What is your Back-up sax?

[gary]

I've seen this referred to but just as a side comment here and there. I would be interested in knowing what your back-up horn(s) is/are.

My purpose, frankly, is to see what kind of reasonably priced sax someone who is regularly gigging is willing to settle for as a back-up. Fanatical collectors are exempt from posting unless one of those horns is a bona fide gigger's back up.

To put in perspective your back up, would you please post your primary sax(es) also.

OK I'll start. Ooops. I can't start. I don't have any back ups.

[Randall]

OK Gary, since you obviously are trying to prevent me from posting, I find the overwhelming urge to post anyway :twisted:

Back ups:
sop: Cannonball Big Bell curvy
alto: a late model Buescher 400 (post Selmer)
tenor: Cannonball Big Bell
bari: Selmer SBA

Primary horns (currently):
sop: Keilwerth SX90II
alto: Cannonball 98
tenor: Medusa Special sterling silver
bari: Keilwerth SX90R

[gary]

OK Gary, since you obviously are trying to prevent me from posting, I find the overwhelming urge to post anyway :twisted: ROTFLMAO!!!
Gee. Guess pre-emptive strikes don't work anymore, wot?!

Randall, O-Sensei. What, IYO, would be the cheapest alternative to a Keilwerth SX 90R tenor with the least re-adjusting to on short notice?

[Randall]

Gary, good question....
Depends on your budget and tastes; but I would say the Cannonball Big Bell in black nickle or a Buescher 400.

If you can locate a B&S 2001 you would probably be most happy....but they are somewhat of a hybrid of the VI and JK, IMHO. This is in no way a bad thing....

(Stephan's "Manga" is supposedly from the same factory as a certain Tawanese horn that takes its name from a portly alto player of some note.
eh hm....)
That would be a possibility to look into since you are near....
Stephan hasn't made good on his promise to send me one for trial yet...so the jury is still out on how it plays.

[Bill Mecca]

no gots... I'd take just about anything that played.

Primary: Buffet SDA c. 1961

[SilverNeck20]

Main horns: Tenor - King Super 20 / Alto - Selmer SBA

Backup horns: Tenor - Indiana (Martin Handcraft stencil made in the '30's) I generally use this for outside gigs by the water, or if the S20 is in the shop.
Alto - My dads Selmer BA.

[sw3119]

My main horns are:
Selmer Mark VII tenor
Selmer Mark VII alto

I have a saxophone.com alto that I keep as a backup. It plays very well, and is basically a copy of a Mark VII or Series II so the set up is very similar. I had a Series II alto as well but sold it. I also have a King Zephyr alto, It's for sale at my tech's shop.

On tenor I have a 'The Woodwind' tenor which is also a cheap copy of a VII or Series II. I also have a King Zephyr tenor (1939). I recently took my selmer tenor in for an overhaul. I originally thought that I would use my "Woodwind" tenor as the back-up because of the similar set up. But after trying both I found I really loved playing the Zephyr. I was going to sell the Zephyr and keep the 'woodwind' as a back-up, but now I'm thinking of doing the opposite. I only paid $300 for the 'woodwind' so I should be able to break even at least.

For some reason, although I love the Zephyr tenor, I was never able to get the same feeling from the Zephyr alto. That I why I'm selling the Zephyr alto. Also, I could never get back what I paid for the sax.com alto (about $900) so I might as well keep it.

[SAXISMYAXE]

I have WAY too many horns. Whatever horns in my collection that don't qualify as the "Darlings" at any given time, become the backup horns to those that do. I find myself switching around more and more these days to keep it fun :D

[GenericGuy]

I went a little extreme when I found the right sax for me... Main axe is a Millennium Ser. III, backup is a Millennium Ser. III.

http://www.jasonharron.com/Altos01.JPG

I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't have to change anything about my playing style or hand position if I'm playing my back-up.

[martysax]

My main BattleAxe is my 1962 King Super 20 tenor, the back-up is a '64 vintage Mark VI.

[Dave Dolson]

Soprano - Buescher TT straight silver, circa 1928
Alto - Selmer Reference 54
Clarinet - Buffet RC Prestige

Back-ups can be any of the others in my closet - like saxismyaxe says, way too many horns - I bring along back-ups, but they are the flavor-of-the-month for me. DAVE

[OnyxSax]

My true bona-fide backup is my beater 10M. The Mark VI and Chu rotate as primary horns (although when one is in the shop, I'll use the other). I use the 10M on outdoor gigs when there is no cover.

I keep a WW&BW soprano sax as my backup soprano.

[danodownunder]

Main tenor SML rev d lacquerless and screaming
back up selmer S80 ll
dont have back up for alto pre selmer buescher 141 crat 400 frankenstein
or my soprano mk6 selmer
or baritone post selmer buescher 400
i have had a few horns before these and a lot on my knee for repairs,,,,, feel lucky to have these..........

[SteveS]

Main alto - 186,xxx Selmer Mark VI
Main tenor - 92,xxx Selmer Mark VI

Backup alto - 1953 vintage SML Rev D
Backup tenor - 1937 vintage Conn 10M

Of course, there'd be NO shame at all in dragging EITHER backup to a gig -- particularly for small combos. The Mark VI's are still strongly preferred for Big Band, though.

[Saxturtle]

Main: 61 King Super 20 Tenor
Backup: Buescher TT

[Martin Williams]

Main horns: see my signature.

My backup horn is simply my first horn I got when I began playing. A Bundy II alto

[A Greene]

I just keep fairly new Yamaha 23 beginner horns as back-ups. I've not had many issues with my primary Tenor or Alto. I do have a Mystery? Manufactuered Soprano that I use if the my good soprano is having issues. I can't afford anything that spectacular.

It's seems I'd be happy with many players back-up horns as my primary ones.

[Alto Giant]

I can't afford back-ups

[Bill Mecca]

I hear ya... I have a Martin Indiana that is practically in pieces, that's my back up... or actually (phone dialing) Joe? can I borrow.....:)


some day that Martin will play again. maybe if I keep saying it enough it will happen...(clicking heels together) :lol:

[CMelodyMan]

Back-up sax: King Voll-True

Primary sax: Yanagisawa Elimona

[xuanvu]

Alto: Ref. 54, only one, no back up... When I have enough money, I'll get the Inderbinen and probably the Ref. 54 will be my back up.

Soprano: Main - R&C R1 Jazz curved; Back-up - Borgani Jubilee straight... Not really a back up but I do play the R1 Jazz more often.

Kenny.

[BayviewSax]

Mains:
Mauriat soprano (just ordered, awaiting)
Vito alto (Yani years)
1969 Mark VI tenor
1967 Mark VI bari

b/u:
Selmer SerieIII tenor... for now. I may grab another VI and move the III.

[Daktion]

a 1988 no brand name recorder.

I'm just playing that while waiting for my P to arrive. somehow, the feeling just isnt the same

[Captain Beeflat]

Main horn....Rampone & Cazzani R1
Back-up......Grazzi Professional 2000
The R&C is so reliable however, that I have never had to resort to the Grazzi as a back-up.

[Kritavi]

Main soprano:Keilwerth Armstrong Heritage
Backup: Buescher True Tone

Main Alto: 180,xxx Gold Plated Chu
Back up Alto: 290,xxx 6m

Main Tenor: SML Coleman Hawkins Special
Backup tenor: 1949 King Super 20

No back up for my Leblanc Bass Clarinet or Big B bari:cry:

[danodownunder]

Nice to hear of another SML player my main tenor is revD, sml alto conn 6m with rolled tone holes and selmer 6 soprano. stopped playing my selmer tenor upon getting my SML have never looked back am selling it and back up at the moment is my repair skills

[2thmechanic]

Primary alto: 1927 Conn New Wonder "Chu Berry", Ser. No. 210,XXX
Outdoor horn: 1970 Conn Director "Shooting Star"

Dave Stevens

[58tenor]

Living dangerously....no backup unit.:shock: Primary is a newish Allora tenor. If it proves as reliable as my old Selmer Super there will be no worries. That horn was as reliable as an anvil. Owned a Martin and a Conn which were both pretty dicey to keep going.I have thought of buying a cheapo asian sax just for the heck of it. Curious how bad/good those things are.

