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C Melody Saxophone Forum / C-Tenor (C-Melody) Saxophones / New C Tenor Sax coming

Back 20 Messages

Steve
User ID: 1069864 Jul 14th 3:03 AM
The new C sax design

I just got back from the factory where we discussed the new C sax production specs and time schedule. The development costs are way higher than I expected but within the realms of possibility still.

The new sax will be a narrow bore like my Conn but will be essentially an entirely new instrument.
The keywork modification will be extensive with a complete repositioning of mechanisms to enable ergonomic operation and incorporate modern advantages including high F#.
There will be an option of either straight neck or Tenor style with new octave mechanism. The necks will not be interchangeable with old Conn saxes. They will be designed to fit Aquilasax Classic mouthpieces.
The finish options will include Silver, gold, nickel, and black and some different combinations of bell and keywork. They will feature hand engraving and will have several different themes.

For other details we will have to wait and see.
Development will begin in October and production should begin early next year.

It will be a thing of beauty and easy to play!

alan (uk)
User ID: 0651814 Sep 15th 12:15 PM
Of course, those instructions were for the left-handed option - oops !

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Sep 15th 2:31 PM
Alan..that should teach you not to be a smartar$e. :-)
Ah!...so it is Steve who is selling...that answers a lot of questions.

Steve
User ID: 0164614 Sep 17th 6:49 PM
Well I feel unable to say "They are here" with confidence as I only recieved 20 in the first batch.
Most of them are silver and a couple of blacks.
The blacks look really good. I ordered a silver for myself but the black is growing on me.
Sound great!

I'm working through the list of people who email support early to match up with what I have.

I think most are spoken for but there may be some abstentions and the odd combination of finish and engraving that doesn't suit.

Sighhhhhhhhh

I gues 20 is better than none and we can say...
Production has been established.

Hallelujah!

ukebert
User ID: 7928263 Sep 18th 5:19 AM
Well done Steve, make sure that Alan gets one soon so that he can write a (I hope favourable) review.

It's an immense acheivement, well done. When I get paid I'll buy one :-))

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Sep 18th 9:10 AM
Laudable effort Steve...full marks to you; a very brave venture, I wish you every success.

alan (uk)
User ID: 0651814 Sep 18th 11:33 AM
Yes, Steve, well done indeed, I've put up links to all your latest pictures, and the ebay Aquilasax C at -

http://cmelodysax.co.uk/wpblog/?p=31

or

http://tinyurl.com/yoeot2

jazzbug1
User ID: 0735934 Sep 19th 6:46 AM
I'm sure Steve will have better wisdom than I did. I just opened a Studebaker dealership, thinking that if someone could sell C Melody saxophones, then......

alan (uk)
User ID: 0651814 Sep 19th 10:09 AM
Don't talk to me about American cars !

I once spent half an hour in an Avis parking lot at Boston Airport, trying to get a rental car to move, until I discovered this amazing American invention, the foot-pedal hand-brake.....

I guess it was because of the front bench seat, silly me, it was an automatic, so why should it have had three foot pedals ? (grrrr...)

And then, when I finally got moving, I was confronted by a coin-operated (throw in the bucket) entrance to the exit tunnel. Of course, all international travellers, straight off the plane, naturally carry hand-fulls (or hands-full ?) of nickels, dimes and quarters. So I lobbed in a handfull of assorted English small change - it opened for me, but stayed down permanently for the guy behind... Happy days !

To get back on topic, maybe Studebaker sales would pick up if you gave a free 20's C-Mel with every Studebaker sold ? But then again - maybe if you promised NOT to give away a 20's C-Mel, you'd sell more.

More power to Steve and Aquilasax - the venture has taken over a year, from finding if there was any interest, to the first ones becoming available at less cost than a (very) cheap holiday. I this doesn't fly, with the current C-Mel revival, then there is no hope for any modern C Sax, so it will fly !

