Klarinet Archive - Posting 000012.txt from 2007/03

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevin.fay.home@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Tenor Saxophone Question
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:41:54 -0500

Paul Jewell asked:

<<<What is the considered opinion on the Selmer Bundy Tenor Saxophone? Would
it be suitable for a beginner/intermediate saxophone player? The other
instrument I have seen is a Boosey and Hawkes 400 tenor. Any views on this
one?>>>

In the early 1960s, the U.S. Selmer company (which is related to, but not
the same as, the French Selmer company) purchased Buescher. They took the
tooling of the Buescher Aristocrat, and started pumping out "student" horns.

Some would argue that the Buescher is an inferior design, because the
keyboard is less functional than more modern saxophones, most all of which
clone the Selmer Mark VI and derivatives/copies thereof.

I own a closet full of the "modern" horns - most recently a "Buffet" that is
built on Keilwerth tooling - see
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/Buffet_Expression_alto.htm
for a "review" of the alto (I have both an alto and tenor). These are
fantastic horns, with huge sounds and a great action - basically the SX90
done right.

. . . so, if the "modern" horn is so great, why would anyone buy one of
these? (see http://www.vintagesax.com/images/bsch279a.jpg or
http://www.vintagesax.com/images/bsch279aback.jpg) - a horn I just ordered
tonight?

Well, it just sounds better, at least if you're into a Sigurd Rascher or
Johnny Hodges type sound. Gerry Niewood played a Selmer Signet tenor, a
similar horn to the Bundy, with a different finish on the keys, when he made
a pile of albums with Chuck Mangione, so at least one pretty decent dude
made his living on one.

My opinion? Considered or not, you could do much worse than a Bundy. They
have an excellent tone, and play in tune. They are also built like a tank,
and can take kid use/abuse without becoming unusable. I think it's an
*excellent* horn to begin with, and play until you find something you like
better. It may never happen.

One caveat - the mouthpiece you use will be very critical to the sound you
will get - much more so than on clarinet. Lest I be misconstrued, let me
pontificate.

The range of "acceptable" clarinet tones is, in grand scheme of things,
fairly narrow. Most any clarinet mouthpiece you will find - from the
crappiest in the bottom of the bargain bin to the custom job I've paid too
much for - will give you a tone that sounds like a clarinet.

The range of variation is *much* wider. On one end are pieces like the
classic [Adolphe] Sax mouthpiece, which you'll find in the pre-WWII Conns or
Bueschers, or today with the Rascher, which has a huge chamber, high baffle,
and produces a "dark" sound (Sorry Dan!). On the other end are the rock n'
roll pieces like the VanDoren Jumbo Java, or Beechler, which can cut through
electric guitars like a chain saw. I have a drawer full of them - it's
amazing what you can do by switching mouthpieces on a saxophone.

Consequently, ask a saxophonist friend to help you pick one to start. I'd
recommend a Brilhart 3* - not because it's the "best" (whatever that means),
but because it's versatile and cheap. Versatile in that folks like Benny
Carter, Charlie Parker, Johnny Hodges and Maceo Parker made their living
using one, so they work for sure in all of the situation they were in.
Cheap - like thirty bucks. A Jody Jazz tenor piece can cost you twenty
times as much - but it's not for the beginner.

I've never played a B & H saxophone, so can't comment. I had a Bundy tenor
pretty much all through college, though, and wish I never sold it.

IMHO, YMMV, all of that.

Best,

kjf

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