The Selmer was pretty ratty looking and I never worried about it much. Now I'm a bit paranoid with the Allora when playing out. If I owned a real high-dollar horn it would be even worse, like parking a Ferrari in the Home Depot parking lot.:cry:

[fballatore]

My primary horn now is a YAS-62 Mark II, and my backup is a YAS-52. Like I even need a backup, I can barely play the primary. :D

[VaSaxPro]

My Main saxes are

Alto: Yamaha 62 II
Tenor: Yamaha 62 Silver plate

My sole backup axe (I'm a poor college kid) is a 1928 Silver Plated Buescher True Tone Alto (Low Pitch obviously)

[dpwadw]

primaries...read my sig.

backups:
sop - none
alto - Conn Mex Director (just look at it and it starts to leak)
tenor - Vito (a virtual tank)

[Dr_sax]

Just no back-up. Sold them all as they never came close to the primaries.

[Blackwolf42]

Primary: Tenor=Selmer Reference 54
Soprano=Cannonball Stone Series

Backups: Tenor=Yamaha YTS-23
Buescher Aristocrat that I am planning on
selling eventually, but I like the way it
plays much more than the Yamaha, just
like the Selmer better and use the
Yamaha for school
Soprano=none

[BayviewSax]

Mains:
Mauriat soprano (just ordered, awaiting)
Vito alto (Yani years)
1969 Mark VI tenor
1967 Mark VI bari

b/u:
Selmer SerieIII tenor... for now. I may grab another VI and move the III.

update:

mains:
LA Sax soprano
Conn Tranny alto
1969 Mark VI tenor
1967 Mark VI bari

b/u:
Vito alto (finally found something that plays better)
1974 Mark VI tenor (I actually rotate this dependent upon my mood... this one is sick, in terms of control over tonal quality {want to break a note, just split it into as many pieces as you want, just using breath control}), but lacks a bit of the core of the 1969.

[bronzZoot]

primary: Yanagisawa A992
back-up: Selmer U.S.A. Silver-plated from the mid-80s.

[hamilton]

Tenor- Selmer Ref 54
Backup - Olds tenor from late 70's - early 80's The horn sounds great but the key work gets uncomfortable after about 1/2 hr.

[jsjazz]

A prayer!

[BayviewSax]

A prayer!

Yeah, but they're so hard to tune...

[BariMelt]

Main horns: Bari- 1978 Mark VI low A
Tenor- Cannonball big bell black nickel w/ silver keys

Back up horns: Bari- 1964 Martin Magna low A
Tenor- 1964 King Super 20 w/ silver neck

Really don't want to play the Super 20 on a gig in case something happens to it. (But I still bring out the Mark VI bari, doesn't make much sense I know). Also, the Super 20 tone and the CB tone are so close and the CB feels better over the course of a 4 hour gig. I'm thinking of also getting a YTS 82Z. I'm primarily a bari player, so why do I need 3 tenors???? GAS attack?

[hgiles]

MAIN: CJS black nickel tenor
BACKUP: CJS gold lacquer alto
CLOSET: 1949 Buescher Big B tenor

[RS]

Bari--main horn: 208K Mark VI (low Bb). Backup: 88K Mark VI (low Bb). Alto--main horn: Yanagisawa 992. Backup: 81K Mark VI.

[saxman06]

Main axe: 1940s Rampone & Cazzani alto
Back-up: Sister's Yamaha YAS-23 student model. . . sux to play this at gigs when you're so used to being spoiled by a pro horn . . .

