Really old

[stertuck]

Starting over again at 82. Have 1957 Conn tenor M16 with a Geo M Bundy #3 MP. Only big trouble so far is getting the low notes out. Would it be wise to drill the reed? (Bookman style) Using VanDoren #2 reeds.
By the way, the horn sounds good. Had a guy with a Mark 6 blow my horn with his MP and I couldn't see much difference in his sound and mine.
Of course I have a rubber taste in my mouth after couple hours of practice. Any tips other than funeral prices.

[steve]

Hey junior...You are old? My dad is 93 and used to play piano professionally...He's currently running a newspaper ad for musicians to form a start-up project.
Drilling reeds ( Bootman) does seem to loosen the reeds up in the low end. I've switched to synthetics ( Fibracells) and they seem very responsive too. Your story is an inspiration !

[kcp]

Starting over again at 82. Have 1957 Conn tenor M16 with a Geo M Bundy #3 MP. Only big trouble so far is getting the low notes out...

Since you are starting over again, I assume that your horns have been sitting unplayed for a number of years? It might be wize to have them checked-out for leaks and have some pads replaced. You low-end problem might just be that.

As far as the age thing goes: I hope I'll still be playing sax when I'm 82. Keep honking! 8)

[jazzbluescat]

Damn. Go stertuck!

I just turned 60.
Feel free to call me a young whippersnapper.........please(!). :D

[alsdiego]

Go man, go!

I just turned 60 also. This sh** keeps you young! Wait til your first bar gig when the young ladies start hitting on you!

You are my God.

[Jazzophone]

Loving the post subject. "Really old." Man, you don't stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing.

I hope I'm still playing in 68 years! Cheers, man. 8)

[stertuck]

I was sure I'd get some snide remarks but not a one. I have a web page at angelfire.com/fl5/sterling_tuck. I used to have an alto wave file there but it took so long to load, it wasn't worth the trouble. However, you might want to visit the site some time.
Steve - tell your dad I am proud of him. I don't think I'll make it to 93
Kim (girl?) I got this Conn from ebay and it was in very bad shape. A local repair man wanted to overhaul it for $900. He thought I had an
expensive horn. He offered to come down a little but his 900 was so high, I backed off real quick. I UPS'd the horn to Bracco in NY and total cost for pads and overhaul was $200. Tony did a pretty good job but I had to make a few small adjustments. The low F key was not seating the pad just above it. Canada - I have a story to tell.

[stertuck]

Jazcat and Alsdiego. Happy birthday whenever it was. Yeah, I can't wait to fight off all those pretty ladies. I find most of them don't care if you are a skilled musician or not. I think most of them are tone deaf. Makes it easier that way.
Jazzphone - Am I correct in guessing you are 14??? Another Canadian.
In 1944 while in England I met a very pretty English girl. I was shot down in April of 44 and spent the next year in German prison camp. Then about three years ago, I got email from guess who.....Toronto. She and her friend came to Orlando and we met again. My wife also met her. They became good friends.
I didn't practice today because an ultra sound on my kidneys. Came out OK. My Parkinson's disease is not affecting my playing - yet. And I get my accompaniment from Arthur Ritis. And I don't like my horn resting against me right metal hip. Hey, I'm in good shape.

[Lyle]

Stertuck

You are an inspiration. I am a beginner at 66. Like jazzophone said, I hope I am still playing in 68 years.
You do have an interesting story. What were you flying when shot down?

[Lyle]

And, what type of music do you enjoy playing?

[stertuck]

Lyle - Sorry but I didn't notice that the next reply was also yours.
I like to play and listen to big band type. I play things like "In a Sentimental Mood" Misty, Tenderly. I'm working on some minus one and some Aebersold CDs.

[Jazzophone]

Yup, I'm 14! Nice work. High school band ... I just had auditions for junior jazz ensemble and made that. 8) Got to start somewhere!

[Dave Dolson]

Stertuck: Congrats. I recorded and played with Rosy McHargue, a noted west coast trad-jazz reedman, in the 1980's. He was 98 or so when he died a few years ago - and was still playing his C-Melody as sweet as ever. You've got a long time to go. DAVE (in my 60's)

[JfW]

stertuck,

out of curiosity, what did you fly during the war?

Anyway, Good luck with the horn sir.

[JfW]

Ah, your website answered my question, you flew the Liberator!

I have the greatest respect for people who did stuff like that.

[BobMac]

Stertuck...

In the words of Charles Barkley...

"I may not believe in role models, but you're mine!"

