Klarinet Archive - Posting 000138.txt from 2002/06

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] S*x Questions
Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 20:26:06 -0400

My alto saxophone is a Buffet "Expression" - a model I never heard of before
I bought it. I have also never seen another one. Becuase it has a rather
large bell and adjustable palm keys, however, my guess is that it was built
after Boosey & Hawkes acquired Keilwerth, and is based on that tooling. I
have two problems with it - one real, and one for fun.

The real problem is that it doesn't much like to play above a high D - at
least with my Rascher mouthpiece, the tone turns into sort of a little
grunt. This isn't a problem for scales or runs, but is found while trying
to articulate. I can force the note out by adjusting my embouchure and
voicing it as if altissimo, but that's too much work much of the time. The
high C is a bit stuffy, too.

My first thought was simply that it was my fault - that my saxophone
embouchure wasn't up to snuff. Turns out, however, that I don't have it on
my older student-line alto or my friend's Selmer Mark VI.

My second thought was that there's a leaky pad. This can't be, though,
becuase all of the holes are open for the high F, and the lower notes speak
just fine. Is this a design problem I have to live with? Any ideas?

Second problem - for alto saxophones generally, but esp. this one. I find
that the perfect position for which to hold the beastie while standing
cannot be replicated while sitting - my right leg is squarely in the way.
Because I am unwilling to amputate said appendage to advance my saxophone
playing, I must therefore put the bell between my legs or off to the right
side. While both positions are serviceable, I find both less comfortable.

So - a survey, just for grins. Which way do you go?

Kevin Fay
kevinfay@-----.com

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