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Sep 19th 10:31 AM
At MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) during the 1960s they bought and tested "competitive vehicles". For some obscure reason they bought some vast automatic American thing with enough room in the boot to lay out six dead gangsters.
One of the tests established brake fade, where the car was braked from 100mph to a standstill... this time being a datum for immediate subsequent tests where the percentage time increase was measured as the fade.
In this case, following the initial datum, the car never actually stopped on the second test...by the time the car came down to about 20mph with the brakes almost on fire, the drag from the auto gearbox was sufficient to over-ride the dismal effect of the brakes.
I also tried the car around the "Ride and Handling" course, beset with deliberate hazards such as corners with negative camber, onlookers are still talking about those three laps. :-)

jazzbug1
User ID: 0735934 Sep 19th 3:07 PM
Starting in the mid 1950s, American auto makers built over-powered, under-braked, under-handling monsters. I grew up with these cars. A few years earlier, 1949--54, the low-priced autos were smaller and lighter, with mostly six cylinder engines. My Studebaker is only 2850lbs. and can seat six adults tightly. It has a small 170 cubic inch six, which puts out 85 HP. going downhill. With the overdrive engaged, it achieves 25-27 miles per gallon on the highway, which was the best of its day. It handles well and stops well for 1950. The Chevrolet, Chrysler, and Ford six cylinder models were somewhat bigger, which sent the mileage down to 20-22 on the highway. In 1955, Detroit came out with 4000-5000 lb. cars, with tail fins, huge cast metal chromed parts, etc. Gas was $.20-.30 per gallon, so no one cared.In the UK, you never had gas to waste like we did, so we continued driving behemoths capable of 120 miles per hour, without brakes or handling designed for the weight. 50,000-60,000 people per year died in accidents, but if we could have a car that looked like a rocket ship and blasted down the road, no one really cared. The first major critic was Ralph Nader, who caused the Corvair to go belly up in his book, "Unsafe at Any Speed". Curiously, Studebaker continued to build smaller cars, which eventually led to their downfall, as few people wanted them. Note: The 1963-64 Studebaker Avanti, with supercharger, was capable of 160 M.P.H right out of the showroom, although it was a poor handler. It did have disc brakes as an option, which were needed.
Detroit is still building pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs, which the American public is no longer buying, now that we pay gas prices similar to what UK drivers paid forty years ago. American car companies take a long time to change to the current market, which is why we buy Hondas. Built in USA, but Japanese design. My daughter has a 1992 Civic with 187,000 miles on it. It starts and runs perfectly and gets 35 M.P.G on the highway. My bass sax just fits standing upright in the passenger seat. See, I worked in a saxophone statement!

Castaway
User ID: 9182423 Sep 19th 5:31 PM
You guys are becoming masters of straying away from the topic at hand. Put this stuff in the "Good Natured Banter" section please. This is a saxophone forum but sometimes it just goes "Bonkers". Just like in jazz improvisation, the silence and empty spaces in the improvising makes it beautiful. That will never happen here. Some people just sit and dream up things to post just to get attention. I guess they were neglected as children or something and they must have attention garnished on them or else their brains will explode. There is nothing wrong with saying something as long as it has some true interest. But rambling on for the sake of being noticed sure does get sort of obnoxious after a while. Ridicule me if you don't get it. I don't care. I'm having a great time in life. Playing music and having fun whilst making a great living. I get my attention on the stage after knocking out a great vocal or solo on my sax or flute. What a concept. "Money for playing and singing". Your ego gets a great boost as well. Well, I'll just watch the criticism roll in now. I just thought we needed a little controversy here. Since I have been away, this site has become quite boring. It seems that people have been straining to get some good subject matter going and have failed miserably at it.

Castaway
User ID: 9182423 Sep 19th 5:36 PM
PS: None of my comments and many of your's have anything to do with Steve's new Aquila C melody Sax. How sad is that?

alan (uk)
User ID: 0651814 Sep 19th 8:16 PM
Hello Castaway, nice to see you're back and refreshed... You must have lots to post about.

If you go to saxontheweb or my blog/website, or indeed other topics here, you'll notice we're also busy promoting/discussing/praising Steve's new Aquilasax C Sax. (just go back up about six postings, two of which are yours)

Will you be buying one, with all the money you've earnt ? Be great for Steve to have the endorsement of another professional ! Go on, you know you want one...

bruce bailey
User ID: 9690803 Sep 20th 12:32 AM
How about naming the C melodies the Commader, President, Champion (for the bare brass model) and a soprano could be called the Hawk.

