How hard would the saxophone be? I can play the trumpet guitar keys and stuff and I know music theory and stuff, I'm thinking of learning saxophone, how hard would it be to learn with the knowledge I already have of music and instruments? Is it harder than a brass instrument like a trumpet? Thanks

Hello,

What would you all say are some iconic wind band pieces for saxophonists? Like they have really well known solos, solis, or just sax parts in general. I'm not talking about just concertos. I just mean band standards that utilize the saxophone very well and are very well known.

Bought a new to me Buscher 400 for 900 bucks serial number 474xxx so after the selmer buyout it’s in good playing shape but the laquer is in bad shape looking for mouthpiece recommendations just for casual playing nothing specific and good ways to fix it up. Also wondering if I got a good deal. Thanks!

Hi, first post in the sub reddit. I've been considering upgrading to a JodyJazz Super Jet for my bari sax, switching off from a Yamaha 5C. My director recommends them, but I wanted to see if I could get a testimonial for them before I drop $500.

Hey guys I'm just starting to play the alto sax, and I'm looking at reed options I want to get the Legere French cut but I don't know if beginners should play on synthetic reeds I just need advice and recommendations.

He has a tenor sax that he uses for jazz mostly. My son is wanting to get a SYOS mouthpiece. They do have a trial period but I’m not finding anything online that seems like a review that is unbiased. Most seem like they are promoting it because they are paid, or biased in some way.

My question is broad but I’m really wanting to know if they have improved in quality from the past complaints about poor print quality or sound.

Thanks in advance.

Anyone tried both? I have a WCW 54 8tip and it’s perfectly ok. I used to play a late 70s early 80s Meyer 5 on a YAS 62 purple and it was great!

I recently re acquired another YAS 62 from about 1995, and the WCW 54 is good on it, but I’m curious about the GS NY.

Nearest I can tell, the WCW 54 is based on the old Tonalins, and the GS NY is based on a specific Meyer. Anyone that’s played both have any thoughts on them in a side by side?

This post is dedicated to all my pedal users. I play both my saxophone and ewi (mostly ewi) through pedals and was wondering if there’s any applications for a compressor? I know it’s very common on all other pedaled instruments, i’m also a bass player but more as a side thing so i’m wondering if it’s worth justifying getting a nice one for both bass and sax or just getting a cheaper one just for my bass. I will include a picture of my signal chain if that helps. Thanks!

How silly would that be? I have a Jean Paul tenor sax that I got at a sweet deal early on in the COVID times. It's been pretty good to me so far honestly. I'm still learning with an instructor and a novice but I'm a working adult and balancing it with life.

I don't intend on playing gigs, this is mostly to fulfill a childhood dream and play for myself. I want a super breathy/sultry, dark and bass timbre, I don't care at all for projection since I live in an apartment. Based on recommendations so far, the end goal is a Theo Wanna Ambika or a JodyJazz DV NY. Both of these are almost the same price, if not more than I bought my Sax for. Should I just go for those or should I work my way up?

I come from a choral background, so I don't have a strong point of reference on equipment upgrades, minus uniform or music folders and would love perspective!

Hello! New here

I used to play clarinet 20 years ago and now, after playing guitar for the intervening time, I'm finally getting into my first instrument I ever desired!

I've probably done the wrong thing and ordered a vintage German saxophone (G H Huller) I'll have serviced. But I didn't read good things about modern Chinese ones for longevity, so took a punt on this thing.

I have been looking a mouthpieces as it doesnt come with one - does it matter if I order a 4C or Rico M7 or something that seems good for a beginner and pair it with this old sax? Will it even fit? Does chamber size matter etc?

They never seem to list dimensions for the part that fits onto the sax.

Anyway, any advice appreciated. I did a good Google but found very little info on the above.

Hello all,

I have a Yanagisawa 880 tenor and I would like to install some metal resonators. I am having trouble identifying what size pads to get. Can I use the same sizes as the 900 and 990s?Thank you. Any information is appreciated.

I was watching this with my family recently, and it crossed my mind that the music is fantastic, particularly ‘Its lonely being one of a kind’ and was curious if anyone had already transcribed this? It doesn’t NEED to be in Bb, I can also change the key in musescore.

I've been running a cheap Baomic mic on my tenor, through my TC Helicon Voicelive 2 for some band shows. I use it mostly because it's very small, handy and easy to pack up, easily recharged with a type C USB, doesn't have a body pack (I need to double sometimes) and it's a UHF microphone (had many issues with these pesky 2.4ghz range mics). However, I've realized that depending on the notes I'm playing, sometimes some of the other instruments' and vocal monitors will bleed into the mic and be effected by the Voicelive 2. I've never used a bell deflector before, but would it possibly lessen incidences of other sounds bleeding into my mic and effects mix?

