Contrabass? Anyone have one or play one?

[Gaijin-san]

Anyone ever played a ContraBass before? Do you own one or know someone who does? What was it like? What was the good, the bad? Could you use it in "real life"?

:dazed: :shock:

[Ritchie]

I met one of these beasts eye to eye, but haven't played it. I think you'll never again complain about carrying a bari after considering to play a contrabass :roll: :wink:

[markieg]

Never seen one in real life, but check this out:
http://www.saxpics.com/buffet/1895_1927/contrabass/brass/27xxx/

[Jazzophone]

I read the article on Sax on the Web that corresponded to the photos ... that gargantuan piece of machinery is 6'7". I'm 5'1".

Sweet. 8)

[selmer33]

I played one at the North American Saxophone Alliance conference once in Chicago a few years back. It was literally as tall as I, and it was set up on a stand. I remeber having to put my left hand above my head to play. I remember that the mouthpiece was very large, and I couldn't really keep from playing overtones, becuase I wasn't used to the thing. but, it was interesting and fun!

[MS]

Check out the Nuclear Whales website:

www.nculearwhales.com

You can hear it on Casablanca on one of their CD's

[bari_sax_diva]

The George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band recorded a chart featuring Scott Robinson on his contrabass a while back--I'll have to check what CD that's on. It was a pretty light-hearted tune, but he blazed away on that big machine. Worth listening to if you can find the CD.

By the way, I think L.A. Sax still distributes Orsi contrabasses... anyone in the L.A. area want to be part owner of one? :twisted:

-Leanne

P.S. Just looked at the LA Sax site. Check this out (complete with mortgage calculator!):

http://www.lasax.com/lacontra.htm

[averageschmoe]

and it has a wheeled stand for marching band use... heh heh.
who needs a house and a car?

[Perfect Pitch]

$37,500 :?: ouch

[werkinsnake]

I guess that we would have to take a mortgage out to own one of these beasts. I guess the price proves that these monsters are intended for orchestral use. Where pray tell would a jazz musician get that kind of money? No, really, as a jazz musician, I want to know where to get that kind of money. :oops:

[LBAjazz]

Just start with twice that much.

[Ayzmo]

Check out the Nuclear Whales website:

www.nculearwhales.com

You can hear it on Casablanca on one of their CD'sYou can hear it a bit better on "Midnight in Moscow" if I remember correctly, been a year or two.

[barisaxplayer]

Nuclear whales rock! It's also on tip toe through the tulips, and several others. I believe he uses the CBS on every cd they have. :)

[jaysne]

I played one once. A friend of mine was overhauling it for a friend of his. I don't remember much about it--I only tooted for a few minutes. The only thing I could see it being useful for would be as a demonsration piece.

Of course, I naturally went for the low Bb right away. I liken it to playing an oil furnace.

[VictorJ7]

I have added a video of someone playing a contrabass saxophone...(omg)
check it out here...
http://www.myspace.com/basssaxophonesonly

[Bar-Ron]

One of the members on the Bass sax coop just went to South America (Sao Paulo) to view and play a Contra Bass sax. His review was positive. Priced at $15,000 it should prove interesting.
I am not sure if the company is ready for international sales as the member from Bass Sax Coop, went to the factory, met the owner, had a tour, Jammed for hours with him and it seems ordered one.

I think the low saxes are hinting at a revival, I can't wait.

[leogigeck]

Hey all,

I've played a ContraBass Sax last Saturday and recorded Bye Bye BlackBird with my camera, it was awesome, the lowest "BYE" that I have heard...

It is a E flat sax and range from Low B to High E, and have a additional octave key that gives one more octave.

Made in Brazil and have a nice price comparing with American horns, it's about US$ 17.000.

Attached you can see a photo of the Monster (Look the Pad!!!).

;)

[leogigeck]

Anyone ever played a ContraBass before? Do you own one or know someone who does? What was it like? What was the good, the bad? Could you use it in "real life"?

:dazed: :shock:

It sounds good and have powerfull high notes.

Good:

Its "medium" notes sounds like baritone low notes, so you'll have a bari sound with a bigger range.
Good intonation and it's easy to balance the octave changes.

Bad:

Low notes is not playable, you play but it's not usefull. (Not in My Jazz :D)
Too big to carry.
Hands position is not the best and does not help in fast improvisation.

Resume:

You can use in a Jazz Gig for example, it is useful!
I have a project for a Jazz Band using this Contra Bass and Bass sax, and I think it will bring a new color to the context.

Sorry any errors but I'm not good in English, but I'll keep trying.

[thejazzman]

the ones i've seen look like they're all almost 7 feet tall! i'm digging that fat design, makes it a LITTLE more compact :P

[leogigeck]

the ones i've seen look like they're all almost 7 feet tall! i'm digging that fat design, makes it a LITTLE more compact :P

That's what I liked most... just a little bigger than my bari...

[leogigeck]

Just photos...

[leogigeck]

More Photos

[leogigeck]

...

[leogigeck]

Just to make sure,

I have a good opinion about this saxophone and I think it has a good quality with the best price in the market.

When I wrote its low notes are not playable I did mean I can't find a place for those notes in my improvisation line, but you play and it's in tuning...

Sorry this misunderstood and I didn't intend to denigrate the image of J’elle instruments.