Steve
User ID: 7419793 Sep 20th 4:05 AM
Maybe I should get a falcon engraved on the C soprano!

Maybe I should send Alan a silver C for testing?

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Sep 20th 5:54 AM
Yes Castaway, we were all getting along famously until you returned and typically introduced a sour note. We will always return to subject at the drop of a hat but most of us have other interests also...tell us please about your C Melody horns.

alan (uk)
User ID: 0651814 Sep 20th 5:55 AM
Steve, I'm quite happy to wait a little while for one of the 'bare' ones, unless you really want to. I never have been that over-enthusiastic about cleaning silver, I prefer to play a sax, rather than clean it ! So I'd still like to end up with the bare one somehow - your call. Although, having said that, the idea of black nickel with silver action is very rapidly growing on me - never really thought about it until I saw the pics.

I keep looking at the one on ebay, and thinking - "those blue Paua shell touches would match the colour of my eyes !"

As you say, "Most are already spoken for!" from the first batch. A review, and comments from other buyers, will fire up more enthusiasm for the second batch ! Just when you thought you could relax, it starts all over again, and then again, and again.... Well done Steve, the dream is now reality.

Bruce, I just love the idea of a "Hawk" sax in honour of Coleman - well, you could hardly call it "the Bean".... :-))

jazzbug1
User ID: 0735934 Sep 20th 6:20 AM
Castaway--- Welcome back. Hope you had fun on your trip. Sorry we stray off the saxophone topic so much, but I did say I could fit my bass sax in a Honda Civic (sax in a Civic?). Other than Steve's new horn, I'm afraid our imagination is getting limited as to sax topics. Could you or anyone else suggest some? I still cherish the special place you have made for my lamer comments. It's like the special home my wife said she will send me to in a year or so. Bruce-- I like the Stupidbaker model names for the Aquilasax C Melody. Maybe the Edsel names like Corsair or Buccaneer would work too.

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Sep 20th 6:44 AM
Or perhaps a pornographic engraving for the "Rudi" model!

