[malteof]

In the middle of trying to get rid of a bunch of horns, but this is so cool (and affordable):

Sakkusu Straight Tenor Saxophone - Gold Lacquer

Stand out from the crowd with this head turning, affordable Straight Tenor Saxophone! Completing the Sakkusu range in the most dramatic of styles is this extraordinary Straight Alto Sax. It is a rarity to be able to find a modern-production straight tenor sax these days, let alone an affordable...

www.sax.co.uk

 

[atmartin50]

In the middle of trying to get rid of a bunch of horns, but this is so cool (and affordable):

Sakkusu Straight Tenor Saxophone - Gold Lacquer

Stand out from the crowd with this head turning, affordable Straight Tenor Saxophone! Completing the Sakkusu range in the most dramatic of styles is this extraordinary Straight Alto Sax. It is a rarity to be able to find a modern-production straight tenor sax these days, let alone an affordable...

www.sax.co.uk

I saw this, too. Very cool! To my ears, the difference in timbre (between straight and conventional saxes) is more pronounced with the straight alto, which I find more intriguing than the straight tenor. Joe Lovano has put out some records where he's played both. I can't remember the name of them, but I remember really enjoying the sound.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

A straight tenor for 699 euro is crazy! I see one in my near future. I've played JK Straight Alto and LA Sax Straight alto but never a tenor.

 

[Dr G]

I saw this, too. Very cool! To my ears, the difference in timbre (between straight and conventional saxes) is more pronounced with the straight alto, which I find more intriguing than the straight tenor. Joe Lovano has put out some records where he's played both. I can't remember the name of them, but I remember really enjoying the sound.

There is no comparison here of straight vs curved. What are you listening to?

The core sound will still depend on the geometry of the neck and bore - without regard to the bow. The difference due to straight vs curved is more akin to playing a horn with a large bow radius, ex. Buescher TH&C or J-K SX90, where you can feel the difference in back pressure in the horn when you navigate the low end of the horn.

Unless they did some engineering on the "bell" key mechanism, I would expect the long rods to have a lot of torsional flex in them, and not feel positive under the fingers.

 

[malteof]

I have a feeling any perceived difference in tone would likely be due to the bell projecting in a different direction than with a normal tenor. Also, @Dr G's point is fair - there's no actual comparison in the video

Hadn't thought about the long rods leading to a less enjoyable feeling under the fingers... Still, the novelty and interesting look might outweigh it even if one just ends up using it every now and then.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Also check to see if these chinese manufactured horns have blue needle springs or just stainless. Makes a huge difference on these mainland horns.

 

[dirty]

That case must be a pain to store. I would love to try one, but I can't imagine actually owning it.

 

[datsaxman]

Yeah, longer than a bari case. And the already mentioned long long long keys and rods.

 

[datsaxman]

This would benefit from a "linear" keywork system a la Jim Schmidt.
No more long rods. And stainless too.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

This would benefit from a "linear" keywork system a la Jim Schmidt.
No more long rods. And stainless too.

If his altos go for $10K I can not even fathom what a straight tenor would cost? $100K?

 

[datsaxman]

Yeah, not cheap.

 

[Guto]

these never made sense to me. a solution looking for a problem . I see no upside. only a bulky, hard to handle instrument, with long rods.

 

[malteof]

these never made sense to me. a solution looking for a problem . I see no upside. only a bulky, hard to handle instrument, with long rods.

It's all about looking cool

 

[milandro]

I saw them many years ago at Frankfurt, Rheuben Allen had a few straight tenors (and altos), interesting though they are I think that the great majority may buy this for the cool factor but never really play them outside of the occasional gigs to show the sax off. Of course they all came from the Buescher idea (which also produced a straight baritone) and since then the idea, in practice never took off.

One of the probrems are indeed the very long rods, prone to flexing , I remember that I commented to Mr. Allen that it may be wise to detach the link of the G# just to lighten the action of the rest of the pinkie table ( as Couesnon did in their horns).


Aside for the playing problems ( how many time will you bump the bottom of you saxophone onto an object that you don’t see?) there is another serious problem, if you play with a microphone or you are recording where are you put and how many microphones will you need? If you are playing like the lower nots are going to be directed onto the floor.

But, other than that, yes, very cool.

 

[malteof]

how many time will you bump the bottom of you saxophone onto an object that you don't see?

I guess it helps being tall, in the video the horn reaches to his knees.

if you play with a microphone or you are recording where are you put and how many microphones will you need? If you are playing like the lower nots are going to be directed onto the floor

Yeah, I guess it's like recording a very long soprano... You probably want 2-3 microphones Not ideal.

But, other than that, yes, very cool.

Genau!

 

[milandro]

I am about the same height (and build) of Joe Lovano ( I've actually met him close by so I could verify that) , here seen playing straight Dakota tenors with our own Tim Price ( a little smaller)

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Personally, I'm waiting for an inexpensive straight baritone.

 

[lesacks]

Personally, I'm waiting for an inexpensive straight baritone.

How about a subcontrabase recorder? It's straight, but probably not cheep (€14,500)

 

[Dr G]

Personally, I'm waiting for an inexpensive straight baritone.

It's the extra cost for a case that's expensive.

 

[milandro]

Well there were 3 straight baritones made in recent times from Amati baritones ( of course there are the Buescher ones too)

I have a thread about low sounding instruments called how low can you go

find it here

How low can you go?

I have been meaning to ask the SOTW community for a while to reflect on the why in the last few years there has been an incredible proliferation of very low sounding instruments some of which have surpassed the threshold of the audible frequencies. This phenomenon is hardly limited to the world...

www.saxontheweb.net