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C Melody Saxophone Forum / C-Tenor (C-Melody) Saxophones / Steve's Aquilasax

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ken Uk
User ID: 1689844 Feb 16th 6:15 PM
Steve,
To help promote the Aquila Sax C tenor how about making a poster for those of us on this site to download and print to show our respective local musical instrument retailers.
Any other ideas?

alvi (fin)
User ID: 7650093 Mar 23rd 4:37 AM
Sorry, ESB! I'm not consentrated in goosenecks. I only liked to examine how it's working. That's why I bought a Martin C Melody. I mean exactly same thing like Alan. The instrument is in very fine condition and it sounds beautyful, but I have big difficulties with it's goose neck to find an amaising playing position and I can't read the music. So I will hold my old Conn C Melody 1923 with straight neck. That's sitting for me perfectly.

WW2
User ID: 8973393 Mar 23rd 11:20 AM
It seems to me that there is a market for replacements necks that fits curved neck saxophones, but are in fact straight necks!

alan (uk)
User ID: 8200143 Mar 23rd 2:12 PM
Which is what Aquilasax sells for around $100.....
http://aquilasax.com/Accessories_sale.html

Certainly with Conns I've tried, there seemed to be very few - if any - intonation issues (but tonal differences, yes) when I swapped original straight and curved necks around.

The only problem is that of neck tenon size, there is quite range of sizes across C-mel manufacturers, so a "one size fits all" isn't really possible. However a good tech, if all else fails, could ultimately remove your old neck tenon - which will (of course) be a perfect fit for the socket - and fit it to the new neck.

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Mar 23rd 3:09 PM
On King C melodys the (curved) necks seem to be interchangable, exactly the same diameter. I am always surprised that Conn, with their larger production numbers, and presumably more automation, had such variation in neck diameter.

alan(uk)
User ID: 8200143 Mar 23rd 5:29 PM
Yes, I've been amused by the fact that King 'serialise' both bodies and necks, yet the Kings and King stencil necks I have are all interchangeable.....

I had always assumed that (e.g. with Martin) having the numbers on both was because the neck always had to be with a specific sax, having been 'tweaked/married' somewhere during production..

Bueschers are also pretty good at standard neck tenon sizes, but none of the Conns I've had would interchange without either a struggle, or a little bit of ptfe tape. Not alarmingly different in size, but noticeable.

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Mar 24th 6:17 AM
Dismissing the remote possibility that the diameter variation is for individual tuning purposes, it begs the question "what other production tolerances are allowed"? Yet, they seem to be well made saxophones and as in tune as any of their competitors.
Black Art Vs. Science?

alan(uk)
User ID: 8200143 Mar 24th 7:35 AM
In the twenties, more the 'eye' and 'nose' of a particular craftsman ? Anyone know whether sax production was passed from man to man, or one particular craftsman considered each horn 'his own work' ?

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Mar 24th 9:06 AM
In the early 1930s, the Hon. Percy Aitken ordered a Frazer Nash. He said that he would like to see the start of the production proceedure and was led to the the stores where the storeman asked if his car was to be a long, or short chassis. On hearing that the short chassis was the chosen length, he reached above his head and slid a length of steel channel from the rafters, aligned the end with the closer of two chalk marks and produced a hack saw......

alan (uk)
User ID: 9245273 Mar 24th 1:06 PM
...and a truss ? Lot of sawing, even in those labour-intensive days ! I know this is way off topic, but in my early teens (late 50's) there was still a lot of agricultural machinery production in Cornwall - some in workshops that harked back to the mining days.

It was not unusual to still see steam-driven saws, lathes and presses, with big leather drive belts flapping all over the place. Health & Safety wasn't an issue. No, and no-one complained, just glad to have a job (and most of their limbs - after all, who needs two arms, only takes one to lift a pint of cider........)

alan (uk)
User ID: 9245273 Mar 24th 1:11 PM
Anyway, I'm heartened to hear that the first prototype C-Tenor is to be playtested imminently.

