 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: KayR
Date: 2001-11-04 19:47
My son (in junior high) plays bass, soprano and e-flat clarinet in band. He would like to be in jazz band, which unfortunately doesn't take clarinets. So, he's expressed an interest in learning saxophone. However, what he wants to play is the soprano sax, which doesn't seem to be easy to find in our area used. I know nothing about saxes, and wanted to find out if anyone here could recommend a brand that we should look for. In the WW&BW catalogue I found Jupiter, Lazer, Winston, and their house brand at a price I'd be willing to pay. Are any of those brands worth getting?
Thanks for any advice!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mike
Date: 2001-11-04 20:16
I've never tried any of those brands, though I've heard favorable things about the WW&BW house brand.
More importantly, starting on alto or tenor is probably a better idea: most high-school level arrangements for jazz band are going to be based on the standard 2 alto, 2 tenor, 1 bari sax line. Soprano sax is usually doubled from the lead alto book. Even if he has a sop, he might not be allowed to play in the band, or will only get to play on a few of the tunes. You should check with the band director about this before spending the $$$ for a soprano sax.
mike
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fred
Date: 2001-11-04 20:16
In general, I'd be more likely to recommend a used Yanagisawa to stay within your price range. However, If you'd like to learn more about saxophones in general and every sax topic imaginable in particular, check out Sax on the Web at:
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/1389/index.html
In addition to lots of great articles, look for their Discussion Forum which will have topics dedicated to Soprano Sax, Inexpensive Brands, etc.
And thanks for being willing to support your kid. It's worthwhile . . .
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2001-11-04 22:24
Mike is right on target. The key to jazz band participation is NOT the soprano sax. Here are thoughts on the others -
Alto - A good first double for a clarinet player, but most schools are already overcrowded with them. Competition could be pretty stiff. Of course a young alto player might also have a chance at playing baritone....more below
Tenor - There is probably less competition for positions, and this is the instrument which most frequently takes jazz solos and appears in rock bands and small combos. A clarinetist who already has some improvising ability could do really well coming in on tenor. Besides, tenors are not much more expensive than altos.
Baritone - A particularly good double for a clarinetist. Some of the older big band music with 'clarinet lead' is written with no bari part. This makes it pretty easy for the band director to possibly incorporate an old Benny Goodman or Glenn Miller transcription which would feature the clarinet. Prices are considerably higher, though and I wouldn't recommend a purchase.
Many schools, though, have their own baritone saxes for student use and your son might play this in jazz band. You could buy him an alto or a tenor for his own use, but playing baritone might bypass some more experienced competition on those instruments and put your child in a good position for an inexperienced saxophonist who plays good clarinet.
On brands, I would avoid Jupiter, Lazer and Winston for a middle schooler. I would also avoid the new Bueschers, Kings, Olds, etc. There is good reason why they're cheap. Good new horns would be Selmer, Yamaha, Yanagisawa, Vito or Keilwerth. I think that the Keilwerth student model is particularly good. The Woodwind saxes are among the cheap-metal category, but I tried a tenor that played really well. If you have to go with a cheapo, this is probably the one to get. In general, if you have to go with cheapo brands, make inquirys on sax websites for info comparing them.
New or Used? There's nothing wrong with a used horn if it's in good playing condition. Try a 'used rental' from your local music store. This is an instrument which has been rented once or twice before. It will be cheaper than new, and probably plays just as well. Just make sure that you can trade it if it doesn't work right. Most stores are going to be fine with this. While renting (the first 3 months are usually very cheap), you can also shop around through the want ads.
You might want to sign up your son for some sax lessons to get him started and have his instructor help you in making your purchase decision.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Peter
Date: 2001-11-05 00:42
Kay,
Ditto to most of what was previously said.
It's a shame that the soprano sax is held in such low esteem by school band directors. It's a truly great instrument and a few jazz and blues people did well with them. Probably the most well known was Sidney Bechet, who transformed his sound of jazz and blues with one to become a legend.
