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My current horn is a 356*** Zephyr with a likewise vintage Brilhart Ebolin and Rico Royal #3s, which I estimate to be from 1957 or 1958 (according to the chart on the H.N. White website). However, I don't know whether or not it is actually a "professional" horn based on it's model year. I really like the horn, but it has a lot of issues, and I'm unsure as to which of this can be fixed or not, and which are due to it or me :?
a) The low notes are generally pretty unresponsive. I know this is often a problem for many saxes, but I wonder if this can be improved. How do I know whether or not this is a problem or just a tendency? Where does one draw the line between these two?
b) The intonation does seem pretty bad, though I've never been the greatest at that myself. Low notes below D1 are very flat, E2 through F#2 are extremely sharp (+40 on the E without any attempt at compensation, which I can almost completely eradicate, though with some tone loss), A2 and above D3 tend to be pretty sharp, especially above that D. Are these typical, or can they be fixed?
c) I pretty much cannot get any altissimo on this horn. I get much more success on some of the newer horns.
d) Mechanism is generally clunky, loud, and my side octave vent/G# pads recurringly stick.
e) The double socket neck was once dropped and the angle it projects from the sax is now very close to 90 degrees...as if it had been pulled down, for those who aren't sure what I'm talking about.
...That's about it. I love the sound of the horn, but these problems are huge. What can I do about them, or is it time for a new horn? I don't really want to give up on my vintage beast
Thanks for any help!
/rambling and/or venting
a) The low notes are generally pretty unresponsive. I know this is often a problem for many saxes, but I wonder if this can be improved. How do I know whether or not this is a problem or just a tendency? Where does one draw the line between these two?
b) The intonation does seem pretty bad, though I've never been the greatest at that myself. Low notes below D1 are very flat, E2 through F#2 are extremely sharp (+40 on the E without any attempt at compensation, which I can almost completely eradicate, though with some tone loss), A2 and above D3 tend to be pretty sharp, especially above that D. Are these typical, or can they be fixed?
c) I pretty much cannot get any altissimo on this horn. I get much more success on some of the newer horns.
d) Mechanism is generally clunky, loud, and my side octave vent/G# pads recurringly stick.
e) The double socket neck was once dropped and the angle it projects from the sax is now very close to 90 degrees...as if it had been pulled down, for those who aren't sure what I'm talking about.
...That's about it. I love the sound of the horn, but these problems are huge. What can I do about them, or is it time for a new horn? I don't really want to give up on my vintage beast
Thanks for any help!
/rambling and/or venting