See ya...

[thejazzman]

I was reading this months "Saxophone Journal" and there is a very interesting article about contrabass saxes in there. (pg. 49)

They also mention a sax called the "Tubax" which is a smaller bore contrabass (therefore you get quicker response and a tighter sound. Not ideal for all situations, but for jazz and such, it looks very useful... guess what, the same company that makes this also makes a B-FLAT model... that an octive lower than a BASS sax!!! (oh yes, and the e-flat one is used with a run-of-the-mill bari sax mouthpiece)

Check out this site, they have tons of interesting models, including the tiniest sax ever, the soprillo...http://www.eppelsheim.com/tubax.php?lang=en

[leogigeck]

I wasn't interested in Bass and Contrabass saxes 'till I saw their site.

Then I started looking for these beasts here. So I realized that there are a lot of guys making these saxes in Brazil... :D

[saxtek]

thejazzman posted:

They also mention a sax called the "Tubax" which is a smaller bore contrabass (therefore you get quicker response and a tighter sound. Not ideal for all situations, but for jazz and such, it looks very useful... guess what, the same company that makes this also makes a B-FLAT model... that an octive lower than a BASS sax!!! (oh yes, and the e-flat one is used with a run-of-the-mill bari sax mouthpiece)


From saxtek:

Even the Bb subcontrabass Tubax uses a baritone mouthpiece. It works because of the smaller bore. The Tubax is surprisingly easy to play. You can really rip, even on the lowest notes. For the first time we have a contrabass instrument with a big modern sound, much more projection than a contrabassoon, and a more musical sound than the Sarrusophone, and virtually any saxophone player can play it immediately.


http://www.myspace.com/saxpsychosis

http://www.tedknight.com/randy_emerick.htm

[leogigeck]

I've played the Eb contrabass with two mouthpieces:

Barkley Bass and Barkley Baritone:

Baritone - Gives you response and playability. Easy to play.
Bass – Gives you a fat sound and projection.

As the Tubax it works very well with baritone mouthpiece, I image it’s the same reason…

[Hammertime]

I think the contrabass sax looks like it came right out of a cartoon ^^

[kryz]

Contrabass is awesome.
I was standing next to the Contrabass (not Tubax but Eppelsheim) on stage and looked really silly with the bass.
You must get enormous response problems, btw, he doubled my Bass voice and came always to late :(
Instrument was new to him though...

Chris

[Birdman]

watch this,
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hXBeu7o9uUM
and this http://youtube.com/watch?v=ieb5IDnXV8o&mode=related&search=

-Birdman

[Graysax]

I played Paul Cohen's years ago = The biggest memory of it was hitting a low Bb - Keep the mouth big and loose and hyperventilate!!!

[TenorKid13]

Ive played a bass saxophone before that my lessons teacher showed me, but never have I played one of those beasts. It looks fun, though.

[Brendan Muse]

Leo: Is there a site for the company that makes those saxes? You've piqued my curiosity, to say the least.

[leogigeck]

Leo: Is there a site for the company that makes those saxes? You've piqued my curiosity, to say the least.

Their website is underconstruction, but you can e-mail me your doubt and I forward to him in Portuguese.

Some photos you can see here, http://www.zancgeck.com.br/index.php?pg=detalhes&prd=22. (In Portuguese)

There's a guy on Italy who bought the new model, I've posted some photos and impression about it here on SOTW.

If you need more information, you can e-mail me and I talk to João to see what he can do.

[gdgreen]

Anyone ever played a ContraBass before? Do you own one or know someone who does? What was it like? What was the good, the bad? Could you use it in "real life"?

:dazed: :shock:

I have (and play) an Eb contrabass sarrusophone. Not exactly a sax, but the same range (and pretty much the same fingerings) as a contrabass sax. I've used it (a) to play contrabassoon parts in wind ensemble pieces (has more presence than a standard contrabassoon), (b) to play bari parts down an octave in jazz big band; and (c) to play the bottom end of the San Jose Saxophone Xmas (often joined by one or more contrabass saxes and/or tubaxes). It is a lot of fun, and much less expensive than any contra sax you'll ever find (I paid US$3K for mine).

I've also honked on Eb and Bb tubaxes, and Benedikt Eppelsheim's low A contrabass sax: these are all works of genius, and surprisingly easy to play. The tubax in particular has a timbre well suited to cutting through a jazz big band (you can destroy the bass bone player), while the contrabass sax would make a great solo instrument. Much easier to play than the Orsi contra I tried.

Grant :bass:
http://www.contrabass.com

[Gaines (bari]

Anything from Eppelsheim is bound to be amazing. But i still do not see the practicality of a contrabass. Why spend $20,000+ on something that huge? I've never had any reason to use one. I'll just stick to playing other people"s instead.

[themacintrasher]

Check out the Nuclear Whales website:

www.nculearwhales.com

You can hear it on Casablanca on one of their CD's

I had the option to take lessons from their tenor player.

[jaysne]

I played one once. It was a lot of fun. I sat on a stool. If I had to describe the experience, it would be like playing an oil furnace.

But if I were to play one in the real world (like on a gig), I know it would take a lot of practice to get used to it. Just like any new horn!

[littlemanbighorn]

I just picked up Anthony Braxton's GTM 2000 record and there's some great Contrabass action on it.