Aside from that, the soprano sax is the most difficult to learn to play. I was told that by several sax playing friends and found out for myself when I started on it. While it's worth every bit of hard work to learn it, someone beginning to learn sax on the soprano needs to work hard at it.
By the way, they are slowly becoming more popular, again, in the professional ranks.
I am not familiar with the Lazer, but all the rest you mention are made in China, or thereabouts, and are truly trash. The BW&WW are an excellent company to deal with, but they have a price to match every wallet, as it were, and what you get for it is not always good.
The Woodwinds brand saxes do not play too awfully badly (for a student,) if you get a relatively good one. However, be advised that the metal they are made out of is so soft, that the keys can bend out of shape even while playing it fast and furiously!!! It can also happen if you drop the case with the instrument in it.
When that happens, the instrument usually develops leaks and has to be adjusted, and there is nothing to be done about it, except frequent adjustment.
I found all this out when I wanted to learn to play the sop-sax and thought I'd "get away cheaply, just to start out." I still have my WW&BW soprano sax. It sits in a stand for when we just want to grab something and play it. It doesn't necessarily play too badly, but you can hardly grab it carelessly or bump it without bending a key. Furthermore, it's not even worth trading in as nobody will give me more than $35.00 to $50.00 for it!!!
Whatever you can afford, stick with the better, accepted name brands. You won't be sorry, either in playing it, or trying to resell or trade it later on.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike B.
Date: 2001-11-05 02:33
Good advice above; a few add. comments.
1. Get a newish student horn - the Yamaha YAS / YTS 23s are hard to beat.
2. Baris cost a small fortune.
3. Big band arrangements don't call for soprano sax much (thank God for small miracles!)
4. Altos and tenors both solo (altos a bit more). Some students have a hard time with the size of the tenor, so try them out first.
5. PERSONAL OPINION HERE: I love the tenor, and consider it to be the pre-eminent jazz horn. Some of the greatest jazz masters played the tenor. Also, it's a Bb horn, just like the clarinet!
Regards,
Mike B.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2001-11-05 06:45
.... (exhales. . . )
there's a ton of info 'bout different brands. You'll have to do a lot of sorting but it's very worth the effort - take notes 'cause there are also tons of junk out in saxland.
:]
- ron b -
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-11-05 15:23
Excellent advice above, it says about 99% of what I would have posted. I would add that the saxes older than about 1960 [without Selmer's improvements re: the little finger "plateau keys"] should be avoided as they will prob. be more difficult to play, partic. for the lower notes. A good friend buys, sells and SHOWS many saxes on "cybersax.com", its educational and nostalgic for me !! [since I got my first sax, an alto, in 1935 !! Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Robert G
Date: 2001-11-11 21:01
I started on clarinet back in 6th grade, and later picked up sax in 8th grade, becuase I wanted to be cool and be in Jazz Band. My Junior High Jazz band never used Sopranos, and even in my High School Jazz band it was rarely used (and even then it was played by our 1st chair Alto Sax). I play all the saxes (I only own an alto), my school provided Tenors and Baris (Nice Yamaha 62's). In my experience, Sopranos are rarely used because they tend to have bad intonation problems. Directors (especially middle school/junior high directors) don't want to deal with. These intonation are problems are extremly bad on cheaper horns.
I had fun playing all of the saxes, but costwise Bari saxes are really expensive. Out of the brands you mentioned, the only one that I have heard even semi descent things about are the Jupiters. One of our lead saxes, used to march with a Jupiter Alto it was fairly good. I also have to agree with Don, pre-60's horns can be difficult to play (however they can be really wonderful to if you can get over the lack of technical innovation, I personally have a 1937 Silver Truetone). I would suggest seeing about buying a good used sax, student to intermediate model, I'm sure there are lots of people selling them.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
