Saxophones Pro Test: BW Tenor vs. Carmichael Tenor

DavidUK

Well-Known Member
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So, before taking the two Tenors over to my tutor Dave Plummer ( http://daveplummer.net/ ) this morning I taped over the logos on the bells making them indistinguishable from each other. On arrival I told Dave I may have switched cases, or not, and he started with Sax Number 1.

Number 1.

Dave liked it. Easily playable up and down with bottom notes coming out on even the faintest breath. Good keywork. No problems at all. Yes, really liked this one.

Number 2.

"This is the Carmichael" Dave said on picking it up. "It's a lighter colour and lighter weight than number 1."
Easily playable up and down. Same soft notes attainable. Slightly more even tuning across the range, when tested with an electronic tuner, than number 1.

Final Result.

Dave preferred Number 1 due to the easier keywork, although tuning was a slight shade behind number 2 for evenness.

Number 1 is the Carmichael.

I was hoping the BW would win here, as I'm a brand tart and who's ever heard of Carmichael!?

No such luck. Both seemed almost identical in Dave's hands from a listener's perspective. The BW is a "Bauhaus Walstein" but no "TS-Y" engraving which means it's not a later type, nor is it the earlier "Walstein". it's 3 years old per the seller but had harly been out of its case. The Carmichael is 8 months old. Age or newness could help either way.

So, which one should I keep? I'll have to play them both again and see if there's anything I myself prefer which sways me.

My newest "barn" find, a Grassi 2000 Professional Tenor, will be here Monday and by all accounts should blow the socks off both the asian horns but it's 25 years old and condition unknown so we'll have to wait and see.

;}
 
Sell both and buy a Mk VI.

I've never played one but I don't like to conform, neither do I like the prices being asked!

Googling for info on my newly acquired Grassi 2000 Professional there are those who liken it to a MkVI. Maybe that's wishful thinking? Maybe there's something in it. The chap who bought my old Russian Tenor (remember?) had had a MkVI but switched to a SA80 MkII and found it superior, so, as with most players it's down to what fits in with your sound I guess.
 
What's a "brand tart"? Is that something manufactured by Mr Kipling? 🙂

Have you made allowance though for the effect that the tape over the logos will have had on the resonance of the body and consequential impact on tuning and response? Were the tape patches the same size/location/material?

Seriously, am loving your ongoing account of the scientific approach to sax selection - good luck, hope you wind up with the right horn.....
 
What's a "brand tart"? Is that something manufactured by Mr Kipling? 🙂

Have you made allowance though for the effect that the tape over the logos will have had on the resonance of the body and consequential impact on tuning and response? Were the tape patches the same size/location/material?

Seriously, am loving your ongoing account of the scientific approach to sax selection - good luck, hope you wind up with the right horn.....


I hope the glue on the tape doesn't react with the lacquer. or even worse pull it off when removed. It might have been safer to blind fold the tester.
 
I hope the glue on the tape doesn't react with the lacquer. or even worse pull it off when removed. It might have been safer to blind fold the tester.

This was an additional test related to how the horns stood up to adhesive removal should I wish to stick things to them in the future. Both passed fine.

The pieces of paper were laser cut and then weighed to check they precisely replicated each other, as was the sellotape used. Then, the saxes were taken to a well known car manufacturer's engineering development works where their latest 7-axis robot arm was employed to place the paper patches, using a jig, in exactly the same location on the bell, allowing for the 4mm diameter increase of the BW. Hope that reassures all.
 
This was an additional test related to how the horns stood up to adhesive removal should I wish to stick things to them in the future. Both passed fine.

The pieces of paper were laser cut and then weighed to check they precisely replicated each other, as was the sellotape used. Then, the saxes were taken to a well known car manufacturer's engineering development works where their latest 7-axis robot arm was employed to place the paper patches, using a jig, in exactly the same location on the bell, allowing for the 4mm diameter increase of the BW. Hope that reassures all.

🙂))🙂))🙂))
 
What's a "brand tart"?

1106_russell_brand_wenner.jpg
 

Similar threads... or are they? Maybe not but they could be worth reading anyway 😀

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