[bari_sax_diva]

Since my main axes are baritone and bass clarinet (and because I double on practically everything else), I haven't found practical backups for either. Instead, I've got a repair guy who's understanding if I'm in a rush, and a couple of friends who I swap favors with if someone needs a horn in a crisis. 8-)

[Ruediger Kramer]

To put in perspective your back up, would you please post your primary sax(es) also.



Primary: My B&SGuardala 501 BN (good price)

Second: my silverplated B&S-Medusa (very good price)

[saxali_uk]

Some of you people have back ups worth probably 10 times more than my one and only sax :P. Oh well, when I'm rich I'll hav to treat myself to a nice one and let my battered Jupiter hit retirement.

[cmelodysax]

Strange, in the 60's & 70's I spent an awful lot of time in Germany playing US bases and civiliain clubs, a month at a time in each and long playing hours - without any backup for my relatively inexpensive saxes & flute (apart from the alto being backup for tenor, and vice-versa, if the worst happened, which it never really did to the degree the instrument was unplayable....)

In the very rare event I had any problem, a quick self-fix, or a friendly local music shop got it sorted. Seems like the availability of backup instruments is often inversely proportional to the amount of serious playing :? I never met any other touring bands where the instrumentalists carried backup horns either, usually because of 'lack of disposable income'......

I just made sure each instrument got a good checkup (and partial overhaul as needed), with a subsequent 'shakedown' period, between tours. Common sense, really.

[altosaxguy1]

main: Cannonball BigBell Global Series
Backup: Soloist performance AS441

[BayviewSax]

Seems like the availability of backup instruments is often inversely proportional to the amount of serious playing :?

That seems a bit unfair, frankly. How do you define "serious" playing. I know a number of pros working regularly, but I'd describe their music as anything but serious. Music is my avocation, and there are two reasons I have back-up horns. 1) I upgaded my alto and kept my old one, and 2) I had an accident with my tenor once and was tenorless while it was repaired. Never again! Pepper Adams once had a similar issue with his bari (actually he combined both reasons above, upgrading to a newer selmer for durability when travelling, then having an accident with it and reverting to his old one while it was repaired). Does Pepper qualify as "serious"? I don't think you meant that statement how it reads.

[cmelodysax]

OK Bayview, just for you I'll change "Seems like" to "Sometimes from my possibly jaundiced view it seems like...". I can well understand keeping a past horn for sentimental or 'emergency use' when you find another, better, one.

My comment was a little tongue-in-cheek, and aimed more at postings like "my main sax is a MkVI, and my backup is another MkVI...." But I guess that'll upset the MkVI owners and collectors, I never knew that MkVI's were so unreliable (well, apart from the lacquer falling off.....) ?

When you take away the proportion of the sound that's unique to each individual player and his mouthpiece/reed setup, the rest of the jigsaw can usually be catered for by any reasonable sax begged/borrowed or loaned for the relatively short period that a players horn is in for major repair. It's what friends are for......

[Docax]

Primary Tenor: Keilwerth JKsx90r NS
Primary Sop: Conn New Wonder 209xxx

Backup Tenor: King Zephyr 406xxx
Backup Sop: Yani curved sc901

I recently heard a good quality recording from a gig where I played the Zephyr (Jet Blue wouldn't let the big Keilwerth case in carry-on). Sounded great, so I'm tempted to reverse the tenors, but probably won't, just being used to the JK.

[SaxdUp]

I play a series III normally. My backup would be my YAS-23...been pretty reliable and I can still manage to get a good tone out of it...

[saxymanzach]

main axes:
Sop: Keilwerth ST-90
Alto: Yamaha 62II
Tenor: Kessler Custom

Back-ups:
Sop: None
Alto: Conn "Shooting Star"
Tenor: Yamaha 23

[Bootman]

No back-ups, just different horns for different gigs.

[BlueSapphire]

i have an alto, no idea what type [its that old!]
if for any reason i cant play it i just go stuff it and get out my bari sax or steal my bros tenor! :D

[gary]

ii just go stuff it and get out my bari sax or steal my bros tenor!
You "stuff it"?! :shock:

[BlueSapphire]

You "stuff it"?! :shock:

'stuff it' - english translation - i've had problems with my sax cause its ancient and i cant afford a new so i just play a diff sax i previously mentioned, come back to my alto and its usually working by then, so yeah in short i 'stuff it'

[rgone]

primary horns:
Tenor: MK VI ser.# 85xxx
Alto: MK VI ser. # 213xxx
Badk-ups:
Tenor: MK VI ser. # 193xxx
Alto: MK VI ser. # 140xxx
No back-ups for soprano and bari.

[sjonesjrmd]

Primary horn for tenor: Yamaha 82 Z unlaq
Backup: Mark 6 (sorry!)

Alto primary horn: The Martin
Backup: Series III

no backups for soprano and bari

[rgone]

quotePrimary horn for tenor: Yamaha 82 Z unlaq
Backup: Mark 6 (sorry!)

Alto primary horn: The Martin
Backup: Series III

no backups for soprano and bari
sjonesjrmd is offline Report Bad Post Reply With Quote by sjonesjrmd

[rgone]

quote by sjonesjrmd; Primary horn for tenor: Yamaha 82 Z unlaq
Backup: Mark 6 (sorry!)

Alto primary horn: The Martin
Backup: Series III

no backups for soprano and bari


That's cool ,brotha man.As a matter of fact, I've been trying to get me a "THE MARTIN" for quite some time now.I used to own a MARTIN tenor quite some time ago. I have a friend that lives some 300 miles away that's been offering a MARTIN alto for sell for some time now.He doesn't want to ship it to me coz' he doesn't have a case for it. The horn needs a repad but the horn has no dents on it.Can't wait to get a chance to go pick it up. By the way, the guy wants $75.00 for it. Can you believe that?!

[amoram]

main: selmer series II
back-up: yani 991

[TenTenTooter]

Only have one each available to me of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass flavors, but as for bari...

My primary bari axe is a 59xxx low-A MK VI and my backup is a school owned yamaha 52.

[JimMetcalf]

Tenor YTS-875s is main -back-up is YTS-62
Alto Selmer SerieIII Silver is main - Martin (The Martin Alto) is backup
Bari--YBS-52 No back-up
Soprano Selmer Super 80--no backup

[2thmechanic]

Primary alto: 1927 Conn "Chu" in silver plate.
Backup alto: 1928 Conn "Chu" in gold plate.
Outdoor alto: 1970 Conn Director "Shooting Star"

Dave

[gspiegel]

Main Alto: Keilwerth SX-90
Backup: Buescher Big B beater

Bari: Yani 991
Backup: not until I get my daughter through college

[Mark_vi]

It matters what type of music i am playing, none are back-ups, If i play big band music I play on my mk vi's if i play solos or in a combo i use my silver sonic series Yanagisawas

I only have one sopranino and it is a yanagisawa sn -981

[TenTenTooter]

I'm adding two c-melodies to my list.

Primary: Buescher C-Mel
Backup: Martin C-Mel

[sax_therapy]

No back-ups, just different horns for different gigs.

ditto

[Martin Williams]

No back-ups, just different horns for different gigs.

same here, I have a Yamaha 52 tenor, that kind of plays backup to my 10M and a Bundy II thats sort of backup to my Zephyr alto.

But when it comes down to it, differnt horns for diffrent gigs. I'll pick up the Bundy or the Yamaha long before the Conn or King for some gigs, like if i know the weather might get nasty on an outdoor gig, etc

[fballatore]

My primary horn now is a YAS-62 Mark II, and my backup is a YAS-52. Like I even need a backup, I can barely play the primary. :D
Well, I can play a bit better now, and my horns have changed.

Primary: Yamaha YAS-875 Custom
Backup: 1926 Conn "Chu Berry" alto in silver
2nd Backup: 1941 Buescher Big "B" alto

[Bob M]

Bundy Special tenor....it's a Keilwerth stencil and one helluva horn:D

[saxmong]

My Main is a Conn C melody
and I use my Alto if I have to play in Eb

Playing should be fun!

