[MartinMusicMan]

I was just reading something about a straight tenor. Dakota makes one that sells for $4000. I did a search here and I didn't find anything about straight tenors. I'm curious if anyone on SOTW has tried one and what you thought about it? I don't think it's for me – it wouldn't work well in a blues/rock bar band gig. But who knows? Maybe it's cool ...

Then again, I found this marketing BS while looking at sales sites: "With a straight tube, your capacity to imprint your own nuances in tone and expression are increased in a way that can open up entirely new avenues of expression for the creative improviser." I don't think I've read any more empty, meaningless blather for any other product. Because it's a straight tube, "your capacity to imprint your own nuances in tone and expression are increased" blah blah blah. Really? I need to get a straight tenor to increase my capacity to imprint my own nuances on tone and expression in a way that can open up entirely new avenues of of expression? Nah. I don't think so.

 

[milandro]

Let's get this straight! :bluewink:

As for almost anything, there have been a few threads about Straight tenor ( the search function, as I use it, would have helped), we've also had a member describing how he made even a straight baritone. Like many weid things everyone gets a picture with it or shows it briefly polaying one but few if any make a habit of using one.

The first ever were made by Buescher

I hope this helps guys...

I had the opportunity to play the new Dakota USA sax at the 2008 Winter NAMM Show, which quickly ended up as a jam session with a bunch of other sax players over at the Dakota booth...we all had the same reaction - which was WOW! The new Dakota's really plays and sounds great.
So far everyone here loves them and so do I. So I am fairly sure they will be a part of our regular saxscape here at Scimonetti's Woodwind & Brass. It seems to be what my customers like so that makes it alright with me.

ABOUT THE HORN:

This is NOT an LA SAX. Not even close. A quick look and anyone could see it is a totally new and very different instrument. The good news for us players is there seems to be NO compromise made in materials or workmanship. It seems to be made with all the care and modern design tweaks one would expect to find on today's professional class saxophones.

The Dakota has nice oversized bells, 5.32" for alto & 6.26" for tenor. it has double arm low C, B & Bb key cups. With 77% copper content brass alloy materials, blue steal springs, solid nickel key rods, and precision black oxide triple temper pivot screws. It also comes with Merino leather pads and nickel tone boosters. The keys have adjustment screws and the keywork even has adjustment screws on the lower stack feet! So, there will be no more loss of motion problems on the lower stack with this sax! Additionally, the Dakota also has a Solid Sterling Silver Neck option too.

Do not let Peter LaPlaca's picture with Jerry Springer or Bill Clinton scare anyone off from trying this wonderful instrument. I have pictures of guys in circus clown outfits playing on Selmer Mk VI's. Pictures have nothing to do with the merits of a great playing horn. Almost everyone knows Peter LaPlaca is a guy with a big wonderful personality. Everyone seems to like the guy and that is how those kind of pictures happen. But I feel the Dakota USA is a serious sax. I wouldn't mind owning and playing them myself. They come in lots of custom finishes - and the silver plated Dakotas are clear coated with lacquer to help prevent tarnish.

I played the Straight Tenor. To me, all straight alto & tenors are very weird. I just cannot get use to this type of sax. Straight Kielwerth, LA SAX or Dakotas would seem to be perfect for players looking for a really dark sound...it's not for me. HOWEVER, the straight Dakota tenor played very well and it looked cool.

I have straight-sax customers who often complain about the need for having a low C# key guard because their cloths catches on that key. The Dakota seemed to solve that problem by positioning that key on the right side of the sax.

I am still getting to know the Dakota alto & tenor samples on loan to my sax shop...so far I really like what I see and hear.

Bop till you drop!

Jim Scimonetti Sr.

few links

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?249281-How-rare-is-a-Keilwerth-straight-tenor
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?160806-A-straight-alto-and-tenor
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?180572-straight-tenor-sax
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?75844-Sax-Dakota

Keilwerth has made about 100 of those.

L.A. Sax and Dakota have sold them.

