[rpembert]

Well i think I might have to get one. From what I have read it seems that the 582 will be my choice. I just like the stright neck. I have read the threads and have seen a bunch of praise on these instruments. I have been playing the sax for about 14 years. I started out with a CONN alto. Old used one and never played in tune, but it was my baby. Then I started to work in a music store and they had LeBlanc and Amati alto saxes. Big differense when you play something that is new. Loved the LeBlanc and the Amati was OK.

Well I know i will get stoned for this but I like Kenny G. I think someone just threw a rock through my window................... Anyway I started to listen to him when I was a kid in Mexico. My parents were missionarys and I was home schooled. I tought my self how to play on that beat up conn. Did'nt sound good but it was all that I had. I would listen to Kenny on my little cd player and try to play along with the conn. No sheet music just by ear. I got close but still sounded bad. Not to a 14 year old though!

My first Soprano was a Buescher that I bought from WWBW. It was $500 and was the prettiest thing I had ever seen. Did not play well in tune but was close. I would sit out on the front porch and just improvise. I just love playing. From what I read the 582-LQ is comparable to the 901! That sounds great!. I love the Yani's but have never played anything that nice before. Mr. Kessler looks to have a nice page and I have been trying to get in touch but I know how school season is. Rough!!!

Anyway this is my first post and glad to be a part of the community.

Thanks,
Joshua

 

[Carl H.]

Welcome. Great story. I hope you continue to play better instruments as you improve and broaden your horizons as you discover other sax players.

KG is as good a reason as any to pickup an instrument and learn.

 

[vivace1]

1) I just bought an Antigua 586 soprano...I love it.

2) Kenny G is an easy target because of some of his vintage VH1 videos that can thankfully still be seen through youtube . (I particularly love the one of him playing next to an upturned novel sitting on a ledge overlooking the city) However, trying to copy his sound is by no means a bad model. I'm just beginning to gain an appreciation for "smooth jazz" playing. I think it's absence from University programs contributes to the snobbery directed against this style. It has a simplicity and accessibility that a lot of great jazz players could still learn a lesson or two from.

 

[Finnerski]

Well i think I might have to get one. From what I have read it seems that the 582 will be my choice. I just like the stright neck. I have read the threads and have seen a bunch of praise on these instruments. I have been playing the sax for about 14 years. I started out with a CONN alto. Old used one and never played in tune, but it was my baby. Then I started to work in a music store and they had LeBlanc and Amati alto saxes. Big differense when you play something that is new. Loved the LeBlanc and the Amati was OK.

Well I know i will get stoned for this but I like Kenny G. I think someone just threw a rock through my window................... Anyway I started to listen to him when I was a kid in Mexico. My parents were missionarys and I was home schooled. I tought my self how to play on that beat up conn. Did'nt sound good but it was all that I had. I would listen to Kenny on my little cd player and try to play along with the conn. No sheet music just by ear. I got close but still sounded bad. Not to a 14 year old though!

My first Soprano was a Buescher that I bought from WWBW. It was $500 and was the prettiest thing I had ever seen. Did not play well in tune but was close. I would sit out on the front porch and just improvise. I just love playing. From what I read the 582-LQ is comparable to the 901! That sounds great!. I love the Yani's but have never played anything that nice before. Mr. Kessler looks to have a nice page and I have been trying to get in touch but I know how school season is. Rough!!!

Anyway this is my first post and glad to be a part of the community.

Thanks,
Joshua

Welcome aboard Joshua! I won't tag you for liking Kenny G but I'm just a nice guy. Anyway, do the best you can to get an instrument that will play in tune for you, otherwise your perception of what is in tune may be off. It goes right along with learning all the bad habits you acquire due to no instruction. I think you can get away with some bad habits, but poor intonation will hurt you if you want to play with a group of folks. Good luck, stick around and let us know how you are doing. If you do a search on KG, I'm sure you can find guys on this forum that are his fans. Good luck!

