Indeed, I bought a few boxes from him in November as well, to compare with the Evo's - Luca told me his unfiled reeds are exactly the same cut as the old Lupifaro Jazz reeds, in case anybody is missing them! (I certainly prefer them to the Evo's, there's a bit more core to the Cardinali's IMO).
Nexus Saxophones - Chad Lefkowitz-Brown and Jack Finucane of BSS
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If you want to get a dead, dry sound it seems to be just right.
'Balls'? Saxes don't have them - its up to the player. In this case, none. Who would want a horn after a demonstration of a cardboard sound and intonation all over the place. The guy would probably sound better on a YTS-23.
S: R&C Half-curved, EM Curvy; A: YAS875EXIIS, PM 67R; T: Eastman 52nd St, Triumpf; B: Nova Bronze
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Wow, I dunno if we are hearing the same things at all... The horn, the playing, the intonation... Chad sounds great as usual. Some of his recordings sound distant - but that's how they are setup.
I have heard many others say similar things about Chad's sound others - even when he was on his MkVI though. And they attributed it to the SYOS piece. I specifically remember someone saying he sounded like he was playing a kazoo, and I was baffled by that statement too
To each their own though, I think he sounds great, but maybe not everyone will/does
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He certainly has practiced his scales and patterns. Started out with the melody, then started just running the changes.
The tone on both songs sounds really unsupported, unstable. I stopped listening after about two minutes.
I guess that is a great modern sound. No more than mezzopiano and "free" intonation.
The tone on both songs sounds really unsupported, unstable. I stopped listening after about two minutes.
I guess that is a great modern sound. No more than mezzopiano and "free" intonation.
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I think he's an incredible player, and lots of his educational material is great. I'd class his sound as bright, with lots of volume and projection. Whilst that isn't my sound concept, it's refreshing when lots of other players are going for a darker/drier/woodier sound (myself included!). I like his soud best on ballads.
Here's a comparison between a Ref 54 and this new horn
Here's a comparison between a Ref 54 and this new horn
S: R&C Half-curved, EM Curvy; A: YAS875EXIIS, PM 67R; T: Eastman 52nd St, Triumpf; B: Nova Bronze
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He really is an incredible player. Again everyone has their own taste But that video is far better than what I posted! Thanks for sharing That was great
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thats what Eastman has Ben trying to do with the 52nd Street and other horns. It's like a CONN body taper with everything else like Selmer.
I agree. It's not a nice sound to hear through an entire video or lesson, gets really annoying. Too many just really fast scales. I doubt the YTS-23 would help (except maybe it might slow him down for a change).
S: R&C Half-curved, EM Curvy; A: YAS875EXIIS, PM 67R; T: Eastman 52nd St, Triumpf; B: Nova Bronze
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The website remains empty but I'm throwing out some other details since it's been a while:
They are working on a prototype mouthpiece, Nexus Mouthpiece.
They are now working prototype reeds, Nexus Reeds... I believe you can see both here:
I'll post moreas I find out!
They are working on a prototype mouthpiece, Nexus Mouthpiece.
They are now working prototype reeds, Nexus Reeds... I believe you can see both here:
I'll post moreas I find out!
Re China, it's very unlikely the origin is China, much more likely it's Taiwan. But his horn has an aftermarket neck that I've always wondered about. It looks like a Jessen. I only state what it looks like so the person who knows what it is will be motivated to contradict and let that info out. Sh**, probably supposed to not write that last part out.
Eastman appears to have changed its source recently (re above comments). The ones of the previous gen looked very familiar to me, and by familiar I don't mean "tapered like 10Ms." The previous gen looked to me to be from the same origin as some Macsax, others. The more recent look like a different origin also in common with others. I haven't had the more recent in my hands, but have had the previous come in more than once. I like them very much. I just don't see a reason to believe there is anything there that has any relation to a 10M, other than possibly a mod in the neck.
Yeap. I'm not sure if I hit the correct page for their current top shelf offering, but this one:
www.eastmanwinds.com
Does not seem to be the same factory as this one:
www.tenormadness.com
At least not to my eye.
If CLB's tenor is also Taiwan, that's not a knock on his offering to underline this. The Eastman and others from that same factory are being played by top players because they're up to the task. The understanding of this is just not as widespread yet as it's eventually going to be. Taiwan tenors were on par with everything top shelf made prior to the recent improvements (over the last 10 or 15 years) in alloys and fine tolerances (Selmer and some others have upped the ante in those two categories, fairly recently) starting about at that same point. They continue to improve. This isn't as true as China. Some China factories deteriorate over time. IMO no China offerings are on par with Taiwan on the bottom line, but dollar for dollar (China offerings cost about half of what Taiwan offerings do at wholesale, same specs) the proportional value is similar.
But nobody should assume or believe CLB's offering is from China until proven otherwise. China tenors absolutely are up to snuff for professional work, but those professionals are going to be rock and other contemporary/pop oriented players, not "bebop and beyond." To very skilled (jazz) players there are just subtle differences in balance of scale, response and timbre that are not going to be in line with their concept (though they are in line with other types of players' concept). This, however, is mostly applicable to tenor, which is what CLB is playing/showing/apparently-selling. Altos from China can be made more in line with Taiwan altos than tenors can. They are closer in scale-balance/response/timbre than tenor vs tenor. The biggest difference between very good China and Taiwan altos will be subtleties of response -- in particular when attacking and releasing notes. Soprano is yet again a different case, and some very skilled bebop/jazz players may actually prefer China sopranos to Taiwan sopranos. But when it comes to tenor, again, it's very unlikely the offering in question is from China.
