Tutorials
Shop
Supporting special needs music education since 2008
About
Forum guide
Rules
Support the Café fundraising
Mailing
Pete Thomas music
Biog
Discussion
All forum sections
Articles
Articles on Taming The Saxophone
Articles on the Cafe
Shop
NEW
All new posts (unfiltered)
Latest activity
Social Feed
Log in
Register
What's new
All forum sections
Menu
Log in
Register
How to install the app
How to install the app on iOS
NB: For Safari start at step 2
(Firefox only) Tap on the hamburger menu at bottom right
Tap on the share icon
(bottom of page)
Scroll down and tap on
Add to Home Screen:
Note:
This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Discussion
Archives
Archives (2206-2008 old forum archives
SAXOPHONES
Saxophone material and finishes affecting the sound
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Ollie" data-source="post: 575962" data-attributes="member: 5583"><p>I have to admit, haven`t read the entire thread. So if I repeat something that has been said just tell me.</p><p></p><p>I have measured a great deal of speakers and cabinets over the years and tried to match theory, simulation, prediction and actual measurements. Since we are talking soundwaves, airpressure/wavefront, propagation and ways to interfere with the variables we have a musical instrument.</p><p></p><p>So here are my 2cents:</p><p>Laquer can have a huge effect on dampening albeit on a very narrow band or two or three. A saxophon is a huge Helmholtz-resonator. </p><p>Much of the sound acutally propagates out through the brass. It does so through 5cm of MDF cabinet too. I suspect that our skulls, nasal cavities, chest do radiate some of the sound too. Some materials speed up the speed of sound, some slow it down. Brass speeds it up, changing the frequency at the same time. Above a certain yield you get chaotic behavior of membrane. The sax cone turns into a giant speaker cone. Once we have established that the sax is a giant speaker cone and horn - Then we can simulate it with rough parameters: </p><p></p><p>Alto:</p><p>Chestvolume: 20l (We use this as closed chamber variable 3-30l wont make a difference, think lungvolume and then some)</p><p>Horntype: Conical</p><p>Hornlength 79cm</p><p>Hornmouth 30cm2</p><p>Hornstart 1cm2</p><p></p><p>We get a functioning compression Horn with an average 100db per watt input over a range of 200hz to 5500hz. </p><p></p><p>The curve is very wavy. Don`t worry this is not a sign of a bad design or a flaw. This is just a static load put on the horn, we automatically blow a bit harder or a bit less - depending on which frequency we are. Also I dit no measure the shortening of the horn but in its whole lenght only. Our effort is to approximate the ideal flat output. Some of us probably can do this extremely well.</p><p></p><p>We have high impedance (resistance) @220, 550 and 800hz. 200hz and below resistance drops to almost 0. That means we have to blow really hard to make a sound. That is why horns do not sound very dynamic in the lower frequencies. We just dont have the airvolume to counter the non resistance, maybe a compressor would help...</p><p></p><p>The horns fs is around 200hz. Everything we play below this fs is well beyond the design parameters of an Alto saxophon. But we do anyway.</p><p></p><p>Does somebody have some webspace to post the diagram?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ollie, post: 575962, member: 5583"] I have to admit, haven`t read the entire thread. So if I repeat something that has been said just tell me. I have measured a great deal of speakers and cabinets over the years and tried to match theory, simulation, prediction and actual measurements. Since we are talking soundwaves, airpressure/wavefront, propagation and ways to interfere with the variables we have a musical instrument. So here are my 2cents: Laquer can have a huge effect on dampening albeit on a very narrow band or two or three. A saxophon is a huge Helmholtz-resonator. Much of the sound acutally propagates out through the brass. It does so through 5cm of MDF cabinet too. I suspect that our skulls, nasal cavities, chest do radiate some of the sound too. Some materials speed up the speed of sound, some slow it down. Brass speeds it up, changing the frequency at the same time. Above a certain yield you get chaotic behavior of membrane. The sax cone turns into a giant speaker cone. Once we have established that the sax is a giant speaker cone and horn - Then we can simulate it with rough parameters: Alto: Chestvolume: 20l (We use this as closed chamber variable 3-30l wont make a difference, think lungvolume and then some) Horntype: Conical Hornlength 79cm Hornmouth 30cm2 Hornstart 1cm2 We get a functioning compression Horn with an average 100db per watt input over a range of 200hz to 5500hz. The curve is very wavy. Don`t worry this is not a sign of a bad design or a flaw. This is just a static load put on the horn, we automatically blow a bit harder or a bit less - depending on which frequency we are. Also I dit no measure the shortening of the horn but in its whole lenght only. Our effort is to approximate the ideal flat output. Some of us probably can do this extremely well. We have high impedance (resistance) @220, 550 and 800hz. 200hz and below resistance drops to almost 0. That means we have to blow really hard to make a sound. That is why horns do not sound very dynamic in the lower frequencies. We just dont have the airvolume to counter the non resistance, maybe a compressor would help... The horns fs is around 200hz. Everything we play below this fs is well beyond the design parameters of an Alto saxophon. But we do anyway. Does somebody have some webspace to post the diagram? [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Join us in the Cafe!
New! Social Feeds
Look out for the navigation icon:
Follow CafeSaxophone
Foroverse
Youtube
Bluesky
Facebook
Member Blogs (currently active)
Saxophones
Pork Tales: Saxophone Repair DIY Adventures.