 

[rpembert]

Thanks Guys,

I have a Cromatic(i think i spelled that right) tuner. Korg to be specific. And I would use it when I played on the LeBlanc and Amati. I can hear when I am not in tune and adjust for it, sometimes. Great to have a tuner though. Weird how every sax is different:roll: I was being sarcastic. My mother has perfect pitch and I have a little bit of it. You could say our family is musicly inclined. I also play the guitar, piano, Clarinet, and flute. Just a little bit on the flute. That thing is hard! I can play a sax ok, but I am trying to learn to get the virbrato down. Know of any good sites that my have a video on virbrato?

Looking forward to get the 582. Tried to call Kessler's but he was at a doctor's appointment.

Thanks,
Joshua

 

[Finnerski]

Do a search on vibrato on this forum , it has been talked about. You say the soprano is hard, you are indeed correct on that one. Try an Alto or Tenor and I'll bet they are a breeze to play compared to the Sop, especially with intonation.

 

[rpembert]

Well I talked to Mr. Chuck Kessler and he has convinced me to buy a 586-lq instead of the 582. He said it has better intonation and I am not going to argue. Very nice guy too. I just need to get a decent MP. I think he said that the one that come with it is a Yamaha? Correct me if I am wrong. Soprano is not that hard for me to play. Not that easy either. I was talking about the Flute. Different animal.

Anywho,

Thanks,
Joshua

 

[SaxyAcoustician]

Try an Alto or Tenor and I'll bet they are a breeze to play compared to the Sop, especially with intonation.

They're ALL hard instruments. To sound like Phil Woods on alto is hard. To sound like Michael Brecker on tenor is hard. To sound like Kenny G on soprano is hard (and yes, I mean that). I did a gig this past July for which I had to play a few Kenny G tunes. I hadn't done Kenny G songs for years but even this time around I ended up learning quite a bit from him particularly with regards to phrasing and breathing and air control.

I think it's absence from University programs contributes to the snobbery directed against this style.

Couldn't have said it better myself. To sound like Eric Marienthal and Kirk Whalum and Gerald Albright is HARD, HARD, HARD.

 

[Dave Dolson]

Joshua: Welcome to SOTW. Sorry I got in here late but just returned from out of town.

1. Before I played a nice 582 at the NAMM Show last January, I probably would have advised against the 582. The ones I'd played before were not in tune but it was because the neck corks were SO thick that i couldn't shove my mouthpiece on far enough. At the NAMM Show I was able to place my mouthpiece where I always place it on sopranos and . . . that was it. The 582 played great.

2. The Buescher you bought from WW&BW that looked so pretty . . . a cheap Asian (probably Chinese) horn with the Buescher name slapped on it. Believe me, they are not indicative of the wonderful old Buescher TrueTones, Elkhart, Indiana. I just didn't want you to think you had a REAL Buescher.

3. The 586 should play nice - I have a 590LQ that plays well. I also have a Yanagisawa S992, SC902, and a recently acquired S901. The Yanas are all nicer than the Antiguas, but for the money, the Antiguas will serve your purposes. DAVE

 

[Martinman]

Are you sure that wasn't a power bar someone threw though your window ?



The yamaha piece that comes with the Antiguas is actually pretty decent, especailly for a beginer. Try a Vandoren ZZ reed on it.

 

[RootyTootoot]

Hi kenny J err.. I mean..Joshy ken..err...WELCOME anyway!! You're sure to get a little teasing for the KG thing but, hey, you go on liking what you like! That always seems to work best. Whatever's made you enjoy the sax and want to take it further is a good thing. Hope you enjoy the community.

All the best.

 

[rpembert]

Thanks for the reply guys. I have always injoyed the single piece design of the 582 but Mr. Kessler said it doesn't have the intonation that the 586 does. Dave your veiws?? I have read your posts and I will listen to you aswell. That goes for all of you guys. I know that the 586 is better but I just like the look of the 582. I know, I know.............

