Non sax players - please bear with me
(Mental Health Warning: Kids, das klang ist nicht in diesen objekten. We should avoid obsessing over stuff... but here we go anyway)
Geeks Corner
current set up
| Horn | mouthpiece & lig & reeds | when |
|---|---|---|
alto: Selmer Balanced Action s/n: 27k (with Gloger solid silver custom crook since Dec 2009) silver plated Selmer Balananced Action s/n: 31k |
Beechler Diamond ebonite M6S, Meyer 6 & 8, and Meyer New York 5 (worked on by Rupert Noble) - all ebonite; (Selmer S80 C* for classical pretentions) Selmer standard/Vandoren flexible/BG standard/Vandoren Optimum & Henri Louis Vandoren Java 3.0 |
since circa 2001 |
| soprano: Yanagisawa S991 | Link ebonite 6 (occasionally Selmer S80 F) Vandoren flexible (old style) Rico Royal 3.0 |
since circa 2004 |
| B-flat clarinet: Selmer Depose | Vandoren 5RV Lyre BG Revelation / Selmer standard / B & H standard / Vandopren Optimum (taken from sax) Vandoren 3.0 |
since circa 1994 |
| Bass Clarinet: Buffet to low E-flat | Selmer D Selmer standard & Eddie Daniels Ronver Vandoren 3.0 |
2nd October 2009 |
This list is bound to deplete as the cash vs 'time for life' balance shifts
Historical sax trail
alto:
Selmer Series III (~2000-001)
Yamaha 82Z Custom (~2006-2007)
Yanagisawa A992 (~2002-2003)
Yamaha YAS62 (~1990-2000) [Lawton 7 / 8 B BB* mouthpiece] - covers the Tshisa & Tokolosho recordings
Conn 6M Ladyface (~1988-1990)
Conn Pan American (~1986-1988)
I started out on the best horn I could afford at the time (the Pan Am) and gravitated to the Meyer mouthpieces. This was followed by a period where, greatly influenced by the recordings & live performances of Dudu Pukwna, I moved to a Yamaha YAS62 / Lawton mouthiece setup, often selecting high baffles and platic cover reeds. This was at a time when there was much need for shouting...
My present tastes revolve around the sound quality of my Selmer Balanced Action and the Beechler M6S from which I can get a Meyer sweetness, but with the much extra punch that one needs in the turbulent times we live in. Many thanks to Rupert Noble for scoring the sax and for Tony Kofi for introducing me to Rupert & letting me play it one night in The Wirral when my Series III octave mechanism fell apart mid set.
Sax repairs carried out by: Previously the legendary Charles Ndlovu of Musicraft in Cape Town (I'm very sad to say that Charles passed away in 2009 - but the workshop is still active, see link below) and Sebastian at Howarth's in London