Saxophones Soprano - curiosity.....

[LisaP2026]

Currently learning alto but thinking about hiring a sop just to see what it's like but have a couple of questions.....

1) is sop more difficult to play than an alto?

2) have heard that they are more prone to going out of tune - is this the case?

3) would you recommend a straight or a curvie to try?

Or would you suggest sticking with the alto until more competent......?

 

[LostCircuits]

I don't see that extra hour, at least on the limited number of curvies (Borgani, LA Sax, Conn) that I've worked on. The RTH Conn was tricky to get good seals but it was a straight one.

I think I should get a cheap Chinese curvy, I am sure that would tilt the scale.

 

[turf3]

I hvae long arms for my height, and I"m primarily a baritone player; and the few times I"ve tried a curved soprano it felt cramped. But heck, I feel cramped on alto. I'm sure that some time in the practice room would fix it.

Thing is, straight soprano kills my right thumb, and that's even holding it out horizontal like I'm supposed to.

 

[Taragot]

I find soprano sax the easiest of the bunch, sort of....
I started on soprano, and when I found a working mouthpiece reed combi and started practicing and stopped biting it worked somehow.
I use the same mouthpiece for classical, jazz and pop and don't think as much about sound concept as on the other horns. Altissimo isn't such a thing on soprano.
So I find soprano more limited than the other horns, but limited in a beautiful way. Just try to get a clear tone with acceptable intonation and that's it.

 

[PigSquealer]

Probably best for me to concentrate solely on the alto until I can make some progress and then possibly look to hire a sop to try out?

See my comment in the lower part of post #37. Seek a qualified SOP player…

 

[LostCircuits]

Thing is, straight soprano kills my right thumb, and that's even holding it out horizontal like I'm supposed to.

Have you tried directing it straight ahead of you instead of sideways like a flute?

Just kidding, I have enough soprano callous on my right thumb to know what you are talking about and that's one of the reasons why I really prefer the saxello, kind of the best of both worlds - except for the quirks.

But, @LisaP2026, if you can find a semi curved soprano often called tipped bell and other than on Temu, that would be a score. Another tidbit, many sopranos now come with a detachable neck. My personal recommendation is a fixed neck, the tenon tends to wear out on these sopranos faster than on altos-tenors-baritone (it's just the smaller diameter) and most tenon expanders at the shops/techs will not work on these tiny necks. It's not a huge issue but a correctly fit neck tenon is one of the most important yet constantly overlooked issues on saxophones.

 

[SuperAction80]

Just as an example of what you would be looking at with a cheap Chinese instrument:

View attachment 33928

This is from the octave mechanism of a Mendini. The slot is not at a right angle through the arm but at a roughly 20 degree angle and to compensate they made it just wider. And yes, I fixed it but only because it was for a friend. And I should have taken a picture of the original mpc. It was bad enough to frighten little children.

In fairness, the Medini instruments I've played aren't even cheap Chinese instruments. The term "instrument" requires some sort of quality standard. The sax shaped objects they sell are essentially toys. The trumpets they sell are even worse than that.

 

[LisaP2026]

There's an Ammoon straight sop coming up for auction next week - only 1 photo but looks in good nick. Worth a punt or steer clear?

Update - this sold for £40 (+ auction house fees)

 

[Colin the Bear]

Update - this sold for £40 (+ auction house fees)

More than I'd have paid.

 

[LisaP2026]

Has anyone ever heard of a "Vinal" sop? One is being advertised on Fleabay but I can't find any info anywhere about this make.....no doubt it is Chinese?

 

[LostCircuits]

The only distributor I have fond is in Lagos/Nigeria - Pick your battle!

😀😀😀​

 

[PigSquealer]

Has anyone ever heard of a "Vinal" sop? One is being advertised on Fleabay but I can't find any info anywhere about this make.....no doubt it is Chinese?

Nope, never heard of one. I’m curious what your budget is ?

 

[LisaP2026]

Nope, never heard of one. I’m curious what your budget is ?

If poss, sub £200 as I just want an idea of what a sop is like to blow. I am looking at a G4M sop (used but reasonable condition) that's available for £195 (with my g4m account) but just curious about the vinal as there doesn't seem to be any info about it anywhere...

 

[PigSquealer]

If poss, sub £200 as I just want an idea of what a sop is like to blow. I am looking at a G4M sop (used but reasonable condition) that's available for £195 (with my g4m account) but just curious about the vinal as there doesn't seem to be any info about it anywhere...

Why not just go rent one for a month ?

 

[LostCircuits]

You can get a "new" Vinal alto in Nigeria for US$130.- and they advertise it that it can play to the lowest Bb.

 

[LostCircuits]

Why not just go rent one for a month ?

Save that money and take a Safari in Africa

 

[progger]

If poss, sub £200 as I just want an idea of what a sop is like to blow. I am looking at a G4M sop (used but reasonable condition) that's available for £195 (with my g4m account) but just curious about the vinal as there doesn't seem to be any info about it anywhere...

That will, unfortunately, probably be money down the drain. Definitely better to rent something good quality if you're not sure if you actually want one.

 

[LisaP2026]

That will, unfortunately, probably be money down the drain. Definitely better to rent something good quality if you're not sure if you actually want one.

That's also something I'm considering - who is the best to rent from?

 

[LostCircuits]

Good luck finding a soprano rental, I think you might be better off hooking up with some of the members here who are in driving distance, you may even get some free instructions and tips.

 

[LostCircuits]

 

[LisaP2026]

View attachment 33976

Thanks @LostCircuits - I already have an alto (G4M), wanting to try a sop as well hence looking at a G4M sop at sub-£200...