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C Melody Saxophone Forum / C-Soprano Saxophones / CURVED C SOPRANO

Peter Hurd Jan 25th 6:38 PM
I RECENTLY ACQUIRED A MOST UNUSUAL SAXOPHONE.
IT IS A CURVED C SOPRANO, AND IT PLAYS
A @ A= A 440.
IT IS ONLY 14" HIGH FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BOW TO THE TOP OF THE NECK WITHOUT MOUTHPIECE. THIS SAXOPHONE IS NOT A TOY. IT IS IN FACT MADE QUITE WELL MADE. MY BEST GUESS (THOUGH I COULD BE MISTAKEN) IS THAT IT IS A "UNIVERSEL" MODEL, MADE BY COUESNON PERHAPS IN THE 1920'S AS A PROTOTYPE INSTRUMENT. SURPRISINGLY, IT PLAYS EXCEEDINGLY WELL- EVEN SCALE, CLEAR AND STABLE VOICE. THE ONLY NOTE I AM NOT HAPPY WITH IS THE OPEN ("IN STAFF") C#- SOMEWHAT STUFFY, SO I HAVE BEEN USING THE LOW C# WITH THE FIRST OCTAVE KEY INSTEAD. THIS SAX HAS TWO INDEPENDENT OCTAVE KEYS, THOUGH I FIND THIS A RATHER SIMPLE ADAPTATION.
I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OR ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A CURVED "LOW PITCH" (OR EVEN "HIGH PITCH")
C SOPRANO SAX. ANY THOUGHTS?
WITH BEST WISHES,
PETER

Doc Frazier
User ID: 2037954 Jan 25th 7:55 PM
Hi Peter, could I get some pics?
Docfraz AT bellsouth DOT net

Alan Tucker (UK)
User ID: 2630464 Jan 25th 7:59 PM
Peter, with the two octave keys it could be pre-1920, I'd love to see a picture as well.

Kind Regards, Alan
tinminer@btinternet.com

Peter Hurd Jan 26th 2:08 AM
I WILL SEND PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS SAX ONLY DESCENDS TO LOW B. I SENT PHOTOS TO MY FRIEND JAY EASTON. JAY REPLIED THAT HE "HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT"...
CHEERS,
PETER

Peter Hurd Jan 27th 10:15 PM
Further research: I have no idea of who the maker may be. I have not yet checked the pitch with a digital tuner , though I plan to accomplish this task soon. I have played it side by side with an oboe, and it seems to match pitch for pitch. Perhaps it was used in a band to cover oboe parts. If this does in fact prove to be a C soprano, it is truly a rare and unusual curiousity at the least...
Cheers,
Peter

Alan Tucker (UK)
User ID: 2630464 Jan 28th 4:51 AM
Peter - just to mention to all that we are also corresponding offline about this. Good point, 'covering oboe parts' - I could well understand a 'pit orchestra' playing light classical and needing an oboe sound - what better instrument for a doubler than a C-Soprano, far easier than finding a sax player who doubles on oboe - a real logical need for it ! (like the single-reed bassoon mouthpiece I mentioned elsewhere...)

Well thought out ! And it would seem it could well be low pitch, if it matches the oboe, even tho' 2 octave keys suggests really early, unless it was a good 'prototype' way to save building the complicated change-over octave key for just a one-off. Like I've said elsewhere, I wish vintage instruments had 'logbooks' or 'service-histories'

Kind Regards, ALan.

Peter Hurd Feb 3rd 7:29 PM
Dear Alan and all,
I have had my saxophone guru Paul Woltz check this curved C soprano with his high-tech digital tuner. It is in fact a "low pitch" A440 scale, AND it is quite well in tune. It plays beautifully.
Paul was beaming as he played this horn- "in heaven". Paul thinks that this C soprano is easily worthy of professional use. The tone is not shrill or "tinny" at all. It has a most appealing timbre and resonance.
With best wishes and good cheer, Peter

Alan Tucker (UK)
User ID: 8200143 Feb 4th 3:13 AM
Peter, Well done, seems an amazing little sax - makes you wonder what else is out there waiting to see the light of day.... Kind Regards, Alan.

Dr. Alan Mandel
User ID: 0032624 Oct 11th 7:46 PM
May I also request some pics of the curved C soprano--I just purchased a straight C soprano. It goes along with my Bb soprillo, curved and straight Eb sopraninos, Curved and straight Bb sopranos, besides over 90 other woodwinds!