[alsdiego]

Stertuck,

Snide remarks? I don't think so!! Actually, we want you to be our leader :lol:


Al

[stertuck]

Thanks Bob Mac and aldiego but we have a leader. George who spends lots of money. But I am catching up. Took my horn to a tech and he showed me the Light. Leaks all the way down. Pads were in with varnish and couldn't be set. I told him to fix it. Being old and sickly, he said he'd give me a deal. He's ripping out all the pads and resetting them. My old Conn will end up costing me as much as a broken Selmer 60. He also suggested I contact the BBB in NY and complain about the job they did. However, ya git what ya pay fer. Heck, I had it playing except for the low notes - like E and down. But I had to blow hard and press harder.
I'm anxious to get it back and see if I can't cut a short file.

[stertuck]

http://www.angelfire.com/fl5/sterling_tuck/Saxo.html
I'm curious if this works. I shortened the wave file so that it would not take to long to load.

[alsdiego]

Stertuck,

I listened to your .wav file... GREAT big band lead alto sound...

BTW, I have a terrific Music Minus One Book/CD which I don't use (not the style I'm into), it's called "Just Saxes!", and features a world class big band sax section that you play along with as if you're the lead alto. The sax players in "your sax section" include Jerome Richardson and Seldon Powell if you can believe it. It's great for the feel it gives you of being in a world class big band sax section. Anyway, I'd be happy to send it to you (free, of course) if you think you'd enjoy it. Just e-mail me with your p.o. box or address.

As to your exploits in the Liberator, wow! I flew from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk during Viet Nam... I was an airborne air control officer. I have deep respect for what you guys did in WWII. Now that was REAL flying, not this push button stuff!!

Al
waldchen@earthlink.net

[SopranoSue]

Shertuck, GO! I know of at least 2 people related or friends of the family who are going strong at 106 years old. At 101, one of them started crosstitch.

If that isn't inspiration... yeah... Go for it! :)

[paullanfermeijer]

Hi Stertuck,

Your story has also reached The Netherlands! I thought that I was "old" with my 51 (started at 46) but now I know better!
Nice sound on the Buescher!

keep on swinging!

Paul

[stertuck]

I been reading the post of "Something About you Please" Very interesting but it prompted me to return here. Got my 16M back and still had trouble with the low notes. SOOOO I bought my own light and sure enough the upper B pad had a very small leak. Adjusted it and WHAM - the low notes are there. Now I can concentrate on getting a good selection of reeds. You can see from my previous posts that I have had this trouble before.

[jazzbluescat]

..... also, sometimes a small leak will "work you death" playing the whole horn. Every note is available, yet it's laborious as heck to play. This can happen if the octave pad is torn a little bit, for instance.

[colibri]

I like that alto sound and the use of vibrato.

[stertuck]

I like that alto sound and the use of vibrato.
Would you believe I can't get rid of that vibrato. There are times when you absolutely don't want it - especially if you're in third sax position.
So in marching bands they put me right next to the brass. :cry: :oops: :evil:

[bassclarinet]

Hi! I'm also a youngster (78) and bought a C-Melody Conn (stencil-Beaufort American, Chicago) off e-Bay to learn to play Sax. Anybody ever heard of Beaufort American?

Sent it to Taylor Music in Aberdeen, South Dakota for new pads etc and they did a fine job. Bought a C-Melody mpc also and that made a big difference. My Sax playing neighbor can't believe the tone I'm getting and I just picked it up.

Maybe I have cheated a little as I also play Bass Clarinet and all I did was relax my embrochure a little. Still having a little trouble with the lower notes though. Have RA and the right hand pinky keys are quite a problem for me. Learning to let it HANG from the strap instead of trying to support it with my bad thumb.

What's the secret to figuring out these "palm keys"--Never saw something like this. Guess I will have to break down and find some smart young "whippersnapper" to give me lessons. Enjoy!
Bob A

[rcwjd]

Hello Stertuck

Nice site. Couldn't find your alto clip. I find that playing keeps my mind off worrying too much about getting older - sounds like it does for you too. Just FYI, I've attended a couple of Aebersold camps and you will find all age groups there - from 14 through 88 (the year that I was there). Being in my fifties, I feel like I fit right in. :)

[1saxman]

stertuck; Great sound on the alto, and I love the vibrato - definitely right for that music. Sure, it's out of place on some section work, but why worry about it? You obviously have a lot of talent and a good ear - play it any damn way you want! And thank you very much for your service and sacrifices in WWII. If it wasn't for guys like you, America wouldn't exist as we know it today.