Introduction New Member

[Montsalvat]

Hello all, Received a nice warm welcome from Jeanette, My name is Howard, Sax player on and off for 53 years. Started at 7, Father brought down from the attic what I realize now was An Alto and C-Mel Conn's. Still possess, also a '26 Beuscher, late 60's Aristocrat, A cheap Soprano for fun and just purchased a " The Liberty" Pan American Tenor that actually looks playable for $100. I've played all of the above in Band at one time or another High School / Community including Baritone. Still undecided on the year of the P1920 s/n Pan-Am. N Y. Conn. Looking to get back into playing. Tomplay looks good. Look forward to hearing from fellow Sax enthusiasts!

 

[Jeanette]

Welcome, 😁

Jx

 

[Ghr9204]

Welcome to the Café, @Montsalvat ! You've got a very nice set of legacy saxes there, bet they are a lot of fun to play.

Regarding your cheap soprano for fun, in 2012 I bought a new Chinese Venus straight one for $219 US shipping included. It has been a total blast to play, my favourite. It was one of the few at the time that had good reviews, no negative ones, and plays like an intermediate. Got it back from servicing by Tarpley Music, Lubbock, Texas for only $152 several months ago.

Looking forward to your future posts!

 

[Montsalvat]

Mine BNG Black, Nickel, Gold it's real pretty and yeah it is fun to play, ergonomics aren't too bad.

 

[MikeMorrell]

Welcome to the cafe, @Montsalvat!

I play (just one) tenor sax and I have absolutely no idea about any other saxes/brands/ages.

But I do wish you well at the cafe!

 

[Montsalvat]

Thanks Mike, can't wait to see if this one plays at all, been wanting a Tenor for a long time. Played a Vito back 79-80

 

[Ghr9204]

Played a Vito back 79-80

Those Vitos can be a blessing in disguise. Then, Le Blanc subcontracted through various name brand companies to produce these entry level "beginner" instruments for them. They were sold in a standard Le Blanc case no matter the sax maker.

My Vito 7133T tenor is as best as I can tell, a Jupiter JTS-689 in disguise, plays as well as an intermediate, has a rich beautiful tone in the lower end, very stout metallurgy. Lacks the altissimo F# key, but one can easily make up for it by an alternate altissimo fingering. Got it back recently from Tarpley Music, Lubbock, TX for $152 US servicing.

The Vito 7131T tenor is a Yamaha YTS-23 in disguise.

 

[Montsalvat]

As a High Schooler and brand new sax seem perfect to me, played great, but wasn't really comparing this one to others, I'd be more discerning now, why I can't wait to hear how this one sounds. Grabbing a pan am white Mouthpiece and various red strengths.

 

[ESJohn]

Looking to get back into playing.

Jump in! The water's fine!
Welcome to the cafe!

 

[Montsalvat]

Jump in! The water's fine!
Welcome to the cafe!

This Tenor could probably bring it, any experience with Tomplay?

 

[ESJohn]

Sorry, no.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Montsalvat]

Thanks Pete

 

[PigSquealer]

any experience with Tomplay?

Anything that encourages you to play is a good thing ! Lots of options out there. Find something that works for you !
A warm welcome to the Café 🤗
I’m curious about how you choose the Café over other sites ?

 

[Montsalvat]

I probably googled for an answer, and coughed up a forum discussion, so I joined.

 

[Ghr9204]

As a High Schooler and brand new sax seem perfect to me, played great, but wasn't really comparing this one to others, I'd be more discerning now, why I can't wait to hear how this one sounds. Grabbing a pan am white Mouthpiece and various red strengths.

I had a blessed experience in high school. Junior year 1971, I played a Yamaha YAS-61 pro alto.

Yamaha had just established itself as a distributor a year or two prior in the Hawaiian Islands. My band teacher in Spring made available to all of us band students a flyer from Yamaha. They were offering half price off on all pro model instruments. They had a warehouse that needed clearing for a new shipment arriving from Japan.

I brought it home, my father passed me a check that I gave to my band teacher. A week or two later, he called me into his office, handed me a brand new alto.

Interestingly back then, they said the very same things that now some educators and sources are telling others about the Chinese instruments. "The metal is thin and soft, keys bend easily. Why don't you spare yourself the trouble and get you a good sax like Buescher, Selmer, Le Blanc, King, Conn, and etc."

The Yamaha was anything but, played well in tune with good tone, certainly much better than the school loaner.

 

[PigSquealer]

I probably googled for an answer, and coughed up a forum discussion, so I joined.

Thanks for your reply. Dunno what question you asked, but Café Saxophone is the best and most honest helpful sites around. No AI or Bots and Pete & Crew are VERY helpful ! Old school at its best 👍👍
Looking forward to hearing more about your musical journey 🙂.