 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2016-10-05 08:34
I'm playing in a musical in November and today I was asked to cover the soprano sax parts in the book (I was under the impression a student would be covering all sax parts, but that person will be playing alto sax only). I know I can just read it on clarinet, but I'd like to give soprano sax a shot. I play some alto sax, so I'm not a complete sax stranger, that I know alto and soprano aren't the same. Can I have suggestions on some brands that are decent and won't break the bank at the same time? I'm fine with a student model as I doubt it'll get a lot of use. I don't know anyone that owns one, so borrowing isn't an option and I don't want to rent one.
It can sit in the same corner of my closet where my flute-like (Symphony) and piccolo-like (Venus) objects reside. They're used so infrequently that I don't need top of the line stuff. I haven't really needed piccolo in a show since 2005 (the handful of measures in "9 to 5" doesn't count; played that show a few years ago). If I can make a go of it, it can be useful for other shows. If not, I gave it a shot and will just play it on clarinet, though where's the challenge in that?
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2016-10-05 11:50
Same for me. Last time I tried some soprano saxes but I was very dissappointed about all the intonation quirks I met. A lot worse than Eb clarinet imho. In any case: try before you buy! A good matching mouthpiece is also very important for intonation.
I don't have a soprano yet, still looking, but I am more into the vintage saxes. There must be some Taiwanese/Chinese instrument that would do the trick. Or may be a secondhand Yamaha or Yanagisawa.
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Author: AndyW
Date: 2016-10-05 13:57
i would agree that tuning can be a bit 'interesting' on vintage sopranos like Conn , Buescher and older Selmers, though I do love the sound of my 1920s Conn-Pan American for jazz. I play a more modern Yamaha YSS62 a lot too, slightly different tone , but much better tuning. Remember that mouthpiece position on the cork is critical for tuning on sop sax, 1 millimetre in or out will change the 'top-end' intonation a lot.
hth
-A-
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Author: jimk
Date: 2016-10-05 15:33
Playing soprano sax can be a lot of fun. It might be helpful to listen to a few recordings to decide the tone you want before you go shopping. I think all the big name sax manufacturers have one or more soprano models, so if you are in an area where used saxes are available there might be several to choose from. I play on what was originally a mid-priced Yamaha. I didn't expect to use it much, but find I use it more than I expected (and wish I could use it more). Be sure to save some money for a good mouthpiece. I recently bought a hard rubber mouthpiece from Jody Jazz. For me it was a step up in quality from the Morgan mouthpiece I bought when I bought the instrument.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-10-05 19:18
I started the clarinet in the 4th grade and picked up the saxes in the 5th grade. I you will do well on the sop sax. Which one to get is a hard choice, a good MP is even harder to pick out. I have an old Conn. As with most sax's it has tuning issues. The neck on these beasts really makes a difference. I'm using a Dukoff metal mouthpiece. A bit bright. Morgan mouthpieces are nice too. For tuning a Yamaha sax is pretty darn good, but this old heavy Conn has a better deeper sound.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: MartyMagnini
Date: 2016-10-05 20:28
Soprano sax is an easy double, but don't approach it too "clarinety". Sometimes alto sax players struggle - a more natural double is from tenor to soprano, as far as embouchure is concerned. I have several sopranos, and used to have a Selmer Mark VI soprano. I've played expensive horns from Yamaha and Yanagasawa, and they were all nice, but they weren't my cup of tea - I prefer a warmer, darker sound. My current favorite is a Sax Dakota soprano - I really like their newer horns - the scale is great, and it has the sound I'm after. I play it with a "Big Sky2" mouthpiece from sopranoplanet.com. Not cheap, but it has about the same amount of resistance as my clarinet setup, so it's very comfortable for me.
For a surprisingly nice "budget" soprano, I have played on (and still do at times) and EM Winston sopranino (just like a soprano, but with a slight curve right at the bell). I think it cost me $300 on eBay. It's surprisingly nice for that price point. Not quite as ergonomic or dark as the Sax Dakota, but I have played it in professional situations
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2016-10-05 22:01
I've played vintage sopranos that are really nice (Buescher and Conn), but own a Yamaha YSS-675...it's a pro horn and I don't have a lot of experience with student or intermediate instruments...having said that, the one student Yamaha soprano I've ever played was pretty well in tune, and handled very much like mine, but without the tonal depth.
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-10-05 22:27
Don't even try to play a soprano sax like a clarinet as your tuning will be dreadful especially in the upper register where you should never tighten up as you go up otherwise you'll be sharp.
Keep a relaxed sax embouchure but with a lot of breath support as it's a sax and not a clarinet. Tuning and intonation issues will only arise if you treat it like a clarinet, so play it like a sax as that's what it is.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2016-10-05 22:57
For a time, the Taishan-built soprano saxes generated some positive buzz on the Sax On The Web forum. I ended up picking up a Taishan-built "Conductor" soprano on Amazon for once-in-a-blue-moon duty, and I remain shocked at how nice it is. Nice even response, workable intonation, dark warm tone, nice regulation, and beautifully finished. I scored mine for less than $300, and that was including an upgraded Yamaha 6C MP.
I had been wanting a vintage Conn/Conn-stencil soprano and bought this just to get by with until the right vintage horn came along. But, truthfully, I haven't even bothered to look for a vintage horn once I got to know the Taishan.
If I'm not mistaken, Kessler's in Las Vegas sells Taishans under their house label, with extra setup work done.
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2016-10-08 00:16
My clarinet teacher came through for me. His wife has a soprano sax and she's letting me borrow it for the show! No idea what it is as my lesson isn't until Thursday. I'll let you guys know how it is.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-10-08 01:14
Use a fairly easy going mouthpiece such as a Yamaha 4C or a Selmer S80 C** and use softer reeds than you use on clarinet. Keep the playing angle high (like an oboe) and blow it down to pitch as opposed to up to pitch.
Mouthpiece position on the crook cork should leave around 5mm to 7mm of cork showing depending how long the crook cork is - if it's placed on only a little way, you'll have trouble playing in tune so find the place on the crook cork where the instrument is in tune with itself.
Tune it to Concert Bb by playing a lower register G (sounding Concert F) as that's a good stable note and don't lip the upper 8ves up. Then check the 8ves, 4ths and 5ths against that Concert Bb. If Concert A is given as a tuning note, then tune it to the notes of an E minor triad (Concert D minor) starting with G.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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