Steve, I hope you let a 'normal' unconverted tenor player have a go as well (I know, most tenor players are abnormal...) - should feel like a lightweight turbo-tenor to him/her, and there'll be no preconceptions or comparison with the 20's C-models we all love...

Steve
User ID: 9774843 Mar 25th 8:57 PM
I find the tenor neck more comfortable but the straight neck sure gives you a great view.
I usually play with my eyes closed.

alan (uk)
User ID: 8200143 Mar 26th 9:44 AM
Steve - "I usually play with my eyes closed".... ?

If you're short like me, the sheet music is often level with the eyeline anyway, so the neck is no obstruction !

But I do agree with playing with the eyes closed, especially if the sax is a Conn - at least then you only have the sound to fret about....

:-))

Captain Beeflat
User ID: 1738604 Mar 26th 10:22 AM
Taking away the visual sense augments the other senses. I used to play with my eyes closed but the guitarist and drummmer sounded even louder. :-)

Ken UK
User ID: 1689844 Mar 27th 5:10 PM
Playing a Conn with eyes closed is easy because your left little finger can find its way around easily on the cluster ..(unlike some saxes) ...without fluster...giving the sound an extra lustre...that's about all I can muster, buster.

Ken UK
User ID: 1689844 Mar 27th 5:16 PM
Capt Bb. When I play with eyes closed the guitaraist and drummer do play louder to wake me because they think I've gone to sleep again!

Ken UK
User ID: 1689844 Mar 27th 5:27 PM
Guitaraist?.....ahhh he's the one who "frets" (get it?)about his sound because Conn never made guitars.

Steve
User ID: 8248813 Apr 14th 2:54 AM
Just to let you know ...
I now have a shot of the new C sax prototype on the website. It's an unfinished bare brass test sample but you get the idea!

ukebert
User ID: 7921973 Apr 14th 5:41 AM
Looks good Steve!

alan (uk)
User ID: 8200143 Apr 14th 6:32 AM
Steve - looks good, like the clean lines of all the bow/bell notes on the same side, like the classic Keilwerth's (and others) - I see the production model will have the option of an 'underslung tenor style' neck ?

I'll update my website - and I hope all the doubters/sceptics will now commence "eating their shorts", if not their words.

Well done !