ETS850
The 52nd Street saxophone is a professional instrument and comes un-lacquered for a truly vintage appearance. It is an exceptionally responsive horn in all registers and produces a big, fat sound with precise intonation. A larger bell and rolled-style tone holes contribute to the sound qualities...
www.eastmanwinds.com
Does not seem to be the same factory as this one:
Eastman 52nd Street Tenor Saxophone - $4238.00 | Tenor Madness
The Eastman 52nd Street Tenor saxophone boasts a vintage appearance with professional qualities! Responsive in all registers, precise intonation, and a big sound compare to the great vintage horns of the past thanks to a large bell and rolled-style tone holes. The modern construction allows for...
www.tenormadness.com
At least not to my eye.
If CLB's tenor is also Taiwan, that's not a knock on his offering to underline this. The Eastman and others from that same factory are being played by top players because they're up to the task. The understanding of this is just not as widespread yet as it's eventually going to be. Taiwan tenors were on par with everything top shelf made prior to the recent improvements (over the last 10 or 15 years) in alloys and fine tolerances (Selmer and some others have upped the ante in those two categories, fairly recently) starting about at that same point. They continue to improve. This isn't as true as China. Some China factories deteriorate over time. IMO no China offerings are on par with Taiwan on the bottom line, but dollar for dollar (China offerings cost about half of what Taiwan offerings do at wholesale, same specs) the proportional value is similar.
But nobody should assume or believe CLB's offering is from China until proven otherwise. China tenors absolutely are up to snuff for professional work, but those professionals are going to be rock and other contemporary/pop oriented players, not "bebop and beyond." To very skilled (jazz) players there are just subtle differences in balance of scale, response and timbre that are not going to be in line with their concept (though they are in line with other types of players' concept). This, however, is mostly applicable to tenor, which is what CLB is playing/showing/apparently-selling. Altos from China can be made more in line with Taiwan altos than tenors can. They are closer in scale-balance/response/timbre than tenor vs tenor. The biggest difference between very good China and Taiwan altos will be subtleties of response -- in particular when attacking and releasing notes. Soprano is yet again a different case, and some very skilled bebop/jazz players may actually prefer China sopranos to Taiwan sopranos. But when it comes to tenor, again, it's very unlikely the offering in question is from China.
S: R&C Half-curved, EM Curvy; A: YAS875EXIIS, PM 67R; T: Eastman 52nd St, Triumpf; B: Nova Bronze
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Thanks for the info ptung - i wanted to clarify, the Eastman 52nd st never cliamed to be modeled after a 10m, only that it attempted to get the same sound. The information i posted in another thread about the 852/652 saxophones from Eastman was direct from Andreas Eastman themselves, they have ndeed changed factories from one in Taiwan (652) to a newly constructed, privately owned by Eastman, and for the sole purpose of making only Eastman instruments, factory in China (852), as they apparently wanted their horns to be the sole horns produced by the factory, and no one else can claim to have horns made at the same factory.
As an update on the nexus horns, there was a cryptic post on Boston Sax Shops instagram, as well as Chad-LBs instagram about news coming on the Nexus saxophones. Boston sax shop removed their post, but it showed various pictures of parts of the saxophone, which now features a Silver Bell and Silver Neck- ala King Silversonics. Here is the undetailed post from Chad-LB that just states more info coming soon, (and him doing more outdoor recordings!):
As an update on the nexus horns, there was a cryptic post on Boston Sax Shops instagram, as well as Chad-LBs instagram about news coming on the Nexus saxophones. Boston sax shop removed their post, but it showed various pictures of parts of the saxophone, which now features a Silver Bell and Silver Neck- ala King Silversonics. Here is the undetailed post from Chad-LB that just states more info coming soon, (and him doing more outdoor recordings!):
S: R&C Half-curved, EM Curvy; A: YAS875EXIIS, PM 67R; T: Eastman 52nd St, Triumpf; B: Nova Bronze
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An awesome young player, Ryan Devlin, got to test this beauty:
instagram.com
Love the new look ala Silversonic, (or yanagisawa I suppose)
Watch this story by Ryan Devlin on Instagram before it disappears.
15.6k Followers, 1,819 Following, 1,385 Posts
instagram.com
Love the new look ala Silversonic, (or yanagisawa I suppose)
S: R&C Half-curved, EM Curvy; A: YAS875EXIIS, PM 67R; T: Eastman 52nd St, Triumpf; B: Nova Bronze
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Well I believe we may finally be getting more details tomorrow:
www.instagram.com
Boston Sax Shop on Instagram: "Boston Sax L I V E this Monday at 5pm EST! 🎷🎙 Let’s get nerdy 🤓 #bostonsaxshop #nexussaxophones"
599 Likes, 14 Comments - Boston Sax Shop (@bostonsax) on Instagram: "Boston Sax L I V E this Monday at 5pm EST! 🎷🎙 Let’s get nerdy 🤓 #bostonsaxshop #nexus..."
www.instagram.com
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