hi folks...i`m pretty much a beginner ..playing the tenor for about 18 months.
I recently bought a gear 4 music alto from ebay for £70 ( 3 months old)...when i tried to play the thing i have to say i didnt really get on with it...harder to blow..didnt like the higher pitch etc ..so it has been stood on the stand for a couple of months....my teacher has been asking me to bring it along for a lesson but i resisted prefering the tenor...anyway...last night i gave in and took it along...as usual for the first ten mins or so i wasnt enjoying playing the alto..BUT...when it warmed up a bit (its never had the chance to warm up before as i give up after 5 mins usually) the sax really changed out of all recognition....the sound was warm....it became much, and i mean much, easier to blow...all in all i really enjoyed the lesson much to the amusemrnt of my teacher...(smug git)...i have read a few threads on here about altos being `stuffy` etc...what i`d say is persevere a bit and you might find a change when it warms up
ps it came with a vandoren v16 mouthpiece...i now think i have a bargain rather than a nice ornament
happy blowing
neil
I recently bought a gear 4 music alto from ebay for £70 ( 3 months old)...when i tried to play the thing i have to say i didnt really get on with it...harder to blow..didnt like the higher pitch etc ..so it has been stood on the stand for a couple of months....my teacher has been asking me to bring it along for a lesson but i resisted prefering the tenor...anyway...last night i gave in and took it along...as usual for the first ten mins or so i wasnt enjoying playing the alto..BUT...when it warmed up a bit (its never had the chance to warm up before as i give up after 5 mins usually) the sax really changed out of all recognition....the sound was warm....it became much, and i mean much, easier to blow...all in all i really enjoyed the lesson much to the amusemrnt of my teacher...(smug git)...i have read a few threads on here about altos being `stuffy` etc...what i`d say is persevere a bit and you might find a change when it warms up
ps it came with a vandoren v16 mouthpiece...i now think i have a bargain rather than a nice ornament
happy blowing
neil