Back 20 Messages Next 20 Messages Newest 20 Messages

ken Uk User ID: 1689844	Feb 16th 6:15 PM Steve, To help promote the Aquila Sax C tenor how about making a poster for those of us on this site to download and print to show our respective local musical instrument retailers. Any other ideas?
alvi (fin) User ID: 7650093	Mar 23rd 4:37 AM Sorry, ESB! I'm not consentrated in goosenecks. I only liked to examine how it's working. That's why I bought a Martin C Melody. I mean exactly same thing like Alan. The instrument is in very fine condition and it sounds beautyful, but I have big difficulties with it's goose neck to find an amaising playing position and I can't read the music. So I will hold my old Conn C Melody 1923 with straight neck. That's sitting for me perfectly.
WW2 User ID: 8973393	Mar 23rd 11:20 AM It seems to me that there is a market for replacements necks that fits curved neck saxophones, but are in fact straight necks!
alan (uk) User ID: 8200143	Mar 23rd 2:12 PM Which is what Aquilasax sells for around $100..... http://aquilasax.com/Accessories_sale.html Certainly with Conns I've tried, there seemed to be very few - if any - intonation issues (but tonal differences, yes) when I swapped original straight and curved necks around. The only problem is that of neck tenon size, there is quite range of sizes across C-mel manufacturers, so a "one size fits all" isn't really possible. However a good tech, if all else fails, could ultimately remove your old neck tenon - which will (of course) be a perfect fit for the socket - and fit it to the new neck.
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Mar 23rd 3:09 PM On King C melodys the (curved) necks seem to be interchangable, exactly the same diameter. I am always surprised that Conn, with their larger production numbers, and presumably more automation, had such variation in neck diameter.
alan(uk) User ID: 8200143	Mar 23rd 5:29 PM Yes, I've been amused by the fact that King 'serialise' both bodies and necks, yet the Kings and King stencil necks I have are all interchangeable..... I had always assumed that (e.g. with Martin) having the numbers on both was because the neck always had to be with a specific sax, having been 'tweaked/married' somewhere during production.. Bueschers are also pretty good at standard neck tenon sizes, but none of the Conns I've had would interchange without either a struggle, or a little bit of ptfe tape. Not alarmingly different in size, but noticeable.
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Mar 24th 6:17 AM Dismissing the remote possibility that the diameter variation is for individual tuning purposes, it begs the question "what other production tolerances are allowed"? Yet, they seem to be well made saxophones and as in tune as any of their competitors. Black Art Vs. Science?
alan(uk) User ID: 8200143	Mar 24th 7:35 AM In the twenties, more the 'eye' and 'nose' of a particular craftsman ? Anyone know whether sax production was passed from man to man, or one particular craftsman considered each horn 'his own work' ?
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Mar 24th 9:06 AM In the early 1930s, the Hon. Percy Aitken ordered a Frazer Nash. He said that he would like to see the start of the production proceedure and was led to the the stores where the storeman asked if his car was to be a long, or short chassis. On hearing that the short chassis was the chosen length, he reached above his head and slid a length of steel channel from the rafters, aligned the end with the closer of two chalk marks and produced a hack saw......
alan (uk) User ID: 9245273	Mar 24th 1:06 PM ...and a truss ? Lot of sawing, even in those labour-intensive days ! I know this is way off topic, but in my early teens (late 50's) there was still a lot of agricultural machinery production in Cornwall - some in workshops that harked back to the mining days. It was not unusual to still see steam-driven saws, lathes and presses, with big leather drive belts flapping all over the place. Health & Safety wasn't an issue. No, and no-one complained, just glad to have a job (and most of their limbs - after all, who needs two arms, only takes one to lift a pint of cider........)
alan (uk) User ID: 9245273	Mar 24th 1:11 PM Anyway, I'm heartened to hear that the first prototype C-Tenor is to be playtested imminently. Steve, I hope you let a 'normal' unconverted tenor player have a go as well (I know, most tenor players are abnormal...) - should feel like a lightweight turbo-tenor to him/her, and there'll be no preconceptions or comparison with the 20's C-models we all love...
Steve User ID: 9774843	Mar 25th 8:57 PM I find the tenor neck more comfortable but the straight neck sure gives you a great view. I usually play with my eyes closed.
alan (uk) User ID: 8200143	Mar 26th 9:44 AM Steve - "I usually play with my eyes closed".... ? If you're short like me, the sheet music is often level with the eyeline anyway, so the neck is no obstruction ! But I do agree with playing with the eyes closed, especially if the sax is a Conn - at least then you only have the sound to fret about.... :-))
Captain Beeflat User ID: 1738604	Mar 26th 10:22 AM Taking away the visual sense augments the other senses. I used to play with my eyes closed but the guitarist and drummmer sounded even louder. :-)
Ken UK User ID: 1689844	Mar 27th 5:10 PM Playing a Conn with eyes closed is easy because your left little finger can find its way around easily on the cluster ..(unlike some saxes) ...without fluster...giving the sound an extra lustre...that's about all I can muster, buster.
Ken UK User ID: 1689844	Mar 27th 5:16 PM Capt Bb. When I play with eyes closed the guitaraist and drummer do play louder to wake me because they think I've gone to sleep again!
Ken UK User ID: 1689844	Mar 27th 5:27 PM Guitaraist?.....ahhh he's the one who "frets" (get it?)about his sound because Conn never made guitars.
Steve User ID: 8248813	Apr 14th 2:54 AM Just to let you know ... I now have a shot of the new C sax prototype on the website. It's an unfinished bare brass test sample but you get the idea!
ukebert User ID: 7921973	Apr 14th 5:41 AM Looks good Steve!
alan (uk) User ID: 8200143	Apr 14th 6:32 AM Steve - looks good, like the clean lines of all the bow/bell notes on the same side, like the classic Keilwerth's (and others) - I see the production model will have the option of an 'underslung tenor style' neck ? I'll update my website - and I hope all the doubters/sceptics will now commence "eating their shorts", if not their words. Well done !