Interested parties in a low A Saxello.

[Bootman]

There is a chance that a low A Saxello may be able to be made. This would be a Taiwanese instrument and is purely an expression of interest to show to the manufacturers.

I would want one provided intonation was good. Quality would be need to be very good but this would be a non issue as the better Taiwanese manufacturers are making exceptionally good saxophones at the moment. They just seem to be getting better.

Any one else interested in such an instrument?

[Dave Dolson]

Bootman: Just to let you know I read it and considered it . . . no. DAVE

[Mike Ruhl]

The only way I'd be interested in a low A soprano was if it was done as part of a "Conn-o-Sax" style modification.

[mostly alto guy]

I'd rather have a low A alto.

[Bootman]

The reason I am thinking of such an item is that I find an alto to be not a very useful gig horn because the range of the horn can be covered easily on a tenor, particularly if you're good in the alt range. A Soprano is a great addition due to tonal differences from a tenor or Baritone, it adds a further dimension to the available sounds on the bandstand in a one horn gig. There have been a number oftimes when I could have used a low G concert whilst playing Soprano at gigs. The choice of Saxello over straight or curved models is because the Saxello seem to project and speak better than their cousins.

I also played a gold plated Taiwanese Saxello yesterday which has a bigger bore than the Cannonball Arc model. This horn was finished exceptionally well, key work was good, better G# travel and position. It also had a bigger, thicker tone than the CB Sops and the tone was comparable to my vintage Sopranos. I was so impressed that I asked for one to be made without a high F# key and if possible a low A key too. I'll keep all posted on this.

[Mike Ruhl]

Ahhh...back to living vicariously through Bootman's Instrumental Adventures... :lol:

Mike R. :USA:

[Bootman]

Someone has to do it, it may as well be me as a convicted Saxophone lunatic wanted by the mpc Police, at large......GAS has bitten yet again.

[paulwl]

I would like a satin silver low A saxello with 2 necks (curved and not-so-curved) and its own bell stand.

(I think this could more faithfully be called the "Half-Curved" as marketed by Lyon & Healy back in the day.)

[Dave Dolson]

Paulwl: Great suggestion about its own bell-stand . . . like the original Saxello with the forked stand that was affixed to a bracket on the back. Now I may be interested in something like that . . . I traded my Rampone "saxello" (a nice horn by the way) because it was so difficult to deal with on stage as a doubler. DAVE

[Bootman]

Paul,
My older Saxello or half curved would fit on a normal sop stand perfectly. I still have this stand here and can send a picture if needed. It is very stable and fits nicely onto the tenor stand if needed or on it's own base.

[hornstar]

Bootman, I'd be interested in a low-A Saxello, who's the manufacturer?

[Bootman]

I am still talking but the problem seems to be tooling up for such a horn. I ended up just going for a low Bb to F, no high F# model Saxello in gold plate. The manufacturer is Taiwanese. I can't give any more details as yet but I will be checking out some new altos and Bariton today. No tenors yet.

[hornstar]

are you saying the name of the manufacturer is "Taiwanese" ??????

[Mike Ruhl]

You gonna have "Bootman Model" engraved on the front of the bell? :wink:

Mike R. :USA:

[hornstar]

yeah, give it up, Bootman, you started this thread. what were you thinking by baiting your fellow GAS sufferers? :evil:

[Randall]

Hi, my name is Randall.
[all together now] HI Randall!
I'm a sax-a-holic.

So Boot....if it can happen, I am interested. But I am very afraid of the intonation being a booger of immense proportions. :roll:

[Bootman]

I am saying I don't which factory the horn is made in, but I do know it is made in Taiwan. All I know is that the test horn I played was a knock out but I wanted one without a High F# key. The horn is satin gold plate with bright gold plate keys, two necks to low Bb. I am eagerly awaiting it to arrive.

