Introduction sax saver and xaphoons?

[nicsax]

OH dear - I went into the forum without reading all the 'rules' sorry!
Anyway I 'know' some of you already, thank you for your patience, especially pete thomas, I look forward to your Mr Lucky popping through my postbox - how you find time to do all you do I don't know. Thanks to everyone else who has replied and welocmed me.
Wht a great feeling

The saxophone (alto) has been a great boon to me - does everyone start at about the age of 50? What is the ratio of males to females who play?

and has anyone experience of xaphoons?

Cheerio for now
hope you are all keeping warm, and dry in this blustery drenching weather
nic
Cumbria

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hi Nic

My experience of Xaphoons is don't bother. I have one and it's overpriced and not very useful.

 

[Bobby G]

Hi Nic, there do seem to be a lot of people who start at about 50, maybe it's a safer form of midlife crisis than getting a motorbike (of course, Ken has both), but there also seem to be a lot of people who played as youngsters and started again at about 50 after a long layoff. A lot of people start young and never stop playing, although it can take a long time playing other instruments before discovering the sax.

Myself, I've been playing since I was 7, starting on piano, then guitar/bass and a bit of drums for years, and it only took me 40 years of playing before I started on sax, and I have now reached the magic number, 50 🙂

Cheers, Bob

 

[nicsax]

Pete Thomas wrote:
Hi Nic

My experience of Xaphoons is don't bother. I have one and it's overpriced and not very useful.

thanks Pete, my children are pleased to hear your comments - they will still get dinner money!

 

[ken]

Bob Green wrote:
Hi Nic, there do seem to be a lot of people who start at about 50, maybe it's a safer form of midlife crisis than getting a motorbike (of course, Ken has both), ....

I'm totally bemused at why I get a mention in this thread Bob!!!!!. My biking started in my mid teens (40 odd years ago) , NOT at the age of 50. God willing it will continue too... long after I run out of puff for the sax.

 

[Bobby G]

Ken, I realised your biking thing was a long-term love affair 😉 Like mine with playing various musical instruments...

I was just pointing out that the sax is the safer option if you must have a mid-life crisis. I suppose it's pointless asking you to have a word with my sister, she's taken up biking in her 40's and writes them off with alarming regularity.

Cheers, Bob

 

[ken]

Bob, strangely, I would neither discourage nor encourage anyone to take up motorcycles... each to their own I say. Personally, I think that as long as you treat the road with respect and other drivers like idiots you can be just as safe (if not safer) on a bike.

Michaela (my missus) has just turned 40 and she rides an 1100 Yamaha (not a sax) and I worry more when she is out in her old Jeep.

Long term bikers (especially Harley riders), get a bit p!ssed off with any association to mid-life wonders and/or RUB's (Rich Urban Bikers), H-D (in particular) makes a fortune outta them and up go the prices for the poor skint types like me. They're also often seen "trailering" their nice new polished bikes to rallies etc... instead of riding the darn things like they should be.

Best wishes to your sister and her safe biking.

Another "off-topic" diversion!!

Ken.

 

[Bobby G]

I was on the A1 the other day, doing about 70 as you do, this bloke on a Yamaha GX-750 raced past me, must have been doing 110. I never knew you could go that fast on an electric organ.

Actually, my sister Kathy is very good on her bike (after being knocked off it about 3 years ago). She takes it seriously enough that she part-owns and runs a biking school. Before that, she was one of the few people I felt safe with when being a passenger in her car, rather than a driver. You still wouldn't get me on two wheels though!

Sorry nic, you can have your thread back now.

Cheers, Bob

 

[saxismyaxe]

Hi Nic,
Welcome to the forums.
I concur, the xaphoons (and it's Bamboo Sax cousin) is nothing more than a novelty, toy instrument. It is good for playing around a campfire get together, or thoroughly annoying one's cat, but not much more.

 

[nicsax]

Ken wrote:
Bob, strangely, I would neither discourage nor encourage anyone to take up motorcycles... each to their own I say. Personally, I think that as long as you treat the road with respect and other drivers like idiots you can be just as safe (if not safer) on a bike.

Michaela (my missus) has just turned 40 and she rides an 1100 Yamaha (not a sax) and I worry more when she is out in her old Jeep.


Long term bikers (especially Harley riders), get a bit p!ssed off with any association to mid-life wonders and/or RUB's (Rich Urban Bikers), H-D (in particular) makes a fortune outta them and up go the prices for the poor skint types like me. They're also often seen "trailering" their nice new polished bikes to rallies etc... instead of riding the darn things like they should be.

Best wishes to your sister and her safe biking.

Another "off-topic" diversion!!

Ken.

