[SaxDa1]

Hi there,

I was wondering why Conn produced high pitch horns?

Im not sure if any other company did....

Can these instruments be used in modern situations?

I mostly see altos in high pitch .... what value do you estimate them at?



Cheers,

Saxda1

 

[BOPITY FUNK]

Keep away from them like the PLAGUE!!!! Many bands and orchestra's used high pitch to the same extent as we now use 'low pitch'
Apart from curiosity value they are a waste of time.

 

[Grumps]

I was wondering why Conn produced high pitch horns?

I believe for a European market where such pitch was still in use.

Im not sure if any other company did....

I've seen Buescher high pitched horns. Martin used the low pitch designation on their older horns, and though I've never come across one that's high pitched, I'm sure someone else can chime in if they've seen one.

Can these instruments be used in modern situations?

Only with other high pitched instruments... so basically, no.

I mostly see altos in high pitch .... what value do you estimate them at?

I've seen folks trying to sell high pitched sopranos on Ebay in the past. Whatever the horn, unless it's a mint specimen, with all original equipment that would appeal to a collector, you'd have to weigh it and see what scrap brass is selling for by the pound.

 

[milandro]

High pitch is also called Military pitch and at one time was the standard pitch in the military USA bands, the standard orchestral pitch of 440 was invented in Germany and only later became known as American Standard pitch .

But anyway this is a very complex thing and you need to read this article here to undestand more about it

http://www.rugs-n-relics.com/Brass/brass-images/High-Low-Pitch.html

 

[Metalflake]

http://www.saxontheweb.net/Resources/Pitch.html

Everything you ever wanted to know about high pitch vs. low pitch.

 

[RootyTootoot]

Ok, just to play devil's advocate. Say I'm playing in a band with guitars and a modern keyboard (all fine-tuneable to a higher A).

I have this lovely sounding high pitch sax ie it sounds nice on its own.

Is my high pitch sax then such an evil piece of junk?

Theoretically.

 

[milandro]

no, you could use it, in fact I think that many high pitch horns are used in non western music

 

[RootyTootoot]

What makes you think that sax is high pitch, milandro? Have you checked the pitch of the recording or..?

 

[milandro]

no, I didn't but other people have speculated that this might be. For sure it wouldn't matter because all the instruments would be tuned to its pitch

 

[RootyTootoot]

I had another thought. Presumably pads and other parts might be very very slightly different for high pitch horns (??) Enough to make servicing very difficult (??) Mind you, the cmelodists have soldiered on bravely for years..

 

[milandro]

almost any brand and types of saxophones has several differences in sizes even between the same pitch and type

 

[Grumps]

Ok, just to play devil's advocate. Say I'm playing in a band with guitars and a modern keyboard (all fine-tuneable to a higher A).

My guess it they'd find another player rather than deal with a saxophonist who can't pick out a proper horn. Guitar players don't know how to tune their instruments anyhow; just look for a green light.

 

[SaxDa1]

thanks for the info and links guys.! Some great info in the links

Thanks Grumps. Its great to get each sub question answered.

I think its imporatant for those selling high pitch horns to understand they arent worth standard vintage conn prices.

Keep your eyes out for the "H" under the serial number. "L" is what you want to see. Buyer beware !!

 

[RootyTootoot]

.. Guitar players don't know how to tune their instruments anyhow..

True, true.. :twisted:

 

[Oric Muso]

I have a Boosey & Co Regent tenor which is high pitch. Very weird palm keys on it.

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

Here is another fine performance by Kadri Gopalnath. He appears to be playing either a modified pre existing horn (he is said to have developed a modified saxophone design better suited to playing Carnatic music), or one made especially for him. Note the modified left hand pinkie table keys, and lack of a Low Bb bell key, but full sized bell:

 

[dubrosa22]

Stay away!!!!!
:mrgreen:

 

[bruce bailey]

There is a soprano on ebay right now that shows a resolder to the Eb cage and you can see that the serial number and S are clear but the letter below has a faint H. I have found that Conns before about 1915 are the ones you really need to watch as HP is fairly common. Seems like AUS and NZ had a lot of these.

 

[milandro]

As I wrote in the past in the Netherlands HP instruments have been used by marching bands up until the '70 ans I have found ( and unwittingly bought) Amati ( they have a small H at the back of the horn) and Dolnet ( no designation!) in HP , I also once found a Couesnon that was shorter than normal and that wouldn't play in tune, nothing identified as HP. So, it is not only Conn, when buying a horn always measure it ( High pitch horns are shorter) and if possible play it with a tuner. You can tune one note but the mouthpiece would be almost falling off to do so and the other notes wont' be in tune or, as it were, the horn is not in tune with itself.Some people claim that they can play, especially HP sopranos in tune. This is possible with great reed control and bending the notes but it is almost sure that the tuning will be , at best, approximate.

In this video the owner and player claims he can do it, in my opinion he can't and fools himself by using lots of vibrato and changing rapidly the sound.

If you would put long notes against a tuner it would show a different story.

 

[Stephen Howard]

I had another thought. Presumably pads and other parts might be very very slightly different for high pitch horns (??) Enough to make servicing very difficult (??) Mind you, the cmelodists have soldiered on bravely for years..

No problem at all.

Regards,