Any Sax players out there?

[Rue]

So...since I have the summer off and need 'novelty' things to do (esp. since I'm likely not going too far for any holidays)...

I've traded in my older son's tenor sax and and a flute...and have an almost new Belcrest soprano sax on loan. I've liked the soprano since I first saw and heard one some 5 years ago. I'm well aware that it's the most difficult of the sax's and the least useful...I'm also aware it can fill in for clarinet, trumpet and oboe if necessary.

If I get it, I want to see if I can get a couple of lessons this month to learn the notes and for breath control (I can still play the recorder...keep in mind - and I play violin in a community orchestra).

What I don't know and can't tell...and neither can my son...if the Belcrest is any good. It's an inexpensive Chinese brand. I don't care about that either...if the instrument is good ...it's good...I'm never going to need the best sax out there for the little I'll play it...but I do need to know if this individual instrument is good enough not to hold me back...

[Drumachine09]

No idea.


However, if this was a percussion question, there are 3 of us that would prolly know ;)

[Rue]

...figures...you can never find good sax when you need it...

[Drumachine09]

...figures...you can never find good sax when you need it...


Im not even going to touch that one....

[Rue]

...no...it wasn't very punny, was it? But it is late and I should go to bed...

I could take it to see one of our repair guys...but I don't know that he plays the sax well enough to tell...and I need to return it on Friday, unless 1) I buy it outright or 2) the seller is willing to take my sax and flute in direct trade (a slight possibility of that happening)...

[tropfish]

I play sax! I have an Alto. But its King brand. I've never even heard of that brand, but it should be fine. Have you seen it yet or is there any way to take a look at it? Could you post a pic of it?

[Rue]

I have it here at home on loan...but I have to return it tomorrow...

It looks great! For all intents and purposes it's still brand new.

It's a straight model...not the curved one...

I - or my older son - just can't tell if it's a good one or not...

I can tell with violins...my daughter can tell with oboes...but with saxes we have NO idea...

[crackatinny]

The sax sounds so cool, just listen to some of the slower tunes from the movie Eddie and the cruisers (John Cafferty and the beaver brown band)

[tropfish]

It sould be fine then because all sax's are made basically the same way. The only difference is the brand because when i was in a band all the sax's were form different companies but they sounded the same

[Rue]

Didn't want to start a new thread...and boy! Does time every fly!

I bought my own soprano saxophone back in the fall of 2007. Cheaper brand, but I had it checked out - it's fine. Unless I miraculously turn into John Coltrane one day it should meet my needs...

I've been practicing regularly since Xmas. Had a lesson on Tuesday to make sure I'm on track. I was very pleased to find out that my intonation (playing in tune) was quite good (can be a problem on the sop. sax - apparently they're harder to play - but I have nothing to compare agains, so can't comment).

I got some pointers on my embouchure (the shape of my mouth - to produce the proper sounds), some practice suggestions, etc.

My goal was to join the adult beginner orchestra in September. I've checked to make sure I can play with them if I'm up to speed, and it looks like I'll be good enough to join them!

I'll tell you - there's nothing like getting some positive feedback once in a while!

Now I split my practice time between my violin and the sax. I gotta say, I kinda like it. I practice longer on two instruments, but I'm enjoying the change from one to the other...

[Lloyd]

Try 8notes.com and Woodwinds.com. They both have pretty good forums for sax players.

[Rue]

I tried 8notes some time ago, but it wasn't moderated very well and had too high a percentage of young rabble-rousers (11 year olds swearing/dissing at each other, that kind of stuff)...

Haven't tried woodwinds...thanks for the suggestion! I'll give it a look!