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2.1K views 15 replies 13 participants last post by  DaveTex  
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#1 ·
Call me Dave. Retired and loving it. Started learning to play the guitar about 7 months ago. Wife kept suggesting that I should start playing sax again as well. I finally gave in, and bought a King Cleveland 613 alto from 2ndending. It's not here yet, hopefully will arrive next week. I have reeds, a Bari Esprit mouthpiece, and a Rovner ligature already. I can make a sound with the mpc, but it isn't pretty. I also have a J & D Hite Artist mpc on the way. Just in case I don't like the Esprit. Funny how quickly Gear Acquisition Syndrome can afflict you.

Over a half century ago, I played baritone in my junior high and high school bands. I was in the jazz band as well (I/we weren't very good, but it was fun). And, there's not much more to the story.

Expect naive questions!

Dave
 
#3 ·
Sounds like my path with the baritone in school and returning to sax at retirement.
I got a tutor b/c my embouchure needed professional help.
That was a very wise move for me and I would recommend it for most everyone
who is starting out, or returning after a long break.
Some of the very most basic elements had slipped away from me.
Also, my tutor introduced me to my first bands once I got good enough.
I found my tutor by asking the local high school band director.
He recommended several retired musicians or teachers and I picked the one who lived closest.
 
#4 ·
Welcome. I started up again at about 56, dropped it for several years then started up again after retirement. Played alto and clarinet in HS but always loved the tenor sound. Enjoy the ride. A lot of your old skills will come back quickly. You'll remember the fingering without thinking about, most likely. The challenge is to make it sound musical. 😎
 
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#6 ·
Welcome! I'm also picking up the sax again after a decades-long hiatus - in my case about 20 years since I played in high school. If you want to play with others, you could see if there is a New Horizons Band near you. If you're not familiar with them, they have chapters all over the US and Canada (at least), and most focus on providing a place for people 55 years and up to learn / relearn an instrument and play in a concert band. I joined one in my city, and we have players from high school up to octogenarians , many of whom are coming back to instruments they used to play, and some learning to play an instrument for the first time. Lots of fun!
 
#8 ·
Welcome Dave ! We have a 1st name in common, as well as learning guitar as late bloomers. I’m in a very cool jazz guitar learning group, started on Facebook, but who migrated to a dedicated web site a year ago: studio.mwgcourses.com.
Looking forward to share and exchange.
 
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#11 ·
DaveTex said:
Wow! I'm overwhelmed with the response to a simple "Hey". Well, maybe just whelmed. :)
Thanks to everyone for making me feel welcome.
Click to expand...
Welcome! People here are very friendly and welcoming, and a lot of very talented and knowledgeable folk are happy to help. I am neither very talented nor knowledgeable, but I have benefitted from some many great people here.

This is one of the better instrument-based forums on the internet, IMHO. Since you are also playing guitar, you might also want to check out TDPRI.com, which is another one of my favorite forums, whether or not you own a Telecaster.

Cheers.
 
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#12 ·
Because a couple of you have noted my interest in guitar, I will disclose my "axes". I have a Martin D-X2E dreadnought body acoustic and a Gretsch G2420 hollowbody electric. And a tiny little practice amp. I play both instruments about equally poorly. I fully expect that I will play my sax better than the guitars almost from the get-go in spite of the geologic time span since last picking a horn up. We shall see.
 
#14 ·
Hey Dave - no interest in your Martin (we here have Maton) but Gretsch? well that attracts my respect - wonderful guitars. I also love Guild. Great to meet you mate.
 
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#16 ·
OK! Now I feel like a bona fide member. King Cleveland saxophone arrived today. Serial C173xxx, I think that puts its build year in 1965 or 1966. I have spent some time with it, just playing around and testing as well as I can at this point the 3 mouthpieces I now have: the Bari esprit, the D&J Hite Artist, and the surprise inclusion with the sax of a King "A". The Hite may be a bit easier to blow, particularly low notes. I haven't played in decades, so about all I can say is I don't sound completely terrible. Just short of that. But I'm pretty pleased with it. 😎
 
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