I still want a Low A....yes, yes, yes........... 8)

The designer of the modifications to this horn is John Lehner, I played some alto's today which were mind blowing. The instrument has great intonation, double key on all the bell keys, a redesigned neck and bell. The model which knocked me out was a antique brass look (like the ref 54), I bought it on the spot or will when I can rake the cash together. The keywork was incredible, no wishy washy spatula table keys, every note was where you expected it to be, adjustment screws, non sticking pads, extra engraving. The sound was centred throughout the range and I couldn't get it to break no matter how hard I tried, it would take as much air as I could give. The tone was full bodied in all ranges and at all dynamic levels. It did everything that I asked of it and more. I couldn't fault the horn :wink: , believe me I tried.

The horn was so good I couldn't put it down, very different to my Buescher, a much bigger sound with a much darker undertone. I now want a tenor that is the same.

Solid silver necks will also be available.

I am officially off the GAS wagon and suffering full blown again. I will see what can be done about the Low A model too, a Saxello with a low A would be a most usuable and versatile horn. Antique lacquer or Gold plate with a solid silver neck............Running off fr a cold shower and 30 minutes in the freezer to calm down. Pics soon.

Mike,
I think just the engraving of a large boot would be enough. :lol: steel capped of course!

Maybe it should be a low Bb model that comes with a large boot (left foot of course) that can be used to close off the bell to produce something like a low A! It would be cheaper too. :wink:

Hornstar,
All Iwas thinking was to get some sympathy from my fellow like afflicted GAS sufferers.

[hornstar]

Bootman, if I wanted to order a saxcello of this manufacture, sans Low-A, what's the brand name, who's the distributor, who's a dealer?

[Stencilman]

Hornstar,
Don't you see that Bootman is toying with us! I can just hear his evil laugh as he posts how he loves this mystery soprano. On and on he goes for weeks now and he WON'T TELL US WHO MAKES IT AND HOW WE CAN TRY ONE! :Rant2:

C'mon, Bootman, your killing us! :)

Wait, I know now, Bootman is going to be the sole distriutor for these things. He's just waiting until we're all drooling senselessly over this horn we've never seen or heard and he'll make millions. Bootman, I've got your number!

[Bootman]

Sorry blokes, the distributor or person to contact is John Lehner, he is the designer of the modifications to these instruments. John is a well known Flute maker and instrument repairer. Think Flute Makers Guild of Australia.

I have no idea from which factory these instruments come but I do know that the horns I have played are great players.

I will get an email address and post it here for you. In the mean time drop me a line and I can call him here for you. bootman at bootmanmusic dot com.

[hornstar]

SOTW only shows the number of posts for each member. perhaps we should tally how many times Bootman evades answering requests for information on HOW TO BUY THIS FREAKING HORN. what avatar would he earn? or should we place bets on if this miracle horn even exists? I have enough free miles for a trip to Taiwan, but lately I have this urge to visit Australia. :wink:

[hornstar]

doh! you beat me to the post, Bootman! thanks for the answer, I'll look forward to the email info.

[Bootman]

Mate,
The horn is available, never youworry about dat....

There is a variety of finishes available. I will try to get some pics soon as the horn gets here.

[hornstar]

what's your horn going to cost? I've been interested enough to look into the Rampone & Cazzoni's, and imagine that your Taiwanese horn might be significantly less moola, even with the gold plate.

[Mike Ruhl]

Bootman, what about a Conn-O-Sax type bulb bell? I'd love to see either a soprano or, preferably, a Keilwerth straight alto with one of these.

If I remember correctly, the original Conn-O-Sax was keyed to low a.

[Bill08690]

Is this going to be another S.G. deal where everyone is hot to buy and no horns available? What is the price range for this project?

[Bootman]

I doubt that the Conn O-Sax model would be possible yet, we can try and push for it but it will take time. Normally these companies need a horn to copy so that they can then make an instrument. A nice thought though, a Conn O-sax bell model would be great to have in the arsenal.

The Low A Saxello model is on the back burner now, we will need to get enough people interested and then maybe we can get them to tool up for one. So far I have counted 4 strongly interested parties. IF we can get more then we stand a chance of getting this horn done.

I have had to settle for a Low Bb to F model in the mean time and use my left knee for low A's.

