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C Melody Saxophone Forum / C-Tenor (C-Melody) Saxophones / Blonde/confused/asking silly question

Djangette User ID: 0916684	Mar 7th 4:55 PM I expect it's been asked before, but I've spent almost 2 hours trawling through this site and haven't found the answer. Someone please tell me the reason Saxophones stopped being pitched in key of C? Wikepaedia mumbles something about the Wall Street Crash, but that doesn't make any sense! Where did Bb come from? I play flute and have just come off phone convo with mate who plays piano/guitar and he reckons there must be some logical reason for it - frankly I can't see it, perhaps it's me *sigh* - why change from concert key to Bb? Maybe it's a fingering issue? Hmpf. Would appreciate a logical answer though. Wish I'd found this site before I'd oiked my C Melody round various mates for opinion (ranged from 'very interesting - £800' from elderly big band pro to 'who plays these things nowadays?' from mate who favours shiny Yamahas - Grrr! So I gave up and plonked it on ebay for a guestimate start price, but please, please give me proper reason for saxes not still being made in C. Thanks :)
alan (uk) '08 User ID: 1731514	Mar 8th 4:40 AM Quick answer is that there originally were two sets of tunings, Bb/Eb and C/F. The (intended) sensible orchestral C/F never really took off, and the Bb/Eb won. Same way for Bb vs. C trumpets and clarinets - seems illogical now, but the Bb ones won. I read an article once where it said that the Bb/Eb 'sizes' produced the best tone and response, but the C's never had a real chance. What the wall Street Crash killed was the 20's boom in C-Melody saxophones. As money dried up, only the most popular Bb/Eb sizes carried on being produced. There is a lot more to be said, but, in a nutshell, that's it... Eight hundred quid eh ? That's a tad optimistic, but nice thought. But seriously, what make is it, do you have any online or digital pics. The odd one has sold in the UK for around that, but as exceptions - £500 is even a bit optimistic now. What's the ebay auction number, if it's still there ? Regards, Alan. cmelodysax.co.uk
alan (uk) '08 User ID: 1731514	Mar 8th 4:40 AM P.S - not a silly question at all...
alan (uk) '08 User ID: 1731514	Mar 8th 5:13 AM PPS - you're not the THIBOUVILLE-LAMY seller, are you ?
Mal-2k8 User ID: 9335603	Mar 9th 5:04 AM The Bb/Eb horns "won" because when the Depression hit, the military was pretty much the only organization buying instruments -- and they used Bb trumpets, Eb horns (though they use F horns now I believe), trombones and baritones on the Bb overtone series (though written at actual pitch), etc. After things improved economically, there were still a lot of used military band horns in the open market, so Bb/Eb got entrenched by sheer inertia -- kinda like the QWERTY keyboard.
Djangette User ID: 0916684	Mar 12th 6:41 AM Hi Alan and Mal, Thanks for the explanations - yes, weird how some things come about isn't it? Apparently the Betamax VCR was better technologically speaking too! You guessed correctly Alan - I gave up in the end and used my own judgement re starting price, just hoping there's enough C Melody people out there in ebay land!
Djangette User ID: 0916684	Mar 12th 3:10 PM There you go - £250 for the Thibouville-Lamy, I'm happy, still it seems a lot of instrument for the money . . . c'est la vie . . . it'll be winging its way to Yorkshire after I've strangled it with bubble-wrap, etc. Oh, just found another, will start a new thread and hope someone will help me get my info right when it in turn goes to that evil auction house in the sky!
saxotot User ID: 0763414	Jun 9th 2:18 PM well im an okie (oklahoman) saxophonist it aint a stupid question but c and f saxes were ortestrail hope i spelt that writ Eb and Bb were in marching bands and orchestail saxes just were not practical
saxotot User ID: 0763414	Jun 9th 2:18 PM check aquilasax.com