[tim_in_ak]

My wife is recently picking up the sax again after a 20 year hiatus. She's been playing flute (her main instrument), but wants to get back into sax. My spare tenor, a SX90R, doesn't quite work for her with the table key distance. She has small hands, and with the palm keys screwed down all the way, she can barely get the low B, but can't reach the low Bb. We're considering trading the Keilwerth for something that fits her hands better, but don't have a music store with instruments on hand for her to try out. Has anyone had the same experience with finger spread and small hands? Were you able to come to a solution with the Keilwerth or were you forced to go with another horn?

Cheers!
Tim

 

[JohnInDenver]

I had that problem with a Selmer Mark VII, for sure. Of all the tenors I've played, the student Yamahas seem to have the most compact key-work. Your wife may want to try one of those for reference.

 

[Tzadik]

Yanagisawa and Yamaha.

But first I'll check with a technician if it can bend the left pinky cluster (15 minutes work).
I had the the low Bb spatula bent on some horns, just because when it was "down" there were too much gap with the other keys of the cluster.

Within certain limits some key touches can be bent and repositioned.
For example on a tenor I had the low Eb and low C raised up (twisted clockwise) in other to be closer to my right pinky.

P.S.: I had small hand too. No problems with Keilwerths or Selmer Mark 7 (tenors in particular), but Conn NW I/IIs are a nightmare for me.

 

[tim_in_ak]

Thanks for the feedback. Her hands do fit my Mk VI, just not the JK. It was suggested that we look at a YTS-62. She doesn't need/want vintage, just something that's playable for her and doesn't cost a fortune. I have a feeling it will take some time to move the JK if I decide to part with it. Bending keys is a no-go for me- it would be a modification that might not work for her and then make it even harder to move as it's all bent up. The JK isn't her forever horn, just the only spare I had on hand for her to "get back to it" with.

 

[mmichel]

I agree with the suggestion above regarding the student Yamahas (e.g., YTS-280 or 480), but pretty much any modern horn will probably work.

The Keilwerths are unusually spread out for modern horns. I have large hands, so I appreciate this, but they are definitely not ideal for people with smaller hands.

If you don't want to get another horn, another option is to extend the Bb touch using either something like Sugru, or one of the add-on Oleg extensions.

This mod is pretty common and is easily removed. Dave Liebman, a Keilwerth artist with relatively small hands, uses such mods on his studio horns (as you can see in the video below).

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Try the Keilwerth MKX. I see that these will no longer be made and are selling discounted new models. It's all JK but is more compact ergonomically and they play fantastic.

 

[extradarcafe]

Alto

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Alto

))))

 

[mmichel]

Alto

That's funny, but I don't find that the voice typically makes much of a difference, at least not for the LH table and RH spatula keys.

I have both an SX90R tenor and an SX90 soprano. The reach to low Bb on the two are very similar, and the reach to the RH spatula keys is actually a bit longer on the soprano than on the tenor.

 

[LostConn]

There's always the option of giving your wife the Mark VI and playing the JK yourself.

 

[B Flat]

There's always the option of giving your wife the Mark VI and playing the JK yourself.

Yep.
Anyway the Keilwerth is clearly a better horn.

 

[Dr G]

There's always the option of giving your wife the Mark VI and playing the JK yourself.

Whoa, I did not see that coming! :shock:

 

[tim_in_ak]

Man, you guys crack me up. I'll check out the Sugru, I might have some hanging around the house. I just put the Oleg palm key risers on my VI, and discovered the Bb extension when on their site. I think we'll try one of these options before ditching the JK all together. Much prefer a removable modification to ditching the horn for another, or bending metal.

Cheers!

 

[soybean]

You can use all the Sugru, but it still won't fit her hands like a Yamaha or Yanagisawa.

 

[B Flat]

You can use all the Sugru, but it still won't fit her hands like a Yamaha or Yanagisawa.

Agreed, you're just gonna have to hand over that VI.

 

[secretasianman999]

I have a bunch of tenors including a Sx90r, mark vi, and a Yamaha YTS23, and can sympathize.

I’m around 5’7” with normal hands for my size.
The Keilwerth has a notably bigger grip than the other two and I feel like I have to play it exclusively for a while to get accustomed to its feel. The sx90r has a different sound from my tonal concept, so overall it’s takes some getting used to. (I’ve had my horn for a while and it has never quite been a great fit for me - perhaps it’s time to trade it for something different that feels more like me!)

The Mark vi and Yamaha feel pretty similar and allow my fingers/hands to have a relaxed curve. At the same time, for years I’ve been wondering if I should try out palm risers, since I have to move a bit to use the palm keys!

In any case, I feel more nimble on the seller/Yamaha.

Of note, the modern Yamaha student and pro horns have pretty similar feel/design (in some cases, they seem like they use the same exact design template but different metal, parts, and adjustable bits.