Thanks,
Joshua

 

[Finnerski]

They're ALL hard instruments. To sound like Phil Woods on alto is hard. To sound like Michael Brecker on tenor is hard. To sound like Kenny G on soprano is hard (and yes, I mean that). I did a gig this past July for which I had to play a few Kenny G tunes. I hadn't done Kenny G songs for years but even this time around I ended up learning quite a bit from him particularly with regards to phrasing and breathing and air control.

Couldn't have said it better myself. To sound like Eric Marienthal and Kirk Whalum and Gerald Albright is HARD, HARD, HARD.

No argument there SA. I guess I was just thinking that this guy was talking about having intonation problems on Soprano. Well I think the Soprano is the hardest sax play in tune, and I think a lot of other players think that too. As far as playing like the great people you mentioned, I will never be in that kind of category so that sort of comparison never really crossed my mind. I was just maybe suggesting he try one of the more common horns to play on. I also agree with you on Kenny G. He would absolutely smoke me out of the water. I think he sounds much better on tenor, by the way

You are right Joshua, you mentioned the flute. Sorry about that!

 

[rpembert]

I know about the Buescher. It was a cheap sax. $500 and Tiawan stamped on it. To bad that they have to put Beuscher on it. I know about the TT and what a great sax. Only seen and heard it on the net.

Joshua

 

[Dave Dolson]

Joshua: I'm not sure that the 586 (or 590 - same thing, really) is better than the 582. The 586/590 has more gadgets (dual necks and hi-G on the 590) but those features don't mean a whole lot except if you NEED a curved neck for whatever reason.

I'd think the whole Antigua line in sopranos is pretty darned good considering the costs. Like I said before, once I found a 582 with a small enough neck cork, the intonation issued disappeared on the 582 for me.

I'm enjoying my S901 (similar to the 582 but obviously a nicer horn) and find the hassles with neck removal and installation are gone. Plus, I think my S901 may have even better intonation than my S992 or 590LQ. I'm not sure why, though - could be any number of reasons NOT associated with the dual-neck feature. And, that is not to say the S992 or 590LQ are lacking, just that my S901 is remarkable (like all the S901's I've tried).

My take on the whole thing is that if money is an issue, go for the 582. If not, go for an S901. They are available used (mine was a used one - in perfect condition) and I suspect the Kessler's would tell you the same thing about Yanagisawas vs. Antiguas. Obviously, Chuck Kessler thinks the 582 lacks in intonation and I am not arguing that point other than to tell you what I experienced (a nice 582). DAVE

 

[SaxyAcoustician]

I tried an Antigua 582 soprano a few years back. AWESOME horn. Plays in tune assuming you know how to play soprano. So Joshua, get the 582 if that's what you want. Don't let anyone stop you.

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

Yes, I chose a 582LQ when they first hit the scene because I'm not crazy about the seperate necked, straight sopranos (bought it from Kessler and Sons too, and couldn't be more pleased in every regard).

As SaxyAcoustician states, it does indeed play very well in tune if you are competent on the soprano, and is a wonderful horn at any price. For under a grand, it is a remarkable deal.

 

[rpembert]

Thanks gents, you guys have been a great help. Looking forward to posting some of my playing on SOTW.

Volume down and remove any pets and children when I play!!

Thanks,
Joshua

 

[rpembert]

Well I just ordered the 586-LQ from Kessler. I will be pleased. If you guys say the intonation is better, then who am I to argue. I am a beginner still so I need to shutup and listen to the experianced.





What a beautiful looking sax!!!! I have been trying to play the picture!!! I have found some videos of a Yani playing on YouTube. If it sounds close then I am a happy camper! I just need to get a new MP. I talked to Dave K and asked him if a Rovner Lig was a good idea. He told me, "at this time it dont matter, use the original". So I will. I am thinking about getting the Super Session I or the Morgan Protone. I will be using the Vandoren ZZ. I just like the Vandoren line. They really helped me out on the Conn, so I know that they will do fine on the 586. Never used the ZZ though so that will be a new experiance.

Thanks guys,
Joshua

Kessler Music you ROCK:headbang: