[SE_HORNS]

So I recently made my return to SOTW.

Last year I was trying to learn tenor saxophone but had to give up because I couldn't find the time.

I've left college recently and decided as I now have lots of free time, I can finally take up tenor again. I play several instruments but the itch to play tenor is an undying one. To me, the saxophone is the most emotional and expressive instrument. My two favorite players between Trane and Pharoah Sanders.

So I've been looking for a saxophone over the last week or so and figured I'd probably buy a Yamaha YTS-23 or something. Over here in the UK, there isn't actually many for sale (in good shape at least) so I figured its best to hold up and the right thing would come up at the right time.

Last night I spotted a 1958 Ladyface 10m on eBay that had just gone on for £1000 Buy It Now. The horn is in really great shape and has recently been serviced. I struck a deal with my grandfather - he'd lend me the money I need it, I'll pay him back within a month or two and he is then entitled to a 50% cut of any profit I make should I decide to sell it. Over here in the UK £1000 for a 10m is a good price regardless of the condition so I'm very thankful for the opportunity to be able to own such a beautiful horn.

I picked it up today of a really lovely guy. He's been in a car accident fairly recently and damaged his teeth, so he is selling all of his horns and is learning guitar. A shame he's no longer able to play but I reckon we'll stay in touch and I guess we can both give each other some advice (I'm a guitarist).

Anyway yeah, so I'm glad to be back with a horn. Now to just get a Link (his recommendation) and get playing.

Cheers

 

[because]

That's a beautiful horn in a very nice case!! I have two of these ('53 & '55) neither look this good. Very reasonable price. congrats

 

[SE_HORNS]

That's a beautiful horn in a very nice case!! I have two of these ('53 & '55) neither look this good. Very reasonable price. congrats

Thank you. I'm very thankful for the deal, he also gave me 10+ Vandoren Reds which is gonna save me a bit of money in the long run!

 

[lesacks]

...he also gave me 10+ Vandoren Reds which is gonna save me a bit of money in the long run!

I think you mean short run!

Congratulations!

(And commiserations to chappy who had the accident and had to go learn guitar ;( )

 

[cymru97]

Wow, great price and great horn! Congratulations, this will make your learning experience that much more enjoyable!

 

[SE_HORNS]

Wow, great price and great horn! Congratulations, this will make your learning experience that much more enjoyable!

Thank you. Can't wait to get started now. Got a Link in the post. Should be up and ready later this week.

 

[SE_HORNS]

I think you mean short run!

Congratulations!

(And commiserations to chappy who had the accident and had to go learn guitar ;( )

Thanks brother. Guitar isn't all bad though! Just allows you to express yourself in different ways. It's funny though I just constantly had this feeling I'd be able to get my message across better with a saxophone than a guitar. I was finding it hard to make a list of guitarists whos sound, playing and compositions I admire but could make a much bigger list of tenor players.

 

[Kenneth]

Congratulations on a great buy and welcome to the Conn club. I've always considered the non-RTH 10Ms, even in the later version with the underslung octave key, unbeatable value for money -- great roaring sound to die for.

BTW, to quote you, "just get a Link", eh?

He's probably right, but wait till you get to the next question, "Which Link?" and the one after that "Why Link?" and the one that sends everyone on a life-long chase à la Coltrane, "What is the perfect mouthpiece for my horn?" Ah, therein lies the rub .

In any case, may I suggest a properly faced, or refaced, STM 6 to go with your 2-1/2 Vandoren Reds? Sounds like you've already played some tenor, so this should be a good combo to start, and maybe, who knows, to stick with.

All the best,
Kenneth

 

[whaler]

STM 6

Kenneth

Great advice. As much as I'm not a Conn fan, they are really "mouthpiece friendly".
It seems odd that a Coltrane and Sanders fan would pick a Conn.

 

[SE_HORNS]

Congratulations on a great buy and welcome to the Conn club. I've always considered the non-RTH 10Ms, even in the later version with the underslung octave key, unbeatable value for money -- great roaring sound to die for.

BTW, to quote you, "just get a Link", eh?

He's probably right, but wait till you get to the next question, "Which Link?" and the one after that "Why Link?" and the one that sends everyone on a life-long chase à la Coltrane, "What is the perfect mouthpiece for my horn?" Ah, therein lies the rub .

In any case, may I suggest a properly faced, or refaced, STM 6 to go with your 2-1/2 Vandoren Reds? Sounds like you've already played some tenor, so this should be a good combo to start, and maybe, who knows, to stick with.

All the best,
Kenneth

Hahaha thanks Kenneth. I'm gonna keep an eye out for an STM, strangely there isn't many for sale near me at the minute.

 

[SE_HORNS]

Great advice. As much as I'm not a Conn fan, they are really "mouthpiece friendly".
It seems odd that a Coltrane and Sanders fan would pick a Conn.

Well, theres a number of reasons really hahaha.

First off, I'm not quite financially able to afford a MK VI which would be the obvious option (I know there are alternatives that sound close).

But also, I figured there is no point trying to completely replicate their tones as of yet as needless to say it is going to be a long time if I am ever to reach that level of technical ability but also a good friend of mine gets a very Coltrane-esque tone out of a Conn NW II (he does have the same build as Trane, so I guess that has a lot to do with it). Also, I recognised this was a much better deal than anything else on the market in the UK so to me it made sense to grab it.

One day I'll get round to a MK VI haha.

 

[GaSax]

Looks like you found a mutch better saxophone than what you were originally looking for. Congrats!

 

[SE_HORNS]

Looks like you found a mutch better saxophone than what you were originally looking for. Congrats!

Massively! Thank you.

 

[rzzzzz]

a friend of my was collecting band instruments for a charitable organization that distributes them to kids of modest means. (Hungry for Music.) someone donated a Ladyface, and he was sore tempted to figure out some way to keep it for himself and make an in kind donation. can't blame him. it played great. especially with the Drake Son of Slant i ended up lending to the cause. (which played SO much better on the Conn than it did on my own horn.) but he thought best of it and it found its way to some lucky kid somewhere.

tempting to start a thread discussing Sonny Sharrock, who moved so successfully to jazz guitar after his oral difficulties.