The Joy of Sax

In My Humble Opinion
1

Any other saxamaphone players out there?

I think a sax is one of the most expressive instruments of all. The nuance and tonalities available make it really fun to play. I’ve been honking on my Bundy-Selmer Alto for many years now and it is one tasty little machine. It’s become the sax of choice over my first one, a Buescher C-Melody I got over a decade ago at the Starvation Army for a whopping $150.[sup]00[/sup]. Picked up the alto for all of $325.[sup]00[/sup] in the used equipment section of a local guitar shop. I also bought a straight soprano some time back but it is just too fussy to enjoy playing.

Last summer I managed to find a playable Conn tenor at a garage sale for all of $100.[sup]00[/sup]. I now understand why the tenor saxophone is so popular. The bigger bore of the instrument permits a larger set of upward harmonics. This makes it possible to hit the altissimo register and not be in the same pitch range as bat squeaks. The real virtue of the saxophone is that it’s one of the few unamplified instruments that can accompany an electric guitar and still be heard. We won’t go into detail about how so many women think it is the sexiest instrument alive. With lots of women, playing the sax for them is like speaking French or having a British accent.

Now all I have to do is save up the better part of $1,000.[sup]00[/sup] to get the bleeding tenor repadded.
Saxophone joke:

What’s the difference between a saxophone and a lawnmower?

Dynamic range.

2

Not a sax player, but I am a musician (amateur), so I can relate to the joy it gives you. And, I agree with your assessment of the sax as one of the most soulfully expressive instruments around. That’s one advantage the sax has over my babies (trumpets, mostly). On the other hand, $1,000 will buy you a whole new, quality trumpet. Not top of the line, but very nice. And, I’ve never come close to spending that much on repairs. Of course, I’ve never had a woman go “You’re a trumpet player? Ohh, baby!”, either. But then, most women have never heard of the trumpet player’s techinique of triple-tonguing, either. :wink:

3

Are you serious here? I’m not arguing or doubting, I’m just surprised, and a little worried. I’ve been eyeing a bass clarinet for sale online, and if it should show up needing pads, is that what I can expect to pay? If so, I’d just have to park the thing in the corner as a conversation piece. Maybe I should check with a repair shop before buying.

And yes, I know the bass clarinet doesn’t make the women swoon like a tenor sax does, but I played one in high school a thousand years ago, and liked it. It might not be as funky as a tenor sax, but I think I’d like to add one to my little home studio. Unless it’s going to cost me a grand to get it repadded.