The Bb horn is available and the altos are here too. I have seen and played models of each. I am still waiting on the email address and then we can all get hold of them.

[Bootman]

Further talks today and it seems as if the Low A may be an impossibility at present.

If you're interested in these altos and Sops, John Lehner's email address is :
flutes@pacific.net.au

Tell him I sent you!

[hornstar]

too bad on the low-A, but I'm not surprised. thanks fnr the info, Bootman, and for chasing this thing down. can you say what you're paying for your saxello?

[Bootman]

The horn isn't exactly cheap but then again gold plate normally cost a bit too, particularly satin gold body with bright gold keys. I heard that it should be here maybe by the end of next week.

[Gandar]

If someone can put pics to internet, please do and tell us the adress.

[Bootman]

Gandar,
Check your email.

[Gandar]

Did. Thank you.

[hornstar]

Bootman, thanks for the info, I'm in contact with John Lehner on the saxello. He hasn't sent pics of it yet, but the price seems pretty good. I'm interested in the gold finish as well.
BTW Bootman, I noticed on your website a pic of you playing a saxello, what make is that?

[Bootman]

The Saxello on my site is a Cannonball, the John Lehner model Saxello is better than the CB one I had, it has a bigger tone and is slightly darker. The springs are better as is the palm key ergonomics. I have ordered the Low Bb to F model, no front F. Drop me an email and I will send some pics.

[Bootman]

Update.
The Saxello is here, it has landed and it is amazing. This is a low Bb, no high F# Saxello with two necks in gold plate. The sound is sweet, fullbodied and loud, in fact it has a sonic presence that is hard to comprehend. The altissimo response is fantastic and the bottom end is full like a tenor, this horn jsut begs to be played. There is an antique finish available too with a more spread sound too but the gold has the spread and the centre/ core sound too. There is a purity to the sound of this Soprano that I have never heard in any other sop.

[Dave Dolson]

Bootman: VERY interesting. Please refresh our memories . . .brand, availability, price, what mouthpiece are you using, used it on a gig yet, etc.? Thanks! DAVE

[Morry]

Hey, Bootman, we need some pics and mp3s on your site! Just when I thought I didn't need another horn....

[Bootman]

The Horn is the Don Burrows model, designed by John Lehner in Australia, made in Taiwan. The finish is Gold Plate, Antique look or Silver plate/gold plate keys. Seriously though this horn has the biggest, sweetest sop sound of any modern horn I have ever played, it plays rings around the Yanis, the CB I have owned, the Yamahas and Series III's. The horn projects in all registers, has the spread sound that is often lacked in a Soprano saxes. It also has the focussed Oboe like sound quality when using a different mpc. There is a purity to the tone with the Gold plate models that is truly amazing.

Drop me a line and I can send pics, mp3's to come later.

[Biff]

I'm interested in seeing some pics. my email should show in my profile.

[Mike Ruhl]

Bootman sent me the pics. It's a beauty, alright.

[Bootman]

I should add that the metal content of this horn is similar to that of a vintage Sax, it isn't thin like most modern horns. The horn is truly amazing to play.

[Biff]

i got a set of pics too. the thing looks good. the question is, does it play well, and is this just a nice exception?

[Bootman]

Biff,
This horn plays exceptionally well. Trust me on this because I am one the fussiest bastards you have ever met. If anything the horn plays better than it looks.

[Biff]

Biff,
This horn plays exceptionally well. Trust me on this because I am one the fussiest bastards you have ever met. If anything the horn plays better than it looks.

but what about the other side of my question? is this truly cool sax (and i must say, it is very cool) just a nice coincidence? should i nag at my parents to get my one for graduation or not? onmly time wil tell, i suppose.

[Bootman]

Fussy means ridiculously picky about everything on the instrument, to the enth degree. It is well worth nagging for one of these!

[Mike Ruhl]

Fussy means ridiculously picky about everything on the instrument, to the enth degree.I can vouch for that. Funny thing about Bootman is, despite his well-thought-out and strongly-held convictions, he's very accepting of all the Link-on-Mark VI players. :wink:

[1saxman]

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