Tech/maintenance Saxophone Mythbusters

[nigeld]

And then, of corse, there is the "elliptical bore" of the Bueschers.

 

[aldevis]

I thought it was parabolic.

 

[thomsax]

... and the "polyconical bore " on " The Martin" saxes". The last (?, maybe "Powell/Eagle"...) patent on an American saxophone, dated to 1947!

 

[Tenor Viol]

I thought it was parabolic.

So it never closes?

 

[Targa]

So it never closes?

You're remembering those nights at the Windmill again.

 

[nigeld]

I thought it was parabolic.

You are right, of course. I think I wrote elliptical because it sort of rhymes with mythical.

So it never closes?

I think the body is supposed to be parabolic along its length (rather than conical).

Creating an elliptical bore is easily achieved by laying the saxophone on its side and sitting on it carefully, whereas a parabolic bore requires decades of mythology to attain.

 

[Dibbs]

I have a job for jbt: a fair punishment for mentioning Benade.

Many people speak about "large bore" saxophones.
Time for our mythbuster to check:
Diameter at high F
Diameter at RH D#
Distance between the two.

I'll save him from that punishment. The data you desire is here under measurements. - M. Postma :::: saxophones, mouthpieces & saxophone acoustics

There's lots of other interesting stuff there too. One quite remarkable thing is in the charts of intonation of soprano saxes. The one built by Adolphe Sax seems to have better intonation than anything since.

 

[aldevis]

The one built by Adolphe Sax seems to have better intonation than anything since.

Probably due to the parabolic cone...

 

[kevgermany]

Probably due to the parabolic cone...

You should read the web site that Dibbs linked to.

 

[aldevis]

You should read the web site that Dibbs linked to.

I often end up there. Very informative and I really like the guy's approach.
Still I think that saxophones are essentially out of tune anyway.

 

[jbtsax]

I often end up there. Very informative and I really like the guy's approach.
Still I think that saxophones are essentially out of tune anyway.

I'll say it again. Saxes don't play out of tune. People play out of tune.

 

[jbtsax]

To give an example, Keefe studied a single tonehole and presented this study. Single Tonehole
Even if you can't wade through the math, reading the introduction and conclusion will provide some important concepts concerning toneholes.

 

[Nick Wyver]

The one built by Adolphe Sax seems to have better intonation than anything since.

Apart from perhaps the Toneking. The MkVI is pretty much how I'd expect a MKVI sop to be. 🙂

I couldn't find anywhere that stated how the intonation measurements were taken. Has anyone any idea?

 

[ProfJames]

I thought it was parabolic.

My mate is taking stenabolic anoids....

 

[Alc.]

Parabolic sax played by paranoid alcoholic with delusions of grandeur.

 

[nigeld]

I couldn't find anywhere that stated how the intonation measurements were taken. Has anyone any idea?

There is a short description in the preface to the Measurements section of the website

 

[Tenor Viol]

Parabolic sax played by paranoid alcoholic with delusions of grandeur.

... who is prone to being hyperbolic...

 

[jbtsax]

There is a short description in the preface to the Measurements section of the website

I hate to say this, but I find a lot of his stuff very confusing, and I am somewhat knowledgeable on this topic.

 

[Targa]

I hate to say this, but I find a lot of his stuff very confusing, and I am somewhat knowledgeable on this topic.

You're somewhat knowledgeable, so how much do you think it makes me confused.

 

[aldevis]

I hate to say this, but I find a lot of his stuff very confusing, and I am somewhat knowledgeable on this topic.

Please go back to my punishment assignment.
I am looking forward to seeing your measurements about the main body