[Chris Peryagh]

Can anyone guess the make and model of the sax I'm holding?

A lifetime's supply of air for the most thorough answer.

 

[Chris Peryagh]

But no prizes for getting the mouthpiece/reed combo.

 

[Tharruff]

The photo is not close enough for me to see enough details but in general it looks like it 'could' be a silver plated VI ?

 

[Reedsplinter]

For sure that's a Rico Military Select #7H reed. No doubt about it. As to the rest, I'm still analyzing. Or still in analysis.

 

[martysax]

Why is the man behind you in a different uniform?

 

[hakukani]

...and why are the drummers holding their sticks like piccolos?

 

[rs1sensen]

...and why are the drummers holding their sticks like piccolos?

be nice! they're drummers, they get confused!

 

[martysax]

be nice! they're drummers, they get confused!

Wouldn't it be funny if all the musicians ran off and left the drummers facing forward in silence? Too bad they're not in skirts.

 

[Chris Peryagh]

Yep, it's a silver plated MkVI. I can only march with this sax as it has a lyre attachment that my Yamaha doesn't. And yeah, the jacket buttons don't half scratch up the finish - which is why I set all my buttons in clear resin to stop the sax getting scratched (the tuba and euph players wear bibs for this same reason), and more reason not to use my Yamaha.

Now do you reckon it's an early or late MkVI? Shame there's not a great deal of detail as that'd give it away.

 

[ratracer]

...and why are the drummers holding their sticks like piccolos?

Because they're about to sneeze in unison?? :?:

 

[Jonathan C.]

I will say late.

 

[Nefertiti]

Is the guy behind you in the wrong parade?

 

[Reedsplinter]

That's no guy! That's a lady!:shock:

 

[Reedsplinter]

Whoops, I'm being dyslexic again. The guy behind is actually with The Village People.

 

[jmm1713]

I'd say it's a late vi also

 

[whaler]

...and why are the drummers holding their sticks like piccolos?

It looks like they are going to "toot", but maybe not piccolos.

 

[Chris Peryagh]

It is a bloke in the Matelot gear (he's a cornet player) - though the RAF trombonist in front of me is indeed a lady. Even though it's a volunteer band and most of us are in officer's uniform, we do have Matelots (as you can see), Royal Marines, RAF, Army and Police - either serving or ex-serving as well as us civvies.

When we visited Virginia earlier this year the kids in the school band we did a joint concert said 'what's with the drummers doing the moustache thing?' It's just one of those things they do, not sure why but when there's a whole line of at least 15 drummers doing a Mexican wave with their sticks it's pretty impressive.

And it's a late MkVI with high F# - in it's current condition it's reasonably playable, but there's a lot wrong with it (poor venting, spring tension, regulation, pads not seating, etc.). Although it does have a great sound and I wouldn't mind sorting it all out myself to really make it bark.

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

...and why are the drummers holding their sticks like piccolos?

As a former pipe major in a civilian band of Highland pipes and drums (or drums and pipes if you were in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders), I can tell you that the tradition began as a smart way in which drummers in British regimental bands "salute" so to speak. In between playing, they will bring both sticks up in a like manner as a salute.

 

[Chris Peryagh]

Though as I play oboe with the band (in it's concert form) I should be doing bass drum. That means not having to read music while marching, giving the march off and halt signals to the others and wearing the (very real and very old) tiger skin.