I know some will recommend that I upgrade soon, but I'm looking for a simpler budget solution in the meantime, as the mic gets the job done for me otherwise.

Just like the title says. For context, I started playing saxophone when I was 10 and joined the band program, stuck with it through graduation and played in every sector of the music program in my district (marching band, jazz band, etc). Stopped playing midway through college and I'm now getting back into it at age 32.

I still remember most of the fingerings for notes, I've ordered a couple of practice books, I can still read sheet music and sight read decently well. Biggest thing is my mouth hurts after about 10-15 minutes of playing, but I know that'll go away with time.

My current goal is to practice 30 mins to an hour five days a week as my schedule permits, more if possible. I'm mostly looking for advice or tips to consider as I get back into the instrument.

Thank you so much!

https://preview.redd.it/ktu9o4bl662e1.jpg?width=2953&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af56be82b9134c06e42ad46bc2b3471d3346d9af

I've been getting back into playing after a 10-year break, joined a few community ensembles, learning my own repair, and have a bad habit of having a scotch or two and getting on ebay. Soo..

Vito Yamaha YAS-21 - purchased from what I can only assume is a a student who ate skittles during band class - ruined and VERY sticky pads when I got it. Bought it for super cheap to learn repair on. Did a thorough clean and repad and it's playing pretty well currently.

Continental Yanagisawa T4 - Old school Yanagisawa from the 60s, definitely sat in someone's closet for decades, replaced a bunch of pads and tightened up some worn/sloppy keys. Plays well but man, these have VERY soft brass and seem to take some finesse on the low C# and bell keys. If you sneeze on that low C#, it will bend out of regulation.

Martin Yanagisawa B880 - My main axe, recently had it overhauled. Metal resonators really have woken this thing up and give it some punch that is really helpful in holding down the bottom end of a big band sax section. Love the little linkage between the low B and C# keys, a really nice addition to the normal tilting spatula key setup.

https://preview.redd.it/wvlsy4ez5k1e1.png?width=4032&format=png&auto=webp&s=96eb72394b80b722e3d68075e0894765fc4293c8

https://preview.redd.it/atrzzkz66k1e1.png?width=4032&format=png&auto=webp&s=773d704a7b638e916a886bbcba332c86133e912c

Well, maybe not “new’, but new to me.

Look what I found ……. It’s a 1961 Buescher Super 400 - basically the same horn as a “Top Hat & Cane” model. Plays great - big sound ! 😎 Added bonus is I was born in 1961 so horn is same age as me which is cool.

It needs a bit of a tidy up - a new neck cork and it’s a bit fluffy from low D down (leaks ?) but apart from that it’s very nice. No dings (small one on the neck) or resolders I can see. Looks to have original snap in pads. Has norton springs and the bell band - in nickel / not silver. Still, that’s something.

I’ve never been a fan of nickel keywork as it looks a bit cheap and like a student horn but whatever. Anyway, I didn’t need it - already have a King Super 20 - but heck, it was very affordable.

Is a Super 400 twenty times (20x) better than a Super 20 ? [ie. 20 x 20 = 400] I don’t think so but it’s definitely a keeper.

i just got my first saxophone, an eastar as-ii (i know, cheap and nasty, but i'm new to playing) and i've been using the reeds and mouthpiece i got with it. unfortunately the reeds aren't the best quality and are already beginning to splinter a little. in the past i've played bassoon and had a significant amount of trouble with my reeds cracking or bending - i produce a lot of saliva and they would get super wet when i practised for more than a half hour or so at a time. i'm looking for reeds that are maybe a 2.5 - 3 thickness, well suited for jazz playing, and not unreasonably priced - at the moment i think vandoren java reds are a good bet, but i am open to suggestions.

Hi! I've been struggling with a china copy of this mouthpiece. It plays allright at times and then squeals way too much. There is a machined or cast logo on the beak, that prevents me to form a tight seal around the piece and thus leaks air. Couple questions:

1. anyone owning the real deals can confirm, this recessed logo thing is in the original too? Looking at images it seems that way, or is it filled with some varnish, or epoxy or such? So is there a recess, or is the beak level and smooth in the real one? Can't find an answer to this by searching.

2. if it is and is not filled in the original, I supposed it is intentional; propably designed to help with overtones and high range and whatnot funny stuff? Seems like a bizarre far fetched idea to me, why would the beak have a leaky recess?

3. If howerer that is the case and the recess is supposed to be there and leak; anyone experienced care to share tricks to playing this thing? There are so many positions for the vice to hold the reed and thickness recommendations are welcome too. should I just take the damn thing so deep, that the whole recessed area is in my mouth or what the heck?

thanks cheers!