Sax on the Web Forum

Keilwerth Saxophones / Anyone Classical?

Shayed
User ID: 0094674 Jun 4th 10:35 PM
everyone playing Keilwerths here seems to be a jazzer...anyone play classical on these?!

SteveC
User ID: 9627953 Jun 4th 10:39 PM
:-) Go buy any James Houlik recording befor the late 70's. He's playing a Couf. Go buy any New Century Saxophone Quartet Cd. The tenor and Baritone are made by Keilwerth. And yes, i got me classical tenor sax degree (and jazz sax) on a Keilwerth. I now play a Couf.

These horns are starting to become popular with many classical players (especially those who can't find a cherry Buescher).

More importantly, never let a school of hero guide you in a saxophone brand. Allways play the horn you sound the best on.

SteveC
User ID: 9627953 Jun 4th 10:39 PM
Should have read "school OR hero".

mostly alto guy
User ID: 8639383 Jun 5th 1:44 PM
I have tried classical JK, but I find it takes a lot of effort to hold back. More fun to let these horns get the bit in their teeth and just hold on.

Quijote
User ID: 1132714 Jun 5th 3:25 PM
both: class & jass

Bones
User ID: 1307164 Jun 5th 3:42 PM
I think that the Keilwerth straight alto is a fantastic horn for classical performance.

Schorsch
User ID: 9767833 Jun 8th 9:50 AM
I take classical lessons on my SX90R Tenor and the sound I get with the copper neck is close to what I think a classical tenor should sound like.

And in my opinion the JKs are in a way similar to the old Conns and Bueschers - so why don't take a JK when you can't find a vintage horn that you like?

Don
User ID: 1404584 Jun 28th 12:43 PM
I know quite a few classical sax professors across the country advocating precisely what Schorsch concluded his response with. Traits of the vintage horns abound in a Keilwerth - but with some decent ergonomics finger-wise.

To my knowledge, Neal Ramsay is a classical Keilwerth artist. I believe he was a Buffet guy prior. (Yes, my 70's LPs confirm it) Didn't Keilwerth make a lot of those Buffet horns over the years? I was told by a few folks that the production of Buffet saxes (stencil?)ceased in the early-mid 90's so the Keilwerth brand under their own name could really emerge (Boosey marketing).

stevew
User ID: 9983153 Jun 28th 2:21 PM
I had a JK Anniv alto, sold it and bought another. I am mostly into classical, although I find a Serie III Selmer to be my weapon of choice. The JK is a bit Jekyll and Hide depending on mouthpiece, but now I have one that is well set-up, I can get a good controllable classical cound with an A28 Vandoren piece, a 2.5 Rico Grand Concert Reed.

The Selmer is a bit softer and sweeter sounding when I want it, and is probably a bit faster in use - though the JK has a lovely smooth feel to the keywork.

I reckon any sax should do anything you ask of it. A lot of players' ideal horn for both jazz and classical is after all a Selmer 6. I reckon a JK is a good horn to develop an individual classical voice on, but mine seems very affected by reed and mouthpiece.

saxodaddo
User ID: 2324014 Aug 27th 9:48 PM
The Couf Superba I is a killer legit horn. Beautiful, warm, lush sound. Like any make, though, you'll find inconsistencies. Not recommended for the french school, though. Houlik did not change until the late 1980's. It was after 1987, I think; and the New Century guys are all playing the Cannonball horns now except maybe the bari.

I play a couf 3r mouthpiece and use the thickest reeds I can find. I do have a selmer for commercial stuff.

Shayed User ID: 0094674	Jun 4th 10:35 PM everyone playing Keilwerths here seems to be a jazzer...anyone play classical on these?!
SteveC User ID: 9627953	Jun 4th 10:39 PM :-) Go buy any James Houlik recording befor the late 70's. He's playing a Couf. Go buy any New Century Saxophone Quartet Cd. The tenor and Baritone are made by Keilwerth. And yes, i got me classical tenor sax degree (and jazz sax) on a Keilwerth. I now play a Couf. These horns are starting to become popular with many classical players (especially those who can't find a cherry Buescher). More importantly, never let a school of hero guide you in a saxophone brand. Allways play the horn you sound the best on.
SteveC User ID: 9627953	Jun 4th 10:39 PM Should have read "school OR hero".
mostly alto guy User ID: 8639383	Jun 5th 1:44 PM I have tried classical JK, but I find it takes a lot of effort to hold back. More fun to let these horns get the bit in their teeth and just hold on.
Quijote User ID: 1132714	Jun 5th 3:25 PM both: class & jass
Bones User ID: 1307164	Jun 5th 3:42 PM I think that the Keilwerth straight alto is a fantastic horn for classical performance.
Schorsch User ID: 9767833	Jun 8th 9:50 AM I take classical lessons on my SX90R Tenor and the sound I get with the copper neck is close to what I think a classical tenor should sound like. And in my opinion the JKs are in a way similar to the old Conns and Bueschers - so why don't take a JK when you can't find a vintage horn that you like?
Don User ID: 1404584	Jun 28th 12:43 PM I know quite a few classical sax professors across the country advocating precisely what Schorsch concluded his response with. Traits of the vintage horns abound in a Keilwerth - but with some decent ergonomics finger-wise. To my knowledge, Neal Ramsay is a classical Keilwerth artist. I believe he was a Buffet guy prior. (Yes, my 70's LPs confirm it) Didn't Keilwerth make a lot of those Buffet horns over the years? I was told by a few folks that the production of Buffet saxes (stencil?)ceased in the early-mid 90's so the Keilwerth brand under their own name could really emerge (Boosey marketing).
stevew User ID: 9983153	Jun 28th 2:21 PM I had a JK Anniv alto, sold it and bought another. I am mostly into classical, although I find a Serie III Selmer to be my weapon of choice. The JK is a bit Jekyll and Hide depending on mouthpiece, but now I have one that is well set-up, I can get a good controllable classical cound with an A28 Vandoren piece, a 2.5 Rico Grand Concert Reed. The Selmer is a bit softer and sweeter sounding when I want it, and is probably a bit faster in use - though the JK has a lovely smooth feel to the keywork. I reckon any sax should do anything you ask of it. A lot of players' ideal horn for both jazz and classical is after all a Selmer 6. I reckon a JK is a good horn to develop an individual classical voice on, but mine seems very affected by reed and mouthpiece.
saxodaddo User ID: 2324014	Aug 27th 9:48 PM The Couf Superba I is a killer legit horn. Beautiful, warm, lush sound. Like any make, though, you'll find inconsistencies. Not recommended for the french school, though. Houlik did not change until the late 1980's. It was after 1987, I think; and the New Century guys are all playing the Cannonball horns now except maybe the bari. I play a couf 3r mouthpiece and use the thickest reeds I can find. I do have a selmer for commercial stuff.