By the way P.Mauriat " makes" one too.

http://www.pmauriatmusic.com/en/products/item/4-tenor/79-challenger-101/specification

this is Joe Lovano and Tim Price playing

 

[mrpeebee]

I could find several threads about straight tenors (by using Advanced Search with 'straight tenor' searching only in thread headers):

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...aight-alto-and-tenor&highlight=straight+tenor
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...rly-straight!)-TENOR&highlight=straight+tenor
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...werth-straight-tenor&highlight=straight+tenor
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...ilver-straight-tenor&highlight=straight+tenor
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?75553-WTH-straight-tenor&highlight=straight+tenor
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?43585-straight-tenor&highlight=straight+tenor
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?1378-L-A-Sax-s-Straight-Tenor&highlight=straight+tenor
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?180572-straight-tenor-sax&highlight=straight+tenor

The father of Candy Dulfer (Hans Dulfer) has a straight tenor and I once visited him some years ago, but we didn't come further than play testing our big mouthpiece collections (we both have a lot of vintage Links). He has some very nice horns too (see link below), so I guess I missed the opportunity to play his straight tenor (it didn't enter my mind at all to play his horns).
https://www.hansdulfer.nl/hans-dulfer-gear.htm

I think Tim Price also has one or at least played one (he has some YouTube clips playing a straight tenor).

 

[milandro]

The father of Candy Dulfer (Hans Dulfer) has a straight tenor and I once visited him some years ago, but we didn't come further than play testing our big mouthpiece collections (we both have a lot of vintage Links). He has some very nice horns too (see link below), so I guess I missed the opportunity to play his straight tenor (it didn't enter my mind at all to play his horns).
https://www.hansdulfer.nl/hans-dulfer-gear.htm.

a picture of him with the horn is in my reply above, as few of the threads that you mention

 

[mrpeebee]

a picture of him with the horn is in my reply above, as few of the threads that you mention

Ah, I now see, but your post wasn't up yet when I started typing my reply (I was interrupted a few times preparing it).

 

[Arundo Donax]

.

 

[Arundo Donax]

Straight tenor sax is unwieldy. If LeBlanc ever makes a paperclip tenor sax, I'll buy it.

 

[MartinMusicMan]

As for almost anything, there have been a few threads about Straight tenor ( the search function, as I use it, would have helped) ...

I could find several threads about straight tenors (by using Advanced Search with 'straight tenor' searching only in thread headers):..

I used the search function. I found no threads that answered my question: anybody on SOTW play a straight tenor?

 

[Dr G]

I used the search function. I found no threads that answered my question: anybody on SOTW play a straight tenor?

Your question was answered in Post #2. Tim Price is a member here, and you've seen a video of him playing the manly sop.

For that matter, SotW member "Randall" used to have one as well, as I recall.

 

[mrpeebee]

I used the search function. I found no threads that answered my question: anybody on SOTW play a straight tenor?

That's not what you searched for according to your opening text:

I did a search here and I didn't find anything about straight tenors. I'm curious if anyone on SOTW has tried one and what you thought about it?

 

[milandro]

AS Dr.G & Mr. Peebeee said, Tim Price owns one and he is a member, several members have tried one , not many apparently have bought it.

 

[JimD]

As I remember the main problem is that the sound comes out by your feet. This affects the projection and makes it harder for the player to hear, especially in noisy conditions.

 

[milandro]

Indeed this is probably not ideal for busking ( would anyone use it for that?)

...yet, these were rather noisy conditions

The Bass Tarogato looks exactly like a straight tenor and has never been any different than Straight

 

[JL]

Hey Peter, yeah I tried one not long ago over a Saxworx (Lee had one to sell on consignment). I didn't like it at all. Felt and played weird and was unwieldy as Arundo mentioned. Maybe if I played it for a few weeks or months I'd get used to it, but I had no desire to do that.

 

[MartinMusicMan]

Hey Peter, yeah I tried one not long ago over a Saxworx (Lee had one to sell on consignment). I didn't like it at all. Felt and played weird and was unwieldy as Arundo mentioned. Maybe if I played it for a few weeks or months I'd get used to it, but I had no desire to do that.

Thanks, JL. That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

 

[Grumps]

Have I ever played a straight tenor? Well, I once nabbed two grand from Luciano Pavarotti playing three card monte...

 

[motteatoj]

Your question was answered in Post #2. Tim Price is a member here, and you've seen a video of him playing the manly sop.

For that matter, SotW member "Randall" used to have one as well, as I recall.

Tim is a big -roponent of the straight tenor, a a Sax Dakota artist.
PM him I'm sure he would love to share his knowledge.

 

[Chronos]

I've never seen anyone playing the instrument sitting down. So it appears to a standing commitment. Like upright bass.

 

[Mike T]

Upright bass players often use a bar stool.

 

[bvandrasik]

My tenor swings both ways