[bradshawm]

I have talked with two dealers of the PMSC-2400 and received two different answers so I was hoping you all would be able to shed a little more light. Being familiar with the 64 and wanting a curved rather than straight, I am wondering if the the 2400 is darker or brighter than the 64, and more focused or spread. One dealer told me it was brighter, more spread and much freer blowing, while the other told me it was more focused, slightly darker and more resisitant.

I understand this is all opinion, but if you have compared the two, I would like to hear yours, or better yet, if you have recorded them, I would like to hear the recording.

 

[openrivers]

bump

 

[Yellowhorn]

Bradshawm -

The 64 is darker than the PMSC 2400. I know you think highly of PM horns (alto, tenor), as I have done and still do, but the curved sop is NOT P Mauriat's forte! Trust me: I have had a BX500 curved sop (black pearl) customized for me before and found it just OK, if not mediocre. If you want a good curved sop, save your dough and go for a Yani, R&C, or, if you can afford it, a Borgani!

 

[openrivers]

hello yellowhorn,
thank you for your response.
you play many horns and it looks like that you have tried even more.

i for myself play a conn chu berry on tenor and just love it.
and i have heared an old soprano conn many years ago and just loved it...
that would be the starting point for the sound i would like in a soprano.

so there would be two directions i would like go into when i would be into the market for a soprano today:

look out for a golden chu berry soprano with good intonation and dreamlike sound...

look out for any new ones with dream (?) sound and new mechanics and top intonation.

of the new ones i only tried a semi curved r&c and it was good, but didnt kick my a##.
hmmm... maybe give it a try again with another mouthpiece/reed one day...

i think i look out for a "high" alto when i look for a sopranos...

 

[bradshawm]

Yellowhorn - Isn't the BX500 the solid nickel silver sax with black nickel plating? I have the solid nickel silver Tenor (ns60) and it is a totally different sax than the brass ones. I am on the verge of order the 2400 (in fact I was going to do it tonight), but made sure there was a good return policy since I have been unable to try it first. What do you mean by "OK" and "mediocre"? Are you talking the sound quality, the playability, quality of construction, or ?

Thanks.

 

[Udikas]

My techer plays a Keilwerth soprsno, maybe something to try out. once I tried a Conn soprano and really dug it, but it was to pricey. Now I have a B&S that feels a little the same, but far cheaper.

 

[bradshawm]

I talked with shop where I am going to purchase the 2400, and the salesman stated that P. Mauriatt has redesigned the curved soprano to bring it up to the same quality as the rest of their horns. He said the original ones had lots of problems. I also called another online dealer to inquire, and they said the same thing, that there have been several changes made to the curved soprano. Since it has a good trial, no restocking fees, etc, I went ahead and ordered it. So, no more asking questions, in a few days I will know.

 

[Yellowhorn]

Marshall -

I sent you a pm in response to your decision to go for the 2400 curvie.

To others -

As the legendary sop master Steve Lacy has written in his book, the soprano is a very difficult instrument to master. And I would add to his "finding" that the curved sop is a much more demanding (difficult) instrument to MAKE and to PLAY than the straight one. This, I think, has to do with the small size and curved shape/structure of the curvie and makes it more challenging to blow and control than its straight sister.

And while several makers, including Antiqua, make great straight sops, they are not as successful as Yani, RC, Borgani, Conn, Martin in making the curvies. I have not played a Conn, Borgani, or Martin curvy, but based on what others who own them have said, they are great horns.

So, do you want to get a mediocre curved sop just because it is cheap? No, right? And, guess what, with $1000-1500 you spend on a Taiwanese curvy, why not get a used early-model Yani curvie ( because the SC901 and the later models will cost more)? I have seen them go for $1200!

 

[Yellowhorn]

Marshall -

The BX500 (aka black pearl) is the sister of the NS60. I must say that the BX500 tenor is a great horn, the alto is also quite good.

Back to curvies, the Buescher curvies are rare, but I have heard they play very nicely - like Buescher straight sops.