Back 20 Messages

Steve User ID: 1069864	Jul 14th 3:03 AM The new C sax design I just got back from the factory where we discussed the new C sax production specs and time schedule. The development costs are way higher than I expected but within the realms of possibility still. The new sax will be a narrow bore like my Conn but will be essentially an entirely new instrument. The keywork modification will be extensive with a complete repositioning of mechanisms to enable ergonomic operation and incorporate modern advantages including high F#. There will be an option of either straight neck or Tenor style with new octave mechanism. The necks will not be interchangeable with old Conn saxes. They will be designed to fit Aquilasax Classic mouthpieces. The finish options will include Silver, gold, nickel, and black and some different combinations of bell and keywork. They will feature hand engraving and will have several different themes. For other details we will have to wait and see. Development will begin in October and production should begin early next year. It will be a thing of beauty and easy to play!
alan (uk) User ID: 0651814	Sep 15th 12:15 PM Of course, those instructions were for the left-handed option - oops !
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Sep 15th 2:31 PM Alan..that should teach you not to be a smartar$e. :-) Ah!...so it is Steve who is selling...that answers a lot of questions.
Steve User ID: 0164614	Sep 17th 6:49 PM Well I feel unable to say "They are here" with confidence as I only recieved 20 in the first batch. Most of them are silver and a couple of blacks. The blacks look really good. I ordered a silver for myself but the black is growing on me. Sound great! I'm working through the list of people who email support early to match up with what I have. I think most are spoken for but there may be some abstentions and the odd combination of finish and engraving that doesn't suit. Sighhhhhhhhh I gues 20 is better than none and we can say... Production has been established. Hallelujah!
ukebert User ID: 7928263	Sep 18th 5:19 AM Well done Steve, make sure that Alan gets one soon so that he can write a (I hope favourable) review. It's an immense acheivement, well done. When I get paid I'll buy one :-))
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Sep 18th 9:10 AM Laudable effort Steve...full marks to you; a very brave venture, I wish you every success.
alan (uk) User ID: 0651814	Sep 18th 11:33 AM Yes, Steve, well done indeed, I've put up links to all your latest pictures, and the ebay Aquilasax C at - http://cmelodysax.co.uk/wpblog/?p=31 or http://tinyurl.com/yoeot2
jazzbug1 User ID: 0735934	Sep 19th 6:46 AM I'm sure Steve will have better wisdom than I did. I just opened a Studebaker dealership, thinking that if someone could sell C Melody saxophones, then......
alan (uk) User ID: 0651814	Sep 19th 10:09 AM Don't talk to me about American cars ! I once spent half an hour in an Avis parking lot at Boston Airport, trying to get a rental car to move, until I discovered this amazing American invention, the foot-pedal hand-brake..... I guess it was because of the front bench seat, silly me, it was an automatic, so why should it have had three foot pedals ? (grrrr...) And then, when I finally got moving, I was confronted by a coin-operated (throw in the bucket) entrance to the exit tunnel. Of course, all international travellers, straight off the plane, naturally carry hand-fulls (or hands-full ?) of nickels, dimes and quarters. So I lobbed in a handfull of assorted English small change - it opened for me, but stayed down permanently for the guy behind... Happy days ! To get back on topic, maybe Studebaker sales would pick up if you gave a free 20's C-Mel with every Studebaker sold ? But then again - maybe if you promised NOT to give away a 20's C-Mel, you'd sell more. More power to Steve and Aquilasax - the venture has taken over a year, from finding if there was any interest, to the first ones becoming available at less cost than a (very) cheap holiday. I this doesn't fly, with the current C-Mel revival, then there is no hope for any modern C Sax, so it will fly !
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Sep 19th 10:31 AM At MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) during the 1960s they bought and tested "competitive vehicles". For some obscure reason they bought some vast automatic American thing with enough room in the boot to lay out six dead gangsters. One of the tests established brake fade, where the car was braked from 100mph to a standstill... this time being a datum for immediate subsequent tests where the percentage time increase was measured as the fade. In this case, following the initial datum, the car never actually stopped on the second test...by the time the car came down to about 20mph with the brakes almost on fire, the drag from the auto gearbox was sufficient to over-ride the dismal effect of the brakes. I also tried the car around the "Ride and Handling" course, beset with deliberate hazards such as corners with negative camber, onlookers are still talking about those three laps. :-)
