Curved vs. Straight - Differences in sound.

[madsax]

What exactly are the differences in sound between a curved soprano and a straight one? I have read that the Curved sopranos have a more saxophone like sound and the straight sopranos have almost an oboe quality to them. I play a straight soprano in a saxophone quartet and I would like to buy a new one. Do you think it would be better to get a curved soprano?

[Dave Dolson]

Madsax: There has been much posted about this topic. Some claim there is a differenece, others (like me) claim there is little - if any - difference. The player's PERCEPTION changes because the bell of the curved sop comes back at you. But out front, it would take a real nit-picker to objectively discern any difference, especially in a blind-fold test. I've recorded with both and when I listen to the playback, I know the difference only because I was there and remember which horn I used.

My curved sop works best for me in loud, amplified settings (so I can hera myself and thus not blow so darned hard). It is also convenient in crowded or rowdy venues and for travel because of its compact size.

For serious work, I use a straight sop (Buescher TT) for authenticity in my music. DAVE

[singlereed]

As for whether you should change to a curved sop, that depends on whether you find a better soprano than yours that happens to be curved. This is unlikely, because they are few and far between; the only modern professional curved make available is Yanagisawa which is a fine horn - though they are supposed to be releasing a revised model this year with all RHS toneholes and a pivoting Bb LH cluster (as on almost all other modern saxophones). You can also get a new curved soprano from Romeo Orsi in Italy or a number of Taiwanese models that as yet are not that great in quality. OR, you can look out for an old vintage curved soprano, shich is not that easy to find and OLD will be the operative word, they really weren't made after the 1920'3-30's. A lot of people love these old horns and you may do, if you can find one. Having said that, there are quite a few modern and classic straight sopranos that I would rather play than any of the curved ones. Oh yes, and in a quartet, the soprano tends to 'conduct' the ensemble and I would think you may have more movement with a straight one.

[Bootman]

Borgani make a nice modern new Curved sop too, they play well but I will stick with my little Conn which still has the bigest Curved Sop sound I have here. It sounds like a small tenor.

[Paul Coats]

I have to agree with Dave Dolson above 100%. I, too, have done tests, and the difference, if any, is very small.

BUT, the advantage of a curved, playing into a microphone in a jazz or R&B combo. A straight soprano needs two mics, mixed, to pick up properly. A curved soprano, you can play into a mic on a floor stand just as you would alto or tenor, with equally good results.

Also, in a sax quartet, the other members say they can hear me better onstage.

At a distance, any difference in tone seems to disappear.

This is comparing modern sopranos only. To compare a new straight soprano to a vintage Conn or Buescher, that is an apples and oranges comparison. The older horns have a darker, warmer tone.

[Bootman]

Even the Vintage Bueschers and Conns sound different from each other, there are slight differences between curved and straight Sops in the vintage horns too. The difference between the modern Sops is less noticeable.

[paulwl]

One quartet player admitted to me that the real reason to use a curved is that it helps the player balance better with the other 3 saxes. An excellent reason, but given all the insistence over the years that any educated listener can hear a tonal difference, I can understand why it isn't mentioned much...

[madsax]

Thank you everyone! :D

[silvin]

Do some classical players use a curved soprano sax?

[Dave dix]

I prefer curved for the sling convenience when going from one horn to another without the worry of it slipping out of wet sweatty hands
Dave

[paulwl]

Do some classical players use a curved soprano sax?Only a minority. Most don't because so many professors and schools have ties to either Selmer or Yamaha.

[silvin]

Only a minority. Most don't because so many professors and schools have ties to either Selmer or Yamaha.

Paul, do you think that's the only reason? any musical reasons? :doubt:

[SaxyAcoustician]

Do some classical players use a curved soprano sax?
Angel from this forum does, for one. I do as well.

Michael Stephenson of the New Century Saxophone Quartet uses a curved soprano. He's in my book the greatest living classical soprano saxophonist. His artistry is unmatched.

If you're a serious soprano player, you owe it to yourself to try a curved. :)

[silvin]

If you're a serious soprano player, you owe it to yourself to try a curved. :)

Could you please express it in another way... Being french, I don't understand everything, especially " you owe it to yourself"
Thanks!:)

[Grumps]

If you ever do get to test a curved and a straight soprano side by side, and you definitely hear a difference, next try playing the straight one in front of a wall pointing it directly at the wall.

[silvin]

I' m really really surprised to read that you don't hear any noticeable difference between a curved and a straight soprano sax!!!
Actually, I've only heard a curved soprano on Garbarek's recordings, and it's sounds really really different that a straight one like Lacy's, Coltrane's, Marsalis's etc... But maybe in a classical approach, sound, it's very close?

[Dave Dolson]

Silvin: It's the player, not the shape of the horn. DAVE

[silvin]

Damned, that must be true, indeed ...
Which is the most confortable? Straight or curved?
I actually intend to purchase a new pro soprano and feel like i'm going to try the curved ones also.

[Dr G]

Which is the most confortable? Straight or curved?

I prefer to use a neck strap on my sop(s) these days. My last "most favorite" was a Serie III using the bent neck. It has recently been replaced with a SC-992. I may still be in the honeymoon phase but it seems like love to me. I prefer its sound, ergos, response... everything. Even the case is better.

[J.Max]

Do some classical players use a curved soprano sax?

I have never met a French School player who plays a curvy. Ever. Neither Selmer nor Yamaha has ever made one. (A lot of French school players will use the curved neck, though.)


Now, Rascher guys use them all the time...Carina Rascher ALWAYS used a curvy, and most of them did the same...


For what it's worth, I like curvys for some things...they're kind of fun to play, but I'm more used to the straight ones with curved necks.