Making the right choice?

[woz]

Just at the stage of selecting the best sax for me. I'm pretty settled on the supplier and brand - saxophonesdirect / hanson, BUT should i start with Alto or Tenor.

I'm an absolute beginner - my interest would be to play blues, so is one type of sax more suited to this?

I've read a lot about mouthpieces - does the Hanson come with a decent one, or do I need to buy a C4?

My apologies in advance if this has been answered elsewhere!

 

[Linky Lee]

Hi, on the mouthpiece front it depends what Hanson you buy, the 8 series come with good mouthpieces. I'd suggest the otto link since you want to play blues. The Selmer C8 is standard and is a very solid mouthpiece and wouldn't be a bad choice either.

As to whether Alto or Tenor, that is completely up to you, I don't believe one is easier to learn on than another. At a guess I'd say tenor as I assosciate tenor with blues more than alto, though both are fantastically versatile instruments and blues can be played on anything as long as you've got the right attitude 😛

Do you know any saxophonists? or have any pictures of the saxophonists on your Blues CD's? Tenor saxophones have a kink in the neck and a re a 'full' size, generally down below the waist. An alto doesn't have the kink though it is still bent, and normally goes down no lower than the waist. If you can identify what you're 'idols' play then I'd suggest going for that as it's likely to suit you well.

Either way, welcome to the horn and enjoy the blow. Hanson's are great too. I own an SA-8 and am saving for an ST-8. It's a race!

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hansons are great, but I don't have any experience of the mouthpieces.

Not to dispage what Linky says, I've never got on with Otto Links (but that is subjective). Even so, most people who use them (and many do) are on tenor rather than alto.

If in doubt, a really good starter mouthpiece is a bog standard Yamaha 4C, once you've been playing for a year or so is the time to think about a more pro or expensive mouthpiece.

OR

Just get the horn, use whatever comes with it, get a good teacher and ask their opinion.

Tenor or alto? Listen to lots of players and decide which you like. I started on alto, then got a tenor as it meant more gigs in rock & roll bands.

 

[tengu01]

In my experience, otto links are good for tenor. Alto's aren't so brilliant, but...and this is a big BUT: If you're just starting out, there's nothing wrong with either link. Somewhere around a 5 or 6 should be okay.

In terms of playing the blues, either sax is good. If you're going to be playing with other instruments, the tenor is pitched in Bb, which means that there are usually a few less sharps and flats to navigate.

I started on the alto and picked up the tenor for more versatility (also because there were far too many altos in the university big band)

As Pete says, have a listen decide which players you like and get a similar horn or go into a woodwind shop and get one of the assistants to play a side-by-side so you can choose.

Best of luck

 

[Greywolf]

I Play tenor and my take on this is that I moved to a Pro mothpiece far too quickly. I wanted/thought I needed a metal piece and bought a Tone master. I know now that

a) it was FaAR too soon. My embouchure wasn't well enough developed and the piece needed so much controlling that I couldn't really concentrate on playing and i went back to the basic piece I had before. Can't remember what it was.

b) I didn't know enough about mouthpieces at the time. Now I realize that in fact it probably needed some work on it too.


I would definitely say get a standard beginner type piece say a Selmer C* for at least a year or two before you start experimenting and hit that never ending trail. The search for the perfect mouthpiece that suits you and does eveything you want under all playing conditions for all the types of music you play.

The quest for the Holy Grail in fact.

The bottomless pit down which you throw money in a never ending cascade.....

time to stop I think.

 

[Simon]

Here goes my experience:

get a tenor, unless you're really short and/or sound like David Beckham when you talk, in which case, get an alto and check earl bostic, david sanborn, cannonball adderley

as pete said, stick with the stock mpc that comes with the horn til you've figured out a few things and your embouchure is solid. don't start the mpc chase til you actually have some chops

get a teacher, attend gigs and grab heaps of recordings of the style / saxophonists you want to emulate. you'll enjoy playin sax alot more if you've got a target and can jam with the greats.

bluesy tenor players to start listening to - pete!, gene ammons, arnett cobb, illinois jacquet, bob mcneely, stanley turrentine, willis 'gator' jackson, jimmy forrest, eddie 'lockjaw' davis, king curtis, noble thin man watts... the list is long. discovering these guys and jamming along is alot of fun!

good luck

simon

 

[gordonc]

I bought a Hanson SA 5 alto a few weeks ago.
Its wonderful.

It came with an ESW mouthpiece - German I think - but very easy blowing and flexible.

I've since bought an ebonite yani mouthpiece on ebay and the sound is better overall - but the original mouthpiece is still well suited to the sax - as you'd expect given Hansons fabled attention to detail.

Go for it
I'm sure you won't regret it.

Gordon

 

[Bobby G]

Many people start on alto, but I think that's probably as much to do with economics and being a child than anything. It sounds to me like a tenor might be better for you, especially if you want to play blues, although alto is just as good imho. In fact, from my experience alto cuts through better if you're going to play with any of those darned electrical geetars (although it could be argued that a tenor has a more authoritative tone). On the other hand, as Pete has said, there's more demand for tenor in rock'n'roll which is probably true of blues as well.

Whatever you go for, I wish you happy honking!

Cheers, Bob

 

[Saxlicker]

Woz wrote:
BUT should i start with Alto or Tenor.

I'm an absolute beginner - my interest would be to play blues, so is one type of sax more suited to this?

When you hear someone who can proficiently play the blues, my guess is your lust would be suitably fueled by hearing either instrument. Even the badboy Baritone for that matter. This probably sounds like I'm implying it doesn't matter.

I started on alto and still love it but.....
If I had to get rid of all bar one sax I would unquestionably keep the Tenor.
I think its more versatile. That makes it more satifying to me in the long run.

By the way...Nice Avatar!!

 

[robert_drodge]

as avery young man i started with alto, had an opp to play with a dance band they lent me a tenor and have stayed with it. in the early days i was playing to put food on the table and could do it easier with the tenor.
keep in mind if you want down the road you can multi-task
i.m kicking my behind as traded in a king super20 alto on a selmer m6 which in my opion is not the horn that the super is.

 

[jersey_mike]

Add one vote for getting a tenor. The slightly deeper sound seems to go a bit better with what you wish to play. That's part of the reason I chose it.


It also looks cooler hanging around your neck!

 

[Rogerb]

My vote would also be for a tenor... I have an alto Hanson, but think your choice of music is better suited to a tenor.

The Standard ESM mouthpiece which comes with a Hanson is a reasonable starting point, IMO.

Hanson tenors always seem to be in short supply... maybe 'cos they are so good and such brilliant value for money 🙂

 

[Pjonah]

I started on alto and bought a tenor to be a little more rock and roll, but really it doesn't matter.

My tenor had a fantastic Brilhart Ebolin 5*, you can really make that birdie sing, its such a good piece and very flexible, I can't imagine playing anything better.

Yamaha's 4c is a good piece to begin on but I personally didn't like the angle of the tooth plate, too much like a clarinet piece. I guess due to the open chamber shape.

I don't beleive one is easier than the other, if you were an eight year old I guess an alto would be good as its physical size makes it easier to handle.

Cost is the only other point, tenors are always more than an alto from the same product range.

I guess its also true that if you wanted to major in da blues, then tenor suits, but either way you'll end up with an alto at some stage as well it just happens that way!

Good luck whatever you choose all saxes are just soooo kewl!

Simon