jazzbug1 User ID: 0735934	Sep 19th 3:07 PM Starting in the mid 1950s, American auto makers built over-powered, under-braked, under-handling monsters. I grew up with these cars. A few years earlier, 1949--54, the low-priced autos were smaller and lighter, with mostly six cylinder engines. My Studebaker is only 2850lbs. and can seat six adults tightly. It has a small 170 cubic inch six, which puts out 85 HP. going downhill. With the overdrive engaged, it achieves 25-27 miles per gallon on the highway, which was the best of its day. It handles well and stops well for 1950. The Chevrolet, Chrysler, and Ford six cylinder models were somewhat bigger, which sent the mileage down to 20-22 on the highway. In 1955, Detroit came out with 4000-5000 lb. cars, with tail fins, huge cast metal chromed parts, etc. Gas was $.20-.30 per gallon, so no one cared.In the UK, you never had gas to waste like we did, so we continued driving behemoths capable of 120 miles per hour, without brakes or handling designed for the weight. 50,000-60,000 people per year died in accidents, but if we could have a car that looked like a rocket ship and blasted down the road, no one really cared. The first major critic was Ralph Nader, who caused the Corvair to go belly up in his book, "Unsafe at Any Speed". Curiously, Studebaker continued to build smaller cars, which eventually led to their downfall, as few people wanted them. Note: The 1963-64 Studebaker Avanti, with supercharger, was capable of 160 M.P.H right out of the showroom, although it was a poor handler. It did have disc brakes as an option, which were needed. Detroit is still building pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs, which the American public is no longer buying, now that we pay gas prices similar to what UK drivers paid forty years ago. American car companies take a long time to change to the current market, which is why we buy Hondas. Built in USA, but Japanese design. My daughter has a 1992 Civic with 187,000 miles on it. It starts and runs perfectly and gets 35 M.P.G on the highway. My bass sax just fits standing upright in the passenger seat. See, I worked in a saxophone statement!
Castaway User ID: 9182423	Sep 19th 5:31 PM You guys are becoming masters of straying away from the topic at hand. Put this stuff in the "Good Natured Banter" section please. This is a saxophone forum but sometimes it just goes "Bonkers". Just like in jazz improvisation, the silence and empty spaces in the improvising makes it beautiful. That will never happen here. Some people just sit and dream up things to post just to get attention. I guess they were neglected as children or something and they must have attention garnished on them or else their brains will explode. There is nothing wrong with saying something as long as it has some true interest. But rambling on for the sake of being noticed sure does get sort of obnoxious after a while. Ridicule me if you don't get it. I don't care. I'm having a great time in life. Playing music and having fun whilst making a great living. I get my attention on the stage after knocking out a great vocal or solo on my sax or flute. What a concept. "Money for playing and singing". Your ego gets a great boost as well. Well, I'll just watch the criticism roll in now. I just thought we needed a little controversy here. Since I have been away, this site has become quite boring. It seems that people have been straining to get some good subject matter going and have failed miserably at it.
Castaway User ID: 9182423	Sep 19th 5:36 PM PS: None of my comments and many of your's have anything to do with Steve's new Aquila C melody Sax. How sad is that?
alan (uk) User ID: 0651814	Sep 19th 8:16 PM Hello Castaway, nice to see you're back and refreshed... You must have lots to post about. If you go to saxontheweb or my blog/website, or indeed other topics here, you'll notice we're also busy promoting/discussing/praising Steve's new Aquilasax C Sax. (just go back up about six postings, two of which are yours) Will you be buying one, with all the money you've earnt ? Be great for Steve to have the endorsement of another professional ! Go on, you know you want one...
bruce bailey User ID: 9690803	Sep 20th 12:32 AM How about naming the C melodies the Commader, President, Champion (for the bare brass model) and a soprano could be called the Hawk.
Steve User ID: 7419793	Sep 20th 4:05 AM Maybe I should get a falcon engraved on the C soprano! Maybe I should send Alan a silver C for testing?
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Sep 20th 5:54 AM Yes Castaway, we were all getting along famously until you returned and typically introduced a sour note. We will always return to subject at the drop of a hat but most of us have other interests also...tell us please about your C Melody horns.
alan (uk) User ID: 0651814	Sep 20th 5:55 AM Steve, I'm quite happy to wait a little while for one of the 'bare' ones, unless you really want to. I never have been that over-enthusiastic about cleaning silver, I prefer to play a sax, rather than clean it ! So I'd still like to end up with the bare one somehow - your call. Although, having said that, the idea of black nickel with silver action is very rapidly growing on me - never really thought about it until I saw the pics. I keep looking at the one on ebay, and thinking - "those blue Paua shell touches would match the colour of my eyes !" As you say, "Most are already spoken for!" from the first batch. A review, and comments from other buyers, will fire up more enthusiasm for the second batch ! Just when you thought you could relax, it starts all over again, and then again, and again.... Well done Steve, the dream is now reality. Bruce, I just love the idea of a "Hawk" sax in honour of Coleman - well, you could hardly call it "the Bean".... :-))
jazzbug1 User ID: 0735934	Sep 20th 6:20 AM Castaway--- Welcome back. Hope you had fun on your trip. Sorry we stray off the saxophone topic so much, but I did say I could fit my bass sax in a Honda Civic (sax in a Civic?). Other than Steve's new horn, I'm afraid our imagination is getting limited as to sax topics. Could you or anyone else suggest some? I still cherish the special place you have made for my lamer comments. It's like the special home my wife said she will send me to in a year or so. Bruce-- I like the Stupidbaker model names for the Aquilasax C Melody. Maybe the Edsel names like Corsair or Buccaneer would work too.
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Sep 20th 6:44 AM Or perhaps a pornographic engraving for the "Rudi" model!