Saxophones That BW Thread was gettin' a bit long, so I'm starting my own!(Now with pictures!)

[Rogerb]

Thanks to Pete's finding this, forgotten and unloved, in a cupboard at WW&B, I have now joined the BW Owners' Club!!

I had to grab it before Pete did......it's a 'one-off' (so far) I believe, in what is described as 'copper-plated brass', with gold keys, and very blingy abalone key-touches(or whatever they are called!).
It also has soldered-ring tone-holes (didn't Keilworth do that? .... but these one are flat!). And 'roo pads with ceramic resonators.

It was taken-apart and set-up by Stephen Howard, whose opinion was, I'm told "That's a very nice saxophone!" 🙂

And how does it play?.....too soon to say more than, in my inexpert opinion (and Pete's rather more reliable one, I think 😉 ), it's 'warmer' and more 'focused' than my Hanson SA-5, (which I liked a lot, but see the Yard Sale!!)

I am sorry, in several ways, to part company with Hanson as a company...they always treated me with kindness and professionalism, and I am sure they will remain friends. Alastair and his family (and employees!) are among life's 'nice people' 🙂
Their clarinets & saxes are pretty good, too.

Why was this lovely sax 'in the cupboard'? , I hear you ask!
Well it had a fault with the F key and a little unevenness on one of the tone holes....both now fixed by Mr Howard, so it was temporarily 'set aside' I gather.
As a result of all this I was able to negotiate a satisfactory deal.....I gather that , if they ever do hit the market-place here they will be in the ?1.2K area....but you'd need to discuss that with Martin at ww&b, another thoroughly pleasant young man!!

Further comments may well follow when I get it back to Spain(it came in a very nice shaped, hard-shell case, too).
I'll try to take some pics...(See later post)

 

[TomMapfumo]

Are you taking over the BW baton from Smiffy? 😉 Welcome to the BW society and glad that you have found such a gem - hope it provides many joyous hours over the coming months.

Kind regards
Tom 8)

 

[Pjonah]

another one bites the dust.......its all part of the Chinese masterplan, just when they've flooded the market, a becon is sent up and a trap door opens on these instruments and little soldiers jump out a go for world dominance and there's nothing you can do about it! HA Haa Haa Haa (in a Ming the Merciless stylie) :laugh:

Where did I put those beta blockers?

 

[TonyMoroney]

Just saw the new Bauhaus Walstein (Pro) Soprano on WW&B site tonight, I don't remember seeing it before (and I check the site at least once a week!!). It looks like it's the upmarket version equivalent to the Alto that Pete tested, ceramic resonators, roo pads, etc. Nice!!!

T.

 

[Rogerb]

Here be some pics....I hope i ain't breakin' no rools, Pete !

(More available if you are interested in any particular bits!)

I like the roller on the octave key and am impressed by such 'features' as the soldered-ring tone-holes, roo pads & ceramic resonators, and adjustable-height palm-keys(if you have the right-sized Allen key!....I am rather hoping Mr Howard will get hold of one for me 😉 ).
Not sure how I feel about abalone key-touches...purty, but rather blingy!

Tomorrow I get my teacher's opinion .....

I notice it has no serial number, so I guess it is, as was suggested, a 'prototype'.

 

[Pjonah]

Nice one Roger, lots of nice features, what does it play like?

 

[Rogerb]

My first impressions remain....a very focused, warm tone, a little more resistant than my Hanson.
I'm not really qualified/competent to say much more....it just 'feels' slightly more 'in tune' and definitely produces a 'cleaner' note...if you follow me...hence my use of the term 'focused'.

It also feels very tight, in the sense of the keys having no sideways play....as one might expect from a good sax, set-up by a master technician! It's like driving a new car, after having had an older one.... similarlyone has to get used to slightly different key positions, although I haven't noticed any problems with that.

Lesson soon, so I'll have Teacher's impressions later.

 

[losaavedra]

Seen it 'in the flesh' (on Sunday, in Spain Roger and I are near neighbours!). Really really impressive, had a blow too. I clearly need one!
By the way, Roger, pic 4 has gone missing ...

 

[Rogerb]

Pic4 was out of focus, Mike....now replaced with a better one!

My teacher was very impressed, both with the build/finish and the sound....said he'd be very happy to gig with it (no chance!).

 

[jonf]

Hi Roger

I've just had the chance to look at the pics, as the work network blocked them. Very nice indeed. Not entirely sure about the abalone touch pieces, but overall looks very nice.

I'm sure you'll enjoy playing it.

Jon

 

[suethesax]

Looking good Roger - I hope you'll both be very happy together 🙂

 

[old_git]

Roger,
You are far too old to go in for this teenage bling thing. What next? Texting with your thumb?

To save you from further degradation, I am willing to accept, at great personal risk, your prototype alto, allowing you to return to your genteel Hanson, and maintain your British decorum in front of those European devils.

Sincerely
old git.
Laying down his dignity for The Empire.