Klarinet Archive - Posting 000542.txt from 2003/02

From: notestaff@-----.de (David Glenn)
Subj: Re: [kl] Quick query on the soprano sax
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 17:45:17 -0500

Bill Semple wrote:

>I have played the clarinet, and only the clarinet, for forty-three years.
>Recently, my dixieland band asked me to play the soprano sax on a few tunes,
>using an instrument built in the 1920's and gifted to the band by its long
>time reedman, who unfortunately succumbed to cancer last year.
>
>I've managed to get some decent sound out of this thing (it's a Conn), but
>when I hit low G, it lets out a honk like a goose and jumps an octave. If I
>am extra careful, and distend my embouchure just so, I can get that lower G.
>
>Is overblowing a soprano sax easily done, and is this the problem, or do I
>have leaks? Of course I know I should check for leaks, but I am also
>interested in the acoustical properties of this instrument and its penchant
>for doing oddball things.
>
>William T. Semple
>++++++++++++++++++++
>
Hi William,
Sounds like it's not in order. Do the lower tones come? The G should be
no problem for a clarinetist. Maybe it's the G# pad not closing until
the right hand takes it down. The older saxes also like the older style
mouthpieces with the round chamber. Are you using one like that? Maybe
the problem will go away by itself as the pads soften up through use. Of
course, the soprano is especially difficult in a similar way to the Eb
clar. One more thing occurs to me: the mouthpiece position makes a big
difference on the soprano. It's usually a lot further in than you would
expect.
Good luck!
David

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