What on earth are you interrupting a serious 'conversation' with tales of biking! Though here in Cumbria we have a notorious road which bikers get injured on each weekend - Hartside, over the Pennines - I drive a car over it at least once a week - today - listening to Mr Lucky which proved highly dangerous as the CD has a drug effect I feel so the hairpins took on a whole new feel!

Wish I still had my Suzuki 120!

Happy biking and sax playing
nic

 

[nicsax]

Saxismyaxe wrote:
Hi Nic,
Welcome to the forums.
I concur, the xaphoons (and it's Bamboo Sax cousin) is nothing more than a novelty, toy instrument. It is good for playing around a campfire get together, or thoroughly annoying one's cat, but not much more.

Thanks for that I am not too sure about the protocol for these forums abut I guess I will learn in time! I will save up for a tenor sax and dismiss the idea of an xaphoon.

cheerio
nic

 

[nicsax]

Bob Green wrote:
Hi Nic, there do seem to be a lot of people who start at about 50, maybe it's a safer form of midlife crisis than getting a motorbike (of course, Ken has both), but there also seem to be a lot of people who played as youngsters and started again at about 50 after a long layoff. A lot of people start young and never stop playing, although it can take a long time playing other instruments before discovering the sax.

Myself, I've been playing since I was 7, starting on piano, then guitar/bass and a bit of drums for years, and it only took me 40 years of playing before I started on sax, and I have now reached the magic number, 50 🙂

Cheers, Bob

hi Bob - I am really not sure about how to use these forums - you seem to be very professional about it! It is not good to try after a gin any way! Any tips?

It is such a nice place to be - almost as good as on top of a mountain, actually better than on top of a mountain in this weather?
Safe journeying,

nic

 

[Bobby G]

Thanks for the nice words nic. I don't really know how to work these computer thingys, I just kind of go with the flow. Fortunately it's very friendly and helpful here and no-one seems to mind if threads wander a bit off-topic once in a while (!), and there seems to be room for discussion on any subject, sax/jazz related or not, and at all levels of expertise and knowledge. Seemingly dumb questions are in fact actively encouraged which is a good thing, and we all get to learn something and hopefully be entertained along the way.

Cheers, Bob

 

[ken]

nicsax wrote:
What on earth are you interrupting a serious 'conversation' with tales of biking! .......

Well if that is a genuine question, I'll add to Bob's explanation about the forum, that the biking is an aside that you can propagate and add to if you wish... as indeed you have. Cheers. 😉

However, I've played a mouth harp on a motorbike, but not a xaphoon or sax saver... so I can't help with that.

 

[nicsax]

Ken wrote:

nicsax wrote:
What on earth are you interrupting a serious 'conversation' with tales of biking! .......

Well if that is a genuine question, I'll add to Bob's explanation about the forum, that the biking is an aside that you can propagate and add to if you wish... as indeed you have. Cheers. 😉

However, I've played a mouth harp on a motorbike, but not a xaphoon or sax saver... so I can't help with that.

I rather like the way the conversation flows twas not a complaint.
I am concerned about Petes Mr Lucky CD as it led me to dangerous sways as I drove my car over Hartside pass here in Cumbria- a bikers dream of a road if not too many on coming cars and teh camber is right! Unfortunately many accidents every year. Take care whilst on your bike especially if you are harp playing as you go.
nic

 

[Bobby G]

If you keep the neck strap on, it's possible to play curved soprano in the car if you're in a traffic jam.

I guess if using a mobile is illegal while driving then sax playing almost certainly is.

Rant alert: since a friend of mine had his car totalled and nearly lost his life when he was hit by a driver using a mobile, I have become absolutely, totally, against using them in the car. I don't care if it's illegal or not, it's stupid and potentially dangerous, so don't do it. Please. 😡 (Cross face)

Cheers, Bob

 

[ken]

There is a picture of me on the net going over Hartside Pass with a group (I'm not saying where the url is!!!) riding out from a certain bike rally.

@ blasted mobile phones should be banned "everywhere" imo.

Ken.

 

[Bobby G]

Ken wrote:
There is a picture of me on the net going over Hartside Pass with a group (I'm not saying where the url is!!!) riding out from a certain bike rally.

Oh go on you tease, you know you want to

 

[ken]

Bob Green wrote:

Oh go on you tease, you know you want to

Ere... no Bob, I've been ducking the rogues gallery for too long. Much to the benefit of all concerned 😉

Ken.

 

[nicsax]

Can anyone tell me how you put those pictures into the boxes like your christmas card. Ken and bob seems to change his too -Icould try and get a picture of the THINK BIKE campaign boards which are like Christams lights all the way up and dwon hartside. they have so many notices over Hartside you are too busy trying to count them to be safe.


Why aren't the police policing mobile use in vehicles - can we the public do anything.
nic