Difs between old and new contrabass saxes?

[CMelodyMan]

What are the main differences between the modern contrabass saxophone and the old model contrabass saxophone? Isn't one of the main differences height?

[CMelodyMan]

When I say old contrabass saxes I mean the ones made in pre-1930s, or whenever it was when they stopped making them.

[Steve P]

The biggest difference I have heard of is weight. The old school contras are significantly lighter than the current production ORSI. Aside from that, keywork is different obviously. Looking at the Orsi, the mechanics are incredible... there were 4 or 5 hinges on the low C alone.

Hope that answers your question


Steve P

[Pete]

The height can be significantly different; it depends on the design of the horn's bore.

Newer horns have better intonation and don't require as much use of "false fingerings" and/or chromatic equivalents. The keywork isn't only improved as far as construction, but also implementation: the Orsi actually has all those nice chromatic keys and a keyed range up to altissimo F (see them at http://www.orsi-wind-instruments.it).

However, Dr. Paul Cohen has mentioned that he saw a contra with the patented Evette-Schaeffer keywork system (similar to the Apogee system). That means some vintage horns had even more keywork!

Of course, we haven't even started to talk about the Tubax :).

We might also talk about IMPROVED PRICE. The Orsi/LA Sax is $39K US :).

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We also should talk about which vintage horns you're talking about. There were a few companies that made these beasties: Buffet, Kohlert, Stowachesser ....

[Brendan Muse]

Yeah, but there aren't many of the old ones around anymore. I think the last estimate I'd heard was 15 non-ORSI.

[CMelodyMan]

Averagely, how tall is an old model contrabass saxophone?

[Pete]

6' 6" if I remember correctly. I did a review of a Side Street Strutters concert and I held their Buffet. Taller than me and I'm 6' 1". I've seen people also quote 6' 8".

The Tubax stands about 45".

[GR13F]

anyone know the difference between the tubax and the contrabass? ive managed to find out that the tubax is a narrower bore and uses a baritones mouthpiece, but im more interested in the differences in how they play and sound. anyone?

[milandro]

the tubax plays very nicely with its modern mechanics the Eb to me sounds nicer than the Bb. I've been lucky enough to try it for a short while and I would certainly like to buy it if I had the cash............:(, some say the Tubax is not a contrabass proper, and though it's not I'd rather have a good tubax than anything else in that tonal range