[RandyJ]

Back up horns were my primary horns a while back;

tenor Selmer MK VI
alto Selmer MK VI
soprano Selmer MK VI

[Hotspur]

Main Horn
Cannonball Big Bell tenor

Back up horn
currently in the process of finding a horn and getting money
maybe a Cannonball Excalibur or a COnn Chu Cherry

[ehopper1]

My primary horns:
alto: King Super 20 laquered (1972)
tenor: Selmer Mk VI unlaquered (1970)

My very very good back up horns:
alto: Martin Indiana (1955)
tenor: Buescher 400 (1967)

Mike

[Swampcabbage]

Mains:
Winston Soprano
26M alto ('38)
Mark VI Tenor ('63)
The Martin Bari ('60)

Backups:
None for soprano and Bari
The Martin Alto ('53)
30M tenor ('38)

On the hunt for a good backup tenor for outdoor stuff and especially parades. Something really cheap but in tune and can take a few knocks.

[ArnoG]

Main
MKVI 1960 tenor,link6*
Conn transition alto new york neck, myer richie cole
Yani S992 soprano, Link 5*
Armstrong 303

Back up--My friend has Keilwerths he said i can take any time i need---

[ThunderWhale]

Main Horns:

Soprano : Buescher True Tone
Alto : Conn 6m 302xxx
Tenor : The Martin


Back-ups:

Sop : Selman chinese curved (actually pretty good player!)
Alto : 1919 Buescher True Tone (Sometimes I rotate this as my main axe)
Tenor : None yet!!

[Noahbf]

back up alto
selmer USA AS300

Main alto
Yamaha 875-EX custom

[saxxsymbol]

my backups are a yas-23 and a yts-23 hand picked from several of each. great horns.

[LINUS65]

Main: YAS82ZUL
Back up: YAS82ZUL 8-)

[jacobeid]

Main sop: YSS-475
Backup: LA Sax

Main alto: Conn 6m (262xxx)
Backup alto: Selmer Series III

Main tenor: Conn 10m (265xxx) once it gets back from an overhaul
Backup Tenor: Buescher NA

[clinty]

My one and only primary is an extremely worn Conn "Shooting Stars" tenor.


What I would give for some of you guy's backup horns. :(

I envy most of you, lol.

[Martin Williams]

I no longer have backups, cant afford them at this point in life. Theres also the fact that Im not afraid to take my horn most places, as long as I remain in control of the horn

[Dr_sax]

Finally after 30 years I´ve got a backup for my tenor MK VI. It´s my old MK VI I sold 25 years ago.

[BigHunk]

Tenor Main- Ref 54
B/U Buescher TH&C...I actually switch between the 2

Alto Main C/B Raven
B/U Buescher TH&C

[Sax Magic]

Main Horns:

Alto -- 1967 Selmer Mark VI
Tenor -- 1938 Martin Searchlight
C Melody -- 1919 King/White

Back-up Horns:
Alto -- 1955 Conn 6M
Tenor -- None yet
C Melody -- 1927 (?) Buescher

Other horns waiting to be rebuilt...

Sax Magic

[markb]

hmm.. main axes:
Buescher 400 bari
Voss Tenor
coutier C-mel
Belcrest Soprano

Gemienhardt 3sh flute


backups.. whatever my son isn't keepin a close eye on.. LOL

Between us we have 10 sax's and half a dozen or more flutes that are
operational at any given time. :)

If I do get a backup for my bari, and I should somtime, it will probably
be another Buescher 400. This one has a great sound to it. :)

mark

[knighttrain]

I own some nice "pro" horns, but I do not take them to gigs or practices - they're for home use only.
Gig horns:

S - King straight
A - Aristo 200
T - Bundy
B - Orsi

Back-ups:

A - Kohlert
T - Kohlert or Alexandre (Italy)
B - Buescher 400 (70s)