Started by PigSquealer
May 22, 2025
Replies: 1K
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Blog
Mike's musings
Started by MikeMorrell
Sep 5, 2024
Replies: 296
Breakfastroom (chat and relax...)
Blog
Tenor Viol's musings
Started by Tenor Viol
Oct 22, 2016
Replies: 2K
Breakfastroom (chat and relax...)
Trending
Pork Tales: Saxophone Repair DIY Adventures.
PigSquealer
May 22, 2025
Replies: 1K
Review of the 'Academy Jericho' Alto sax & Mk11
C_Claudemonster
Nov 19, 2012
Replies: 143
S
What are you listening to (plus reviews)
suethesax
Nov 18, 2007
Replies: 3K
Daily Check In
Jeanette
Apr 21, 2024
Replies: 3K
What does professional musician mean?
Pete Thomas
Oct 9, 2026
Replies: 107
Tenor Viol's musings
Tenor Viol
Oct 22, 2016
Replies: 2K
T
Selmer no longer supreme!
Tonehole
Oct 8, 2026
Replies: 116
Saxophone word dissociation game
Pete Thomas
May 17, 2025
Replies: 2K
Conn 10m.... Could this be the one?
teen37
Thursday at 8:09 PM
Replies: 113
How to growl on saxophone - tutorial and examples
Pete Thomas
Jul 4, 2010
Replies: 226
Popular Discussions on the Café
Saxophones
C Melody Saxophones
Started by Andy Hornblower
Aug 19, 2015
Replies: 698
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Theory & Impro
Do we really need theory?
Started by jbtsax
Feb 18, 2016
Replies: 500
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Saxophones
Carrying a tenor on a (motor)bike?
Started by Jay
Jul 4, 2015
Replies: 779
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Saxophones
How will Tariffs affect Sax Prices?
Started by Ivan
Apr 4, 2025
Replies: 465
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Jazz
Music for Night Owls
Started by saxplorer
Mar 5, 2015
Replies: 466
Great music and favourite Videos
Playing the saxophone
The Cafe Trio grown to Octet down to Sextet
Started by trimmy
Feb 15, 2015
Replies: 844
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Great Players
Who sparked your love of Sax music
Started by jools
Apr 2, 2008
Replies: 619
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Playing the saxophone
Learn to play by ear or by reading music
Started by Taz
Feb 16, 2016
Replies: 1K
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Tech/maintenance
My new "DIY" pads...
Started by DavidUK
Jan 12, 2022
Replies: 393
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
6
Misc Reviews
Yamaha YDS-150 Wind Synth
Started by Acc6441
Oct 22, 2020
Replies: 301
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Playing the saxophone
Learning to Read v Playing by ear
Started by BigMartin
Aug 19, 2015
Replies: 505
Saxophones: gear, playing, repair, impro
Featured Classifieds
Inderbinen Tenor for Sale
for sale - PPT 8* tenor mouthpiece
10m fan celebration tenor H/R
1930 Selmer New Large Bore Tenor Saxophone #13895
isolo prime wireless mic with effects box
Selmer Alto Shortshank C* refaced to Meyer 6m by Ed Pillinger
H N White King Cleveland Curved Soprano Saxophone
1937 Martin Committee
Re faced Otto link NY
Whole load of grrrreat books & playalongs - fire sale
Straight soprano case for sale
Harry Hartmann Fiberreed for tenor - used once and disinfected
That Moaning Saxophone - Bruce Vermazen
AKG C12VR microphone
Tenor Sax Mouthpieces for sale
Original vintage Buescher brochure and vintage ads
Latest Song of the Month
T
SOTM
SOTM October 2026 - The Chicken
Started by Taragot
Sep 30, 2026
Replies: 12
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
SotM September 2026 - Autumn Leaves
Started by mrblackbat
Sep 1, 2026
Replies: 27
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
SOTM August 2026 - Creep
Started by atwl77
Jul 31, 2026
Replies: 13
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
and Play by ear July 2026
Started by Wade Cornell
Jun 30, 2026
Replies: 21
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
SOTM June 2026 "And You Just Smile" (from ear to ear- training)
Started by LostCircuits
May 30, 2026
Replies: 11
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
SOTM May 2026 - Always Remember Us This Way
Started by MikeMorrell
Apr 28, 2026
Replies: 39
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
SOTM April 2026 - Freedom Jazz Dance
Started by rhysonsax
Mar 31, 2026
Replies: 14
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
SOTM and PETE (Play by Ear Training Exercise)
Started by Wade Cornell
Feb 28, 2026
Replies: 16
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
SOTM Feb 2026 - On Green Dolphin Street
Started by mrblackbat
Jan 31, 2026
Replies: 44
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
SOTM January 2026: Our Love Is Here to Stay
Started by GCinCT
Jan 1, 2026
Replies: 46
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
SOTM December 2025: Wexford Carol
Started by MikeMorrell
Nov 30, 2025
Replies: 37
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
SOTM
SOTM November 2025 - Red Baron
Started by sax panther
Nov 1, 2025
Replies: 36
Cafe Members' Recordings & Gigs
Forum statistics
Topics
32,008
Messages
576,617
Members
8,106
Latest member
gmaric22
Discussion
Archives
Archives (2206-2008 old forum archives
SAXOPHONES
Saxophone material and finishes affecting the sound
Back
Top
Bottom