Please email pics to: allreeds @ hotmail.com

Thanks!

Peter Hurd	Jan 25th 6:38 PM I RECENTLY ACQUIRED A MOST UNUSUAL SAXOPHONE. IT IS A CURVED C SOPRANO, AND IT PLAYS A @ A= A 440. IT IS ONLY 14" HIGH FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BOW TO THE TOP OF THE NECK WITHOUT MOUTHPIECE. THIS SAXOPHONE IS NOT A TOY. IT IS IN FACT MADE QUITE WELL MADE. MY BEST GUESS (THOUGH I COULD BE MISTAKEN) IS THAT IT IS A "UNIVERSEL" MODEL, MADE BY COUESNON PERHAPS IN THE 1920'S AS A PROTOTYPE INSTRUMENT. SURPRISINGLY, IT PLAYS EXCEEDINGLY WELL- EVEN SCALE, CLEAR AND STABLE VOICE. THE ONLY NOTE I AM NOT HAPPY WITH IS THE OPEN ("IN STAFF") C#- SOMEWHAT STUFFY, SO I HAVE BEEN USING THE LOW C# WITH THE FIRST OCTAVE KEY INSTEAD. THIS SAX HAS TWO INDEPENDENT OCTAVE KEYS, THOUGH I FIND THIS A RATHER SIMPLE ADAPTATION. I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OR ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A CURVED "LOW PITCH" (OR EVEN "HIGH PITCH") C SOPRANO SAX. ANY THOUGHTS? WITH BEST WISHES, PETER
Doc Frazier User ID: 2037954	Jan 25th 7:55 PM Hi Peter, could I get some pics? Docfraz AT bellsouth DOT net
Alan Tucker (UK) User ID: 2630464	Jan 25th 7:59 PM Peter, with the two octave keys it could be pre-1920, I'd love to see a picture as well. Kind Regards, Alan tinminer@btinternet.com
Peter Hurd	Jan 26th 2:08 AM I WILL SEND PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS SAX ONLY DESCENDS TO LOW B. I SENT PHOTOS TO MY FRIEND JAY EASTON. JAY REPLIED THAT HE "HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT"... CHEERS, PETER
Peter Hurd	Jan 27th 10:15 PM Further research: I have no idea of who the maker may be. I have not yet checked the pitch with a digital tuner , though I plan to accomplish this task soon. I have played it side by side with an oboe, and it seems to match pitch for pitch. Perhaps it was used in a band to cover oboe parts. If this does in fact prove to be a C soprano, it is truly a rare and unusual curiousity at the least... Cheers, Peter
Alan Tucker (UK) User ID: 2630464	Jan 28th 4:51 AM Peter - just to mention to all that we are also corresponding offline about this. Good point, 'covering oboe parts' - I could well understand a 'pit orchestra' playing light classical and needing an oboe sound - what better instrument for a doubler than a C-Soprano, far easier than finding a sax player who doubles on oboe - a real logical need for it ! (like the single-reed bassoon mouthpiece I mentioned elsewhere...) Well thought out ! And it would seem it could well be low pitch, if it matches the oboe, even tho' 2 octave keys suggests really early, unless it was a good 'prototype' way to save building the complicated change-over octave key for just a one-off. Like I've said elsewhere, I wish vintage instruments had 'logbooks' or 'service-histories' Kind Regards, ALan.
Peter Hurd	Feb 3rd 7:29 PM Dear Alan and all, I have had my saxophone guru Paul Woltz check this curved C soprano with his high-tech digital tuner. It is in fact a "low pitch" A440 scale, AND it is quite well in tune. It plays beautifully. Paul was beaming as he played this horn- "in heaven". Paul thinks that this C soprano is easily worthy of professional use. The tone is not shrill or "tinny" at all. It has a most appealing timbre and resonance. With best wishes and good cheer, Peter
Alan Tucker (UK) User ID: 8200143	Feb 4th 3:13 AM Peter, Well done, seems an amazing little sax - makes you wonder what else is out there waiting to see the light of day.... Kind Regards, Alan.
Dr. Alan Mandel User ID: 0032624	Oct 11th 7:46 PM May I also request some pics of the curved C soprano--I just purchased a straight C soprano. It goes along with my Bb soprillo, curved and straight Eb sopraninos, Curved and straight Bb sopranos, besides over 90 other woodwinds! Please email pics to: allreeds @ hotmail.com Thanks!