reference 54 altissimo ??

[Proud2bAmerican]

Hey, I went to the music store today, and played two selmer reference 54 models. On both models, (one brand new, not even set up yet) i could not get the altissimo fingerings for F as well as F# out. I could slowly build up to them, but hitting them on the fly was almost impossible, and to hit it, and growl was more then impossible. I was wondering if anyone else has had problems with the altissimo on this sax. Both saxs had the same exact problem.
now the con chu berry that i played on the other hand........ :)

[singlereed]

One of the reasons why I sold my 54 - the front F was just too unreliable for me, and I use that fingering a lot. I tried lots of different mouthpiece set-ups and tried adjusting the opening. In all other respects the horn played great. I just found my daughter's Yani T901S was so much easier to play those notes, and I have since replaced my 54 with a Mark VI which in all respects is a much better horn.

[Steve J.]

Altissimo is fine on my 54. In fact it is remarkably flexible in regards to tone color throughout the range. Growling is easy. Subtone can be fun - the low register is quite lush.

I did notice a marked improvement in the low altissimo F# - A after a neck replacement. Both in matched timbre and ease of play. The neck change was dynamic. One of the marked improvements was definitely the altissimo. The horn was an excellent sounding really nice Tenor prior to neck change. After the neck change, for me its a fantastic example. For me with its current set up it is inspiring - I enjoy it so much.
I played a VI in college, drifted to Yamaha then came back to Selmer. This is better than any VI I have ever blown on.

There was much talk at one time on the old board regarding necks on the 54. The exploration was forged by Bootman and followed by quite a few others including me. I believe Boot sold his 54 and a couple necks, others had happy necks, a couple settled with silver after market necks, one poster (can't remember) purchased a silver plate VI neck from Bootman. I settled in on a copper Series III replacement neck.

The neck discovery and journey concluded, with it seemed unanamous agreement, that Bootman's theory that the neck mouthpiece end opening on the 54 neck more often than not, tends to be smaller than optimum. It was discovered the 54 necks were quite inconsistent in this opening size. An unfortunate problem with the purchase of one.

Bottom line, after my ramblings, I think the altissimo is probably fixed with
a properly opened neck end. Everything else opens up and improves also.

[saxomophone]

Strange, I just bought a 54, and one of the things I love about it is the ease of the altissimo. I can nail notes on it(like Bb and G#) that I used to have to search for. I will admit that the front E is pretty sharp, but the horn hasn't been properly set up yet, so I'm hoping that will go away.

One thing you might want to check is weather or not the side F key is opening up all the way when you depress the front F. It is a regulation that is notoriously overlooked by repairmen. It should open as far as it would if you were using the normal palm key fingering. Also make sure that the B key is sealing when using this fingering.

Maybe I just got lucky and got one that has great altissimo for whatever reason. I'm using a late Florida metal 9 mouthpiece on it, if that makes a difference.

[spaddy]

That is one of the main reasons I bough the 54: it pops out effortlessly and so do all the overtone series. Before buying this horn I had a new Keilwerth sx90 and I could only get an altissimo G3 and F#3, and that was a struggle at best. Now I can play beyond a C4 and I can use a multitude of fingereings. I've never done any adjustments to the neck and I use a Otto Link hard rubber. I love the warm, lush tone it gets. :D

[Tears June]

Based on same MP & reed, which of the following tenor aremost easy to get the altissimo note?

Ref 36
Ref 54
Series III


:cry:

[Steve J.]

Tears June - Of those three excellent Selmers I noticed no significant difference in altissimo... Certainly not enough to attribute to the model.

My personal preference is my ref 54 - in all aspects including altissimo. The major reason I think this however, is because I have been playing it for 18 months and have spent considerable effort in matching a neck and mouthpiece combination.

I think practice and mouthpiece are way more important factors in regard to altissimo than model of horn.

I use some different fingerings on my Ref 54. I think every horn altissimo has a more ideal fingering choice...... Also greatly a factor of mouthpiece and individual.

[woodwindmaster06]

Steve J. do you have a Reference 54 altissimo chart or some suggested fingerings to use

[Dr G]

I think every horn altissimo has a more ideal fingering choice...... Also greatly a factor of mouthpiece and individual.

That was worth repeating for people that keep looking for the quick and easy way out. Succinct and to the point.

[Cameron Wigmore]

Steve - I'll remember that info about the necks. If and when I check one out - a 54 - I'll try it with a couple of different necks. 8)

[woodwindmaster06]

Altissimo have never really been a problem for me on ref54 at all, it plays evenly in all registers.