiter 7xx (also R.O.C) at the time, and there wasnt that much between them.

I would at least try softer reeds for a little while, and see how it goes. The mouthpiece could well be a great mouthpiece I have a ebonite/Black berg Larsen and I love it and its really loud! 😛 I think it all comes down to not realising what you dont know and plain practice. As already mentioned whats the rush? 😉

Col.

 

[Pjonah]

Blimey for a newbie on 2.5 on a Berg thats impressive, you'll be known locally as Mellissa "Lockjaw" Davis, if that was your surname of course.

I would take Dooces advice and take Time Out at Woodwind and Reed in Cambridge, I'm sure they'll let you try a few reeds to get the right strength, so long as you buy a few afterwards!

Just don't be tempted to buy some exotic new sax like a certain gentleman around here, ahem.

If you're in the east of Northants you almost, without question qualify for the Corby Massive, expect a call any day now!

 

[griff136]

Hi Mel and welcome to the forum. I would firstly like to say that the buffet evette saxes made in the ROC that I have come accross have been well built horns. I would change your reed to a softer one ie one that either says soft or a lower number than what you are playing on at the moment - seeing a syou are a beginner dont pay big bucks for fancy reeds just buy the plain old orange rico reeds that are cheap and easy to get hold of. you should also buy a box of 10 as some of the reeds in boxes just dont cut it. dont throw them away though as you can do things to reeds to help them play better but dont worry about that at the moment.

I would definately take dooces advice and ask your local tech if he can put a leak light down it for you. just to give you peace of mind that your sax is ok and anything that's not right when you play is then down to you! dont worry after a few weeks perseverance you will start to get a load better.

good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[dooce]

Pjonah wrote:

Just don't be tempted to buy some exotic new sax like a certain gentleman around here, ahem.

Yep, be careful there - I just popped in for tube of cork grease and the silver-tongued fiends had me walking out 2 